PUTRAJAYA, June 10 -- For child witnesses, speaking about traumatic abuse experiences in a courtroom setting can be overwhelming and distressing, especially when they struggle to recount important details of what they endured.

Enter the anatomical dolls - seemingly ordinary playthings with facial features (including a retractable tongue), limbs, clothing and realistic body proportions, including private parts - used by the Malaysian Judiciary in child witness proceedings.

Though unable to speak themselves, these specially tailored anatomical dolls play a crucial role in giving child witnesses a voice when trauma, shyness or limited vocabulary makes verbal testimony difficult.

In almost all cases involving sexual abuse, Registrar of the...