The Foundation hosted the event in partnership with the Sri Lankan Judges’ Institute
On 28 November 2020, a roundtable discussion was held with judges of Sri Lanka and the Max Planck Foundation in partnership the Sri Lanka Judges’ Institute. The discussion was focused on challenges and best practices in relation to children interacting with the justice system and was held via video conference. This is the fourth of five consultations to be held with actors of the Sri Lankan justice system on this topic, of which the findings will contribute to the development of Best Practice Guidelines.
The event was held via videoconference and was opened with the remarks of Honourable Judge Anushka Senevirathna, Magistrate Judge and Academic Coordinator of the Sri Lanka Judge’s Institute; and one of the Foundations’ Managing Directors, Johannes Krusemark-Camin.
This was followed by discussions focused on the mandate and jurisdiction of judges in relation to children who are brought before the courts. The consultation explored the measures judges may use to protect children interacting with the justice system. The programme continued with a discussion on the topics of children in need of protection, children in alternative care, child victims and witnesses, and children in conflict with the law. Throughout the event, the judges contributed their vast and varied experience and lessons learned in the course of their work during a lively and informative discussion of best practices in Sri Lanka.
To conclude the discussion, Honourable Justice Shiranee Tilakawardane, retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka and Honourable Judge Anushka Senevirathna, Magistrate Judge and Academic Coordinator of the Judges Institute shared closing remarks and expressed gratitude to the judges in attendance for their contribution.
A future multi-stakeholder roundtable discussion will take place with judges, probation officers, judicial medical officers, and representatives of the National Child Protection Agency. The findings of these consultations and the final roundtable discussion will contribute to the development of Best Practice Guidelines to advance the protection of children interacting with the justice of Sri Lanka.
The project is entitled “Capacity Building for Judges and Lawyers in Sri Lanka” and is funded by the German Federal Foreign Office.