UNICEF Malaysia welcomes special court to handle sexual crimes against children

United Nations International Children's Fund (UNICEF) Malaysia today welcomed the launching of a special court for sexual crimes against children and the 'Permata Room', for the comfort of child witnesses.

UNICEF Malaysia representative Marianne Clark-Hattingh, in a statement, here said the launch of the special court was a tangible step towards setting up the systems and structures necessary for protecting the child victims of sexual crimes.

"UNICEF is ready to lend our support and expertise to the working committee in order to establish standard operating procedures for handling cases involving child sexual victims," she said.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak yesterday inaugurated a special court to handle sexual crimes against children, the first such court in Southeast Asia.

Najib said that for a start, the special court at the Palace of Justice would hear cases that took place in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.

Meanwhile, the waiting room, named 'Permata Room', was also opened yesterday by the Prime Minister's wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, who is also patron of the Permata Programmes.

The 'Permata Room', which is equipped with a television, computers and children's games, also has a mini library of reading materials suitable for children which were contributed by the Permata Foundation.

Clark-Hattingh added the establishment of the court was also an important step in a series of initiatives needed to ensure that the Malaysian judicial system continues to protect child victims of sexual crimes.

"Additionally, the Malaysian criminal justice system is encouraged to consider additional improvements to court practices for child victims, which includes having dedicated judges and prosecutors, clear practice guidelines for them, special procedures for evidence from child victims and witnesses and pre trial 'directions' or 'ground rules' hearings between judges and counsel," she added.

-- BERNAMA