Min. of Human Dev. to protect child testimonies

But the Minister did admit that there are serious internal complications that need to be addressed immediately. Among them is the fact that medical personnel frequently do not show up to testify and at times refuse to conduct medical exams. All these areas will be highlighted to remedy the weakness within the system of child abuse reporting and prosecution. Balderamos Garcia says her department is in the process of revising certain laws that will make it easier for a child to testify against his or her attacker.

Dolores Balderamos Garcia, Min. of Human Development/Women

“Many times a child in a court has to face the alleged perpetrators, and that can be exceedingly intimidating. And what we would like to put in place, is an amendment that says that the child can give testimony behind a screen or not facing the accused, because sometimes the accused can really intimidate a child. An reliving an experience even for an adult can be excruciating, what you think of a child?”

Balderamos Garcia says the Ministry is also in the process of formulating a strategic plan of action within the child protective services.