MANILA— The Supreme Court (SC) has approved revised rules governing the examination of child witnesses, introducing technology-based procedures and additional safeguards to prevent children from experiencing further trauma when recounting distressing events in court.

The SC En Banc approved the Revised Rule on the Examination of Child Witnesses (RRECW) on June 17, 2026, following a proposal by its Committee on Family Courts and Juvenile Concerns.

The revised rules allow the use of videoconferencing, recorded depositions, recorded interviews, and other technological tools to help children testify, complementing existing testimonial aids such as dolls, drawings, and puppets.

Under the new procedures, courts may permit children to testify remotely if appearing in person is likely to cause them trauma. Judges may also restrict the child’s visual and audio exposure to certain individuals, including the accused, while ensuring that the latter’s constitutional rights, particularly the right to confront witnesses, are respected.

When identification of the accused is necessary, the court may briefly require the accused to turn on the camera or allow the child to identify the individual through an image displayed on screen.

The rules also provide an alternative for children who cannot testify in court or through videoconferencing because of disabilities, health concerns, or other circumstances. Their testimony may instead be taken through an electronically recorded deposition attended by the judge and lawyers representing both sides, with the recording serving as a substitute for in-court testimony.

To further reduce the risk of retraumatization, the RRECW allows recorded interviews conducted by professional teams, or their transcripts, to be presented as evidence.

For such recordings to be admitted when a child cannot testify, the interviewer must have used neutral, open-ended, age-appropriate, and trauma-informed questions without suggesting answers.

If the child takes the witness stand, the recorded interview may replace the child’s earlier written statements. All parties must receive a copy and be given an opportunity to view the recording, while the interviewer must be available for questioning during trial.

The revised rules cover not only child victims of crimes but also children in conflict with the law and other child witnesses involved in criminal, civil, special, and administrative proceedings.

They likewise incorporate restorative justice and the principle of “do no harm,” while requiring sensitivity to gender, culture, and the individual experiences of children, particularly those who have been victims of abuse.

Additional provisions seek to protect the privacy, safety, and welfare of child witnesses throughout judicial proceedings.

Under the rules, children cannot be compelled to appear in court and must not be present when sexually explicit materials are presented. Records concerning them must remain confidential, while individuals who publish information that could identify a child, including their social media accounts, may be held in contempt of court.

Courts are also required to ensure that children who have experienced abuse receive therapy to support their recovery.

The revisions form part of the Supreme Court’s continuing efforts under its Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027 to promote timely, transparent, inclusive, and technology-driven justice.

The SC said the updated rules seek to ensure that children can participate in judicial proceedings without compromising their rights and welfare, while also respecting the rights of all parties involved.