Public Prosecution opened On Wednesday, April 15, the first three child-friendly interrogation rooms were established, with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
The rooms are located in the Sheikh Zayed Prosecution, the Children’s Prosecution in the Amiriyah Courts Complex, and the Alexandria Courts Complex.
This initiative is the first of its kind in Egypt. This comes as part of the efforts aimed at promoting children’s rights and achieving the best interest of the child through cooperation between the Public Prosecution and UNICEF.
At the opening, Counselor Mohamed Shawqi, Attorney General of the Arab Republic of Egypt, explained that equipping these child-friendly rooms comes within the Public Prosecution’s plan to activate the child-friendly justice system. This ensures the protection of children during the various stages of investigation, preserves their dignity, and takes into account their psychological and social needs.
He added that this model will be gradually circulated to all governorates of the Republic.
Shawqi explained that the rooms were equipped according to approved international standards in terms of design and equipment. They include appropriate educational tools and integrated audio and video recording systems.
It allows the documentation of investigation sessions, avoids the repeated appearance of the child before the investigating authorities, and enables the child’s statements to be heard without direct confrontation with the accused.