The pursuit of justice has become a little more bearable for children and other victims of sexual abuse with the unveiling of a newly revamped facility in Nelson Mandela Bay this week.
The refurbished child witness and intermediary rooms at the Gqeberha high court were the brainchild of the deputy director of public prosecutions in the Bay, advocate Indra Goberdan, who saw the need to make the environment for child witnesses and others more aesthetically pleasing.
The new rooms were unveiled nearly a year after Weekend Post’s sister publication The Herald published an article highlighting the sorry state of the children’s waiting and intermediary rooms at the court building in Bird Street, Central.
Now the rooms boast freshly painted walls, comfortable seating, an array of toys, a flat screen TV for children to watch movies while waiting to testify, a small kitchenette and blankets to offer a sense of security.
“No-one wants to be in a criminal court for whatever reason, especially children and even adults who must testify about events that traumatised them for life,” Goberdan said at the launch on Tuesday.
“Evidence [of a sexual nature] is particularly daunting. There was a need to create an environment that is more conducive for them to feel more comfortable.”
We know all too well that the journey of a survivor of sexual abuse seeking justice is fraught with emotional, psychological and legal challenges.
Survivors of these horrific crimes have to relive all the grim details when they testify and, in some cases, even come face to face with their attackers.
And, as anyone who has been involved in a court case can attest, the courtroom can be an intimidating and distressing environment.
This is especially true for sexual abuse survivors and children, so it is important to establish safe spaces for them to navigate the process as comfortably as possible.
By fostering an atmosphere of trust and empathy, these safe spaces not only play a vital role in preparing victims of sexual abuse for court by empowering them, but can also pave the way for the difficult healing process to begin.
The companies and organisations which joined hands to create this space should be commended and we hope their efforts are bolstered in future.
HeraldLIVE