The Republic of Mari El, Yoshkar-Ola. On April 2, 2010 at 3 a:m a special room for children -  participants of the criminal process will be opened, the room has no analogues in any other regions of the Russian Federation.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Mari El has supported the initiative of human rights defenders and the joint project “Social rehabilitation of the child, who became a victim of violence – a problem of the state”. The room for children will be opened in Zarechniy police department of Yoshkar-Ola.

Two rooms are connected by a large one-side glass. In the first room there are toys, soft furniture, which creates a cozy atmosphere. In another room, behind an opaque glass, there will be the accused and his counsel. According to the order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the work with children under 14 years old from all over the city of Yoshkar-Ola, who have been victims of violence and witnesses of violence, will be carried out only within the walls of this room. The room can be also used for all categories of children who are interrogated in the Zarechniy police department. The inspectors on minors’ cases can work with difficult teenagers in this room. The room will be open from 9 a:m till 10 p:m, and during this time any child can apply for help here.

In the eyes of a child – victim of the crime, you can read the word “FEAR”. Police department with its daily realities, the conversation with the investigator, questioning, and investigative experiment is a real test for vulnerable child’s mind. The diverse capabilities allow the room to protect the child from meeting with the accused, comfortable environment may temper the possible effects of stress, audio and video recording can save from direct participation in the trial and repeated testimony.

- Today in conditions of reforming the system of the Ministry of Internal Affairs it is necessary to pay a particular attention to the rights of victims of the crime and  to protect children, – says the chairwoman of RPO “Human being and Law” Irina Simakova. – The Republic of Mari El is the only region in the Russian Federation, where a special room for children exists. We want to believe that the idea of creating such facilities will be supported at the federal level.