Support is swelling for the proposal for video link technology to be used in court to help protect witnesses.

Several children welfare practitioners believe this would significantly reduce the trauma experienced by minors who were sexually abused.

Dr Beverly Scott, executive director of the Family and Parenting Centre, has endorsed the suggestion by Director of Public Prosecutions Paula Llewellyn that the video link would also encourage witnesses to come forward.

"Sexual abuse is a serious trauma for a child and, having to go through a court trial in these cases can also be a traumatic experience for the victim," Scott told The Gleaner, yesterday. "Having a video recording during a court session can reduce secondary victimisation."

Examine

Scott and Children's Advocate, Mary Clarke, were part of a group who went to Cuba this year to examine how the video link technology works.

Clarke is also backing this venture in the local justice system. "We need this especially for children who are so afraid of courtrooms," she said.

Gemma Gibbon, child psychologist, said children who were victims of abuse or who were witnesses to any major incident would suffer from fear of the situation.

Gibbon said this could cause children to become withdrawn, due to the public glare and pressure of a courtroom.

"It would be good for us to emulate the best practices on the matter in order to help our children through this emotional process," she suggested.

Last week, Llewellyn also supported the Government's initiative to facilitate greater use of DNA evidence in court cases and accept majority decision by members of a jury in respect of non-capital murder cases.