兒童被害人兼證人之司法權利－－聯合國文件之啟思

Rights on Justice in Matters Involving Child Victims and Witnesses-United Nations Frame of Reference

有實務界論者表示，我國刑事訴訟法於2003年9月1日修正採用改良式當事人進行主義後，為充分保障被告人權，不僅落實交互詰問之程式外，亦踐行更為嚴謹之證據法則，惟新制實施迄今，咸認修正後之訴訟程式，似有輕忽弱勢被害人及證人之感。假以性侵害事件屬私密犯罪之角度思考，兒童作為被害人兼唯一證人之情形下，兒童要對抗成人被告著實不易，更遑論加害人同為家庭成員時之困境。另一方面，我國自「國際人權公約國內法化」後，兒童人權的議題更顯迫切。本文爰以性侵害事件兒童被害人為例，探討兒童參與刑事司法之權利，呼籲正視兒童於訴訟架構中居於弱勢地位之事實，並且落實對於兒童在法律上的平等保護。

A researcher in practice noted that our Criminal Procedures adopted adversarial system on Sept. 1st, 2003 to protect the defendant's human right, by carrying out cross-examination and strict evidence rules. Although the new law has been executed so far, victims and witnesses at weak state have also been overlooked. From the aspect of sexual abuse a secret crime, a child victim as the only witness, how she fights with an adult defendant, and even needless to mention the dilemma caused where the accused is a family member. On the other hand, we have made International Human Rights Treaties into our domestic laws effective, and there is no way to overlook the issue of Children's human rights. This paper, based on UN Children's Bill of Rights, aims to demonstrate the truth of child victims with unequal defense weapons in criminal procedures, and to spread the perception of judicial rights a child should possess as a victim and witness, as well as the right of equal protection.