The Supreme Court (SC) has approved revised rules allowing child witnesses to testify through videoconferencing, recorded interviews, and other technology-assisted procedures to protect them from further trauma during court proceedings.
Approved by the SC En Banc on June 17, 2026, the Revised Rule on the Examination of Child Witnesses (RRECW) introduces child-friendly safeguards aimed at making the justice process safer while protecting the constitutional rights of the accused.
The revised rules, proposed by the SC Committee on Family Courts and Juvenile Concerns, form part of the judiciary’s Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027, which seeks to promote accessible, inclusive, and technology-driven justice.
Under the new procedures, courts may allow children to testify through videoconferencing outside the courtroom if appearing in person is likely to cause psychological trauma.
Judges may also restrict whom a child witness can see or hear during testimony, including the accused, provided that the accused’s constitutional right to confront witnesses is preserved.
When identification is necessary, the accused may briefly activate their camera or be identified through an image displayed on screen.
The revised rules also permit electronically recorded depositions when a child cannot testify in court or through videoconferencing because of disability, health concerns, or other circumstances.
Such depositions must be conducted in the presence of a judge and lawyers representing both parties and may be used in place of the child’s courtroom testimony.
Another significant provision allows recorded interviews conducted by trained professionals to be presented as evidence, reducing the need for children to repeatedly recount traumatic experiences.
These interviews must use neutral, open-ended, age-appropriate, and trauma-informed questions without suggesting answers.
All parties must be given access to the recordings, while the interviewer must be available for questioning during trial.
The SC also expanded the use of testimonial aids, allowing technological tools alongside traditional materials such as dolls, drawings, and puppets to help children communicate their experiences.
The revised rules apply to child victims of crimes, children in conflict with the law, and child witnesses involved in criminal, civil, special, and administrative proceedings.
They also incorporate restorative justice principles, the “do no harm” approach, and sensitivity to gender, culture, and the experiences of child victims.
To strengthen privacy protections, the rules require that records involving child witnesses remain confidential.
Individuals who publish information identifying a child witness, including details of their social media accounts, may be cited for contempt of court.
Children must not be compelled to appear in court and must not be present when sexually explicit materials are presented during proceedings.
Courts are also required to ensure that children who have suffered abuse receive appropriate therapy to support their recovery.
According to the SC, the revised rules aim to prevent further trauma, protect the dignity and welfare of child witnesses, and ensure that their voices are heard without compromising the rights of other parties.
The initiative underscores the judiciary’s continuing efforts to establish a more child-sensitive justice system through modern technology and strengthened legal safeguards.
