Violence against children in educational and rehabilitation centre in Lviv region – juvenile prosecutor on details of investigation
The situation with violence against pupils of an educational and rehabilitation centre in the Lviv region became known during a monitoring visit by a representative of the Ombudsman for Children’s Rights on 27 September 2024, and on the same day criminal proceedings were opened over these facts.
Yuriy Matlakh, Head of the Department for Protection of Children’s Interests and Combating Domestic Violence at the Lviv Regional Prosecutor’s Office, spoke about the details of the investigation during the telethon.
“Prosecutors and investigators are currently taking measures to establish all the circumstances and the truth in the proceedings, about 50 people have been questioned, a number of searches have been conducted, temporary access to things and documents has been granted, and relevant expert studies have been scheduled,” he said.
The teacher of the educational and rehabilitation centre has been served with a notice of suspicion of intentional beatings and other violent acts that caused physical pain to the minor. She and the head of the institution were suspended from duty. Internal investigations are ongoing.
Under the procedural supervision of the juvenile prosecutors of the Lviv Regional Prosecutor’s Office, pre-trial investigations were initiated into sexual violence (Part 3 of Article 153 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine), as well as intentional beatings and other violent acts that caused physical pain to a minor (Part 1 of Article 126 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
Currently, children who may be witnesses, eyewitnesses and victims have been moved to a safe place. They are being provided with appropriate medical, psychological and legal assistance.
The children were interviewed using the “green room” methodology under video recording to ensure that their further involvement in the criminal proceedings is minimal and to avoid their repeated traumatisation.
Yuriy Matlakh noted that during the investigation, law enforcement officers apply a child-centred approach in line with international standards, and the investigation is carried out by the most qualified investigators of the National Police Investigation Department in Lviv Oblast and experienced juvenile prosecutors of the Oblast Prosecutor’s Office.
As a reminder, physical, psychological and sexual violence was allegedly committed against children in an educational and rehabilitation facility in Lviv region. Recently, a video of a teacher beating a pupil of this educational and rehabilitation centre has been circulating on the Internet.
The information policy department
of the Lviv Regional Prosecutor’s Office