A study of the implementation of child witness protection programmes in Namibia

Abstract

Preface provided by author:

This dissertation describes the implications of various stages of child development in respect of children who testify in court and it depicts how children view the courts and court procedures. It will also identify the bias that legal professionals have towards child witnesses

Chapter one will set out the policy framework and legal system in Namibia and compares the latter to other legal systems in the world. Chapter two will provide us with the function of the witness and to determine the most successful method of obtaining information from children that is both reliable and accurate. Chapter three will investigate how presiding officers perceive children to be reliable or unreliable witnesses, then this perception will have a major influence when they evaluate a particular child's evidence. Chapter four will investigate the question whether children have the necessary knowledge to enable them to take part in a court process with competence and credibility. Chapter five will discuss the reasons why child witnesses need to be prepared for court and will suggest techniques for addressing this concern