Child witnesses in the criminal courts: Furthering New Zealand's commitment to the United Nations convention on the rights of the child

Key issues highlighted in the international literature that impact on New Zealand's commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child are discussed. Recent changes to the law regarding how children give evidence has facilitated children's participation in the criminal justice system in New Zealand. However, in themselves these advances are not sufficient to satisfy Article 3(1) of the Convention concerning the paramountcy of the best interests of the child. The authors contend that it is also necessary to reduce long delays in hearings, improve waiting facilities in the court building, educate children for court, give children more control over how they give their evidence, clarify acceptable support for children in court, train lawyers and Judges in issues concerning children's evidence, and debrief children after court. International research related to these issues is reviewed. It is argued that addressing these issues not only furthers New Zealand's commitment to the UN Convention, but also serves to ensure a fair and just determination of cases.