This report was completed with the aim of establishing better understandings of cross-examination practices as they pertain to young complainants of sexual violence in Aotearoa, and how these might relate to complainants’ reportedly negative experience. The study involved the analysis of 15 transcripts of the cross-examination of young complainants from trials that took place in the Auckland and Whangārei Sexual Violence Pilot Courts in 2017 and 2018. Analysis was focussed on the ways that the evidence of young complainants was challenged during cross-examination, with a particular interest in whether, and in what ways misconceptions about child sexual abuse were present during cross-examination. The intention of this piece of work was to better understand the sources of distress
that young complainants report to be associated with cross-examination, so that changes intended to reduce this distress can be effectively targeted. (From the document). Record #7397