Special testimony of children and adolescents who are victims or witnesses of sexual crimes: the perspective of the professionals involved.

The Special Testimony (ST) is a judicial procedure designed to protect victims of sexual violence. This study examined the perspectives of professionals involved in ST (judges, prosecutors, lawyers, psychologists, social workers) through semi-structured interviews. Inductive thematic analysis revealed ten key categories: (1) professionals' concerns; (2) procedural benefits; (3) perspectives of the defence; (4) procedural aspects; (5) overall professional perceptions; (6) benefits for the victims; (7) strategies to facilitate testimony; (8) weaknesses of ST; (9) suggestions for improvement; and (10) the victim's pre-ST hearing. Participants highlighted the need for better professional training, standardisation, planning, and more national research on ST. They acknowledged its advantages, such as ensuring the rights of young victims, reducing the invasiveness of the process, and holding perpetrators accountable. However, while ST represents progress compared to previous methods, it remains an evolving strategy that requires further refinement to maximise its effectiveness in protecting child and adolescent victims.