Child victims and witnesses are vulnerable and hence need special protection and supportrnservices that are appropriate to their age and level of maturity. Special protection need to berngiven with a view to prevent child victims and witnesses from further hardship and trauma thatrnmay result due to their participation during criminal proceedings.rnAccordingly, this thesis, first, explores the current normative responses in Ethiopia to protect thernrights of child victims and witnesses of crime, in the context of criminal proceedings. It thenrndiscusses findings of the study in relation to legal and policy gaps in the current framework(s),rnviolations to the child victims' and witnesses' right to privacy, low responses to their bestrninterests, inadequate legal and psycho-social support services, inadequate procedures to seekrnredress for the harm they have suffered. Using semi-structured interviews with the judiciary andrnprosecution offices, and analyzing judicial deCisions, the thesis further discusses key challengesrnthat face child victims and witnesses in criminal proceedings.rnThe thesis argues that, child victim-witness sensitive criminal proceedings provide morerneffective means of respect for the rights of child victims and witnesses. Child victim-witnessrnfriendly procedures also serve as an instrument to bring the offender before the justice for therncrimes committed against children.rnThe thesis concludes that, in Ethiopia, the existing normative framework(s) to protect the rightsof child victims and witnesses needs legal and policy reforms with a view to better address thernproblems of child victims and witnesses during criminal proceedings. In specific terms,rncomprehensive legal schemes must be adopted by the Government to better address problems ofrnchild victims and witnesses.