The key principles
Key principles for engaging with child witnesses
Government agencies are committed to minimising the negative impact of being a witness for both child witnesses and their family/whānau. The key government agencies who support child witnesses have worked together to develop the following five key principles which establish a platform for how the agencies, individually and collectively, will engage with child witnesses and their families/whānau.
Agencies will strive to understand the needs of child witnesses and to provide services responsive to those needs.
Agencies will make every effort to make participation in the criminal justice process accessible to the child witness and their family/whānau.
Agencies will keep child witnesses and their families/whānau fully informed with timely and accurate information during the course of the criminal justice process.
Agencies will ensure that the child witness and their family/whānau have appropriate support throughout the criminal justice process.
Agencies will always take appropriate steps to secure the safety and well-being of the child witness and the family/whānau members supporting them.
