Providing Views-Concerns and Participation in Criminal Process as the Right to Be Heard for Child Victims; with a Comparative Approach to International Instruments, and Iranian Legal System

This article based on a descriptive-analytical method and with a comparative approach Examines and present views, concerns and participation in criminal process as the right to be heard. Children do not report or express their views-concerns and non-participation in criminal process for various reasons. They do not receive legal protection, and suffer harm in the form of secondary victimization and recurrence of victimization. This article discusses the need for culture-building and public sensitization in recognizing the rights of child victims and reporting violations of these rights, the right to express and be heard to break children's silence, and to gain their trust in criminal justice system by facilitating the process. The ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in Iran is a positive step to identify and protect their rights. Using the experiences and practices of other member states to implement the convention can be useful and effective.