'Children Relive Trauma in Court' - UNICEF Urges Change

COLOMBO (News 1st); UNICEF has praised Sri Lanka’s launch of a new child protection and justice model, calling it a transformative step toward safeguarding children who experience abuse. 

Speaking at the launch event, Emma Brigham, UNICEF Representative in Sri Lanka, highlighted the urgent need for systemic reform and the potential of the new model to address long-standing gaps in the country’s child protection framework.

“Each year, more than 6,000 children in Sri Lanka face the trauma of abuse being reported to the police,” Brigham said. “Yet most cases are not handled by trained professionals, and children are often forced to relive their trauma through repeated interviews. Without a functioning case management system, no child protection system can be truly effective.”

Brigham emphasized that Sri Lanka currently has only two facilities for recording child statements, with outdated procedures that limit their use in court. Access to mental health services remains scarce, and many children are placed in institutional care where they cannot thrive.

The newly launched model, starting in Kandy, promises a faster, more child-friendly process that keeps the child at the center from the moment abuse is reported through to the completion of legal proceedings. It is built around six flagship initiatives aimed at improving case management, legal processes, and access to services.

The Child Witness Room at the Kandy High Court—Sri Lanka’s first of its kind—is a key example of this vision in action. Equipped with modern audio-visual technology, it allows children to testify in a safe, trauma-sensitive environment.

“This launch comes less than a year after Sri Lanka pledged in Bogotá to establish a continuum of child-sensitive services,” she said. “It proves that international commitments can be swiftly transformed into action.”

Looking ahead, Brigham stressed that success will depend on continued leadership, accountability, and adequate national budget allocations, especially in the 2027 budget, to meet the targets Sri Lanka has set.

“To conclude,” she said, “when a child reaches out for help, the response must not be neglect or delay—but protection, dignity, and justice.”