A senior delegation from the Executive Board of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), led by its President Rein Tammsaar, met Minister of Justice and National Integration Attorney-at-Law Harshana Nanayakkara today (02) at the Ministry of Justice for discussions on child-focused legal reforms.

The talks focused on a range of issues including legal reforms related to children, procedures for obtaining testimony from child witnesses via video technology, provisions under child and juvenile justice laws, and measures to expedite court cases involving children.

During the meeting, the Justice Minister noted that amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure have already enabled child witnesses to provide testimony in court through video technology. He also said that awareness programmes are being conducted for judges on the use of such systems.

The Minister further emphasized the importance of incorporating child protection law into training programmes at the Judges’ Training Institute as well as into the curriculum of the Sri Lanka Law College.

It was also highlighted that special facilities for recording video testimony from children have been established at courts in Kandy, with plans underway to expand the system to other courts across the country.

The discussion also addressed delays in court proceedings, with the Minister stating that vacancies within institutions such as the Attorney General’s Department and other parts of the justice system are a key contributing factor. He added that the government is taking steps to address these challenges.

The UNICEF delegation included Sophia Tesfamariam, Anna Jóhannsdóttir, Alejandra Hernandez Gonzalez, Claudio Silvio Nardi, Andres Franco, and Natalie Leston.