INSTITUTE FOR CHILD WITNESS RESEARCH AND TRAINING

SUBMISSION

 

CRIMINAL LAW (SEXUAL OFFENCES AND RELATED MATTERS) AMENDMENT BILL

 

 

Members of the Institute for Child Witness Research and Training (hereafter referred to as the Institute) have focused on issues pertaining to child witness testimony in criminal trials for the past 16 years.  The Institute is a multi-disciplinary organisation that examines and proposes reforms to legal procedure affecting child witnesses by incorporating psychological theories and principles.

 

The Institute was involved in the South African Law Reform Commission’s workshops where debate on the content of Bill took place.  Submissions were made with specific focus on procedural reform with respect to the child witness.  The Institute was also recently invited to attend a workshop hosted by Childline SA to debate the final Bill currently under review by Parliament.  At this point, the Institute would like to indicate support of the recent submissions made by Childline SA as a result of the latter workshops, and will, therefore, not repeat these submissions.

 

The Institute would like to submit the following concerns with regard to the content of the Bill:

 

 

 

 

Please do not hesitate to contact the Institute for any case and/or research-based substantiation of these concerns.  The Institute appreciates this opportunity to comment on the Bill. 

 

 

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