By Tajeu Shadrack Nkapapa
Following the conclusion of a two-day regional roundtable addressing emerging trends in sexual and gender-based violence, the Directors of Public Prosecutions (DPPs) from Tanzania and Zanzibar made a visit to an innovative child-friendly interview room in Nairobi, Kenya, which is equipped with advanced technology.
This facility is specifically designed to enable the pre-recording of testimonies from child victims, thereby ensuring the collection of accurate evidence while reducing the likelihood of secondary victimization. Linda Ndambiri, who heads the Children’s Division at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), led the presentation, emphasizing that the establishment of this room is part of Kenya’s comprehensive strategy to combat crimes against children.
“The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in Kenya has taken significant steps in addressing crimes against children by implementing various policies, including the establishment of child-friendly interview rooms,” said Ndambiri.
The child-friendly room, featuring state-of-the-art technology, provides a secure and regulated setting for young victims to give their testimony, alleviating the intimidation and distress commonly associated with conventional courtrooms.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) emphasizes that this progressive method places a strong emphasis on the psychological and emotional health of child victims, creating an environment where they can share their experiences with respect and without the risk of further trauma.
“The primary objective of the child-friendly room is to create a secure and supportive environment where children can share their experiences with confidence. It is not only a compassionate response to their vulnerability but also ensures that their voices are heard,” Ndambiri added.
The facility helps reduce the risk of secondary victimization, ensuring that children can testify without further harm while contributing to the pursuit of justice.
Sylvester Mwakitalu, the Director of Public Prosecutions in Tanzania, praised Kenya for the establishment of child-friendly rooms, recognizing the difficulties children frequently encounter when testifying in court.
He highlighted that this initiative would greatly enhance the collection of evidence, especially for vulnerable populations like children, and would contribute to their safety during the legal proceedings.
Mgeni Jecha, the DPP from Zanzibar, also voiced his support for this initiative, remarking that the swift progression of technology in society makes such measures both timely and essential for addressing new trends in criminal cases.
Mr. Mgeni further noted that a technology-driven system could facilitate the presentation of evidence in various courts without necessitating the physical presence of child witnesses.