Protecting and safeguarding the rights of children as witnesses in criminal trials: a case study of Tanzania
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Date
2008
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
University of Dar es Salaam
Abstract
This study has examined problems associated with children participatory sexual abuse cases. An underlying concern was that children who must give evidence in court should not become victims for a second time thought the processes of the criminal justice system. The work has shown some new light on the issue and made several major recommendations aimed at improving the present practices and procedures within the Tanzania Criminal justice system. In so doing, this work has discussed various legal aspects concerning child witnesses from the Tanzania perspective as well as experiences from other justices. The formulated hypothesis for this study is that; the Tanzania Criminal Justice system does not adequately protect and safeguards the rights of children as witnesses in criminal causing this particular group of people to suffer additional hardship when assisting the justice process as well as miscarriage of justice. Basically, this study has revealed that the Tanzania criminal justice has no flexibility in procedural as well as evidentially rules when children are required to give evidence in courts. While this study has not comprised an exhaustive list of the problems. The study has also shown that, there are specific court procedures which mostly affect child witnesses in the participation of justice process. These include; competence requirement, unmodified courtroom environment for children witnesses as well as delays in criminal trials.
Description
Available in print form, East Africana Collection, Dr. Wilbert Chagula Library, Class Mark (THS EAF KRD.M87)
Keywords
Children awareness, Children's rights, Trials (criminal), Tanzania
Citation
Mutaki, W. M (2008) Protecting and safeguarding the rights of children as witnesses in criminal trials: a case study of Tanzania, Master dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam