A pilot project is being carried out in Huelva to introduce the use of facility dogs to accompany victims during judicial proceedings, particularly children and survivors of gender-based violence. The initiative was developed and promoted by VSE’s member, ATENIN, the non-profit organisation that operates the Andalusian Victim Support Service (SAVA) in Huelva, and is made available to SAVA under an agreement with the Regional Government of Andalusia. Through the Auva project, the initiative aims to improve the conditions in which victims participate in legal proceedings and give evidence before judges and courts.
A specialist prosecutor at the Huelva Provincial Prosecutor’s Office explains that Cami, one of the facility dogs involved in the project, helps victims focus their attention on her rather than on the stressful court environment. The dogs are specially trained to provide emotional support and create a calmer, more reassuring atmosphere while victims give their evidence.
According to SAVA criminologists, the presence of facility dogs helps reduce victims’ levels of anxiety and stress, enabling them to describe their experiences more clearly and confidently before the judicial authorities. In addition to facilitating their testimony, the emotional support provided by the dogs helps victims cope better with the challenges of the judicial process and contributes to reducing the risk of secondary victimisation.
This TV report (in Spanish) features the case of María —a fictional name— who was extremely nervous when giving evidence during the investigation stage of the proceedings. At trial, however, with Cami by her side, she was able to remain calm and give a clear and compelling account of what she had experienced. Her testimony against her abuser formed the basis for his conviction. In the interview, María explains that having a dog by her side made the judicial process easier to manage, providing comfort, reassurance and a sense of security during an otherwise highly distressing experience. SAVA highlights that the initiative represents an important step towards creating a more humane and victim-centred justice system.
As the initiative is still in its pilot phase, it needs to be consolidated before it can potentially be extended to all Victim Support Service offices across Andalusia. At present, ATENIN is self-funding all the costs associated with the project, as it has no external financial support. Additional funding is therefore needed not only to expand the initiative in the future, but also to ensure the viability and continuity of the project in its current form. The current agreement with the Regional Government of Andalusia enables facility dogs to access judicial facilities and collaborate with the Victim Support Service, but does not provide funding for the resources required to operate and further develop the project.
The facility dogs involved in the initiative are carefully selected and specially trained for this role. They are animals with a natural ability to connect with people and are prepared to build a bond with victims, providing emotional support, reassurance and a greater sense of safety throughout judicial proceedings.
👉 To find out more, you may watch an earlier report by Canal Sur’s programme ‘’Patas Arriba’, which provides a broader presentation of the Auva project and its facilitator dogs.
Picture courtesy of: Atenin
