Many survivors do not report violence for fear of further violence by the perpetrator, their family, or the community and because of the harmful stigmas wrongfully attached to experiences of violence. The justice sector should work to enhance survivor safety at all stages through development of safety and confidentiality protocols for formal and informal sector personnel, use of risk-assessment guides (in particular for perpetrator programmes), design of secure spaces for women and girl survivors to report abuse and obtain support, and provision of free legal assistance to survivors so as to facilitate access to justice.
Prioritize the physical and psychological safety of women and girls
Last edited: December 20, 2011