Module 7.1

7.1 Who is a Child Witness?

A child witness is any person under 18 years of age who has seen, heard, or experienced something relevant to a criminal case, gives a statement to police and appears or may appear in court to give evidence. This includes:

• child victims
• siblings, classmates or neighbours
• children present at crime locations
• children used as witnesses in disputes or criminal networks

Police must never assume that a child cannot give reliable evidence.
Under Pakistan’s law of evidence, a child can testify if they understand the duty to tell the truth.