Justice
                          
                            Introduction and Key Concepts                                    
                          
Why is the justice sector important?
                              What does the justice sector entail?
                            
                            OverviewFormal justice mechanismsInformal justice mechanismsHybrid justice mechanisms

                              How do different justice sector components interact?
                            
                            Law and regulationJurisdictionFundingProcedureEnforcementPersonnelChoice of forum

                              What is known about working with the justice sector on violence against women and girls?
                            
                            OverviewSurvivors express the most satisfaction with systems that reflect their input and participationConsistency and reliability in justice sector responses can improve outcomes for women Coordinated community response leads to positive outcomesSpecialized courts and procedures positively change the way cases are handledSpecialized prosecutors can reduce barriers to justiceVictim advocate programmes can reduce violence and support follow-throughTraining and capacity development can change practicesRestorative justice programmes remain controversial

                            Guiding Principles                                    
                          
                            Base programmes on internationally recognized human rights principlesPrioritize the physical and psychological safety of women and girlsEnd impunity for perpetrators of violenceDemonstrate and encourage a norm of respect for survivors Adopt a holistic strategy for reformUnderstand and address concerns about mediation and restorative justice Use monitoring and evaluation to inform programme design and implementation 
                          
                            Overview of Strategies                                    
                          
                            OverviewLaw reformService delivery and accessTraining and capacity developmentEducation and awareness-raisingOversight and monitoring
                          
                            Programme Planning and Design                                    
                          
Overview
                              Conduct an appraisal
                            
What kind of information should be gathered?
                              What methods can be used to gather appraisal information?
                            
                            Review of available informationCommunity meetingsInterviewsObservationSafety auditsSurveysFocus groupsKey informant interviewsCourt monitoringHuman rights monitoring
What is the outcome of an appraisal?
Define and prioritize goalsPlan for participation and partnershipsUse tools to select a strategy or strategiesIncorporate monitoring and evaluationDevelop a workplan and budget

                            Formal Sector                                    
                          
                              Overview of main strategies
                            
                            GeneralReform discriminatory lawsImprove response to survivorsProvide training and develop capacityPromote rights-based education and awarenessPerform regular monitoring and evaluation

                              Challenges
                            
                            Formal sector may reflect wider societal biasesWomen may not have immediate capacity to use the formal systemLimited capacities and resources for short-term changeLimited motivation to reformLimited power to changeEvidence-base for reforms is still weak

                              Programme implementation
                            
                              Reform discriminatory laws
                            
                            Where to beginTreaty ratificationIncorporate international standardsConstitutional reformReview and reform of legislationEngage in strategic litigationUsing international forumsUsing regional forums

                              Improve response to survivors
                            
                              Working with the ministry of justice
                            
                            OverviewImprove physical access to justice for women and girlsEstablish supportive management of judicial staffEstablish dedicated court-affiliated service centres for women and girl survivors of violenceEstablish and expand legal assistance programmes for women and girlsEstablish and expand language-accessible services

                              Working with the court system
                            
                            Why work with the court systems to improve the response to survivors? Strategies to support judicial independence Strategies to eliminate corruption 

                              Working with judges
                            
                            GeneralJudges should modify court protocols, policies, and processes to support women and girl victims of violence

                              Working with prosecutors
                            
GeneralIncorporate knowledge of gender-based violence into policies and protocolsBetter support to survivors of intimate partner violence
                              Increase effective investigations and prosecutions
                            
                            Implementing strategies to reinforce prosecutorial independence and anti-corruptionRobustly and supportively prosecuting cases of violence against women and girlsExtending protective and supportive practices beyond the trialWorking effectively with policeEstablishing special prosecutorial unitsWorking with victim/witness advocates on maintaining effective communication with survivorsEstablish services designed for adolescent girls

                              Provide training and develop capacity
                            
OverviewDevelop or modify court infrastructureCollect data
                              Provide training 
                            
                            OverviewJudicial trainingTraining for prosecutors and prosecutor's staffTraining paralegalsTraining victims and witnesses
Provide rights-based education and awareness

                              Monitoring and evaluation
                            
                            Key principles for monitoring and evaluationIndicatorsBaseline studiesMonitoringEvaluation

                            Informal Sector                                    
                          
                              Overview of main strategies
                            
                            GeneralReform laws and regulateInnovate and provide alternativesAbolitionDevelop capacityHuman rights and gender trainingRaise public awarenessMonitor human rights practices

                              Challenges
                            
                            Incorrect assumptions about the informal sectorInconsistent norms and proceduresLack of dataLogisticsPolitical nature of reform projectsGovernments shifting responsibilities to NGOs

                              Special programming considerations
                            
Address concerns about mediation and restorative justice in programme designProtect women's safety in all aspects of programme work
                              Reflect on indigenous and minority peoples' rights
                            
                            OverviewWho are minorities?Who are indigenous peoples?What international and regional instruments frame the rights of indigenous and minority peoples?What are key rights of minorities and indigenous peoples related to justice sector reform and violence against women?Concerns related to a minority-rights approach to justice for women and girls who experience violence 

                              Programme implementation
                            
                              Reform laws and regulate
                            
                            OverviewTypes of reform and regulationPotential pitfalls of regulating the informal sectorStrategic litigation
Innovate and provide alternativesAbolition
                              Develop capacity
                            
                            OverviewCreate legal education materialsCreate or modify infrastructureIncrease collaboration and linkagesFacilitate knowledge transfer

                              Train on human rights and gender
                            
                            ContentDesign considerations
Raise public awareness
                              Monitor human rights practices
                            
                            What is human rights monitoring?CEDAW and monitoring informal mechanismsMonitoring and regional instruments

                              Monitoring and evaluation
                            
                            OverviewBaseline studiesMonitoringEvaluation

                            References                                    
                          
                            References
Related Tools
Law reform

Last edited: December 20, 2011
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Constitutional reform
Changing formal legislation or customary laws
Promulgation of new procedural rules or regulations
For detailed information on drafting, passing, and implementing laws on violence against women see the Legislation section.