IWA 49-2025 PDF

Full title and description

St IWA 49-2025 — IWA 49:2025: "Child-friendly multidisciplinary and interagency response services for children who are victims of violence — Requirements and recommendations". This International Workshop Agreement defines a framework of requirements and recommendations to establish coordinated, trauma-informed, child‑friendly multidisciplinary and interagency (MDIA) services that support children who have experienced violence, integrating child protection, criminal investigation, medical and therapeutic services in a single, safe response environment.

Abstract

IWA 49:2025 sets out essential requirements and good-practice recommendations for designing and operating child‑friendly MDIA response services. The document aims to minimise secondary trauma, improve quality of evidence for judicial processes, ensure timely access to care and justice, and promote consistent global implementation of child‑centred coordinated responses. It is informed by established models such as the Icelandic Barnahús and the input of practitioners, child survivors and international agencies.

General information

• Status: Published.
• Publication date: 12 March 2025 (publication stage recorded as 2025-03-12).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 03.080.99 (other services / child and social services).
• Edition / version: Edition 1 (IWA 49:2025).
• Number of pages: 14 pages.

Scope

The scope of IWA 49:2025 covers the establishment, organisation and operation of child‑friendly multidisciplinary and interagency response services for children who are victims of violence. It provides requirements and recommendations for coordination between child welfare, health, forensic and justice actors, physical and psychological care pathways, information-sharing protocols, interview and evidence collection that minimise retraumatisation, and governance arrangements to ensure professional, ethical and child‑centred practice. The standard is intended as a global baseline adaptable to national and local systems.

Key topics and requirements

• Definition and objectives of child‑friendly multidisciplinary and interagency (MDIA) response services.
• Governance, leadership and interagency agreements to enable coordinated responses.
• Child‑centred design of facilities and processes to minimise retraumatisation (physical environment; privacy; advocacy/support).
• Trauma‑informed procedures for medical, forensic and psychological assessment and care.
• Protocols for joint investigation, evidence collection and information sharing that protect the child’s rights and wellbeing.
• Competence, training and support requirements for professionals across disciplines.
• Monitoring, evaluation and quality assurance, including data collection, confidentiality and continuous improvement.
• Recommendations for involvement of children, survivors and community stakeholders in service design and review.

Typical use and users

Primary users include government agencies, child protection services, law enforcement, healthcare providers, forensic and legal professionals, social workers, NGOs and international organisations involved in child protection and victim support. The standard is used to design new MDIA services (e.g., children’s houses), to harmonise existing interagency practices, and to support policy development, training curricula and quality assurance.

Related standards

Related material includes sectoral guidance and standards on child protection, forensic interviewing, medical examination of child victims, data protection and confidentiality, and interagency working. IWA 49 complements national child welfare legislation and UN/WHO/UNICEF guidance on violence against children, and can be used alongside regional judicial and forensic standards to strengthen the child‑centred response pathway.

Keywords

child-friendly services, multidisciplinary response, interagency cooperation, child victims of violence, trauma-informed care, Barnahús model, forensic interviewing, child protection, MDIA, IWA 49:2025.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: IWA 49:2025 is an ISO International Workshop Agreement that provides requirements and recommendations for child‑friendly multidisciplinary and interagency response services for children who are victims of violence. It establishes a global baseline for coordinated, trauma‑informed care.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers design and operation of MDIA services, governance and interagency arrangements, child‑centred facilities and procedures, trauma‑informed medical and forensic processes, information sharing, professional competence and systems for monitoring and quality assurance.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Governments, child protection agencies, healthcare and forensic practitioners, law enforcement, legal professionals, NGOs, and international organisations involved in protecting and supporting children who have experienced violence. It is intended for planners, service designers, practitioners and policy makers.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: It is current as published (IWA 49:2025, published March 2025). Users should check relevant national adoption or implementation documents and any subsequent ISO review or revision notices for updates.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: IWA 49 is a standalone International Workshop Agreement focused on MDIA child‑friendly response services; it complements other ISO and sectoral documents on child protection, health care and legal procedures but is not listed as a numbered series of related IWAs.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Child‑friendly, multidisciplinary, interagency, child victims of violence, trauma‑informed, Barnahús, forensic interview, child protection, MDIA, IWA 49:2025.