Key principles for monitoring and evaluation

Monitoring and evaluation should refer back to existing baseline data or begin with a baseline study
Monitoring and evaluation are closely linked to, and should reflect the methodology of, the initial project appraisal
Monitoring is an integral part of programme implementation
Monitoring should be linked to the specific programme objectives that were defined through the appraisal and programme planning process
Monitoring information should be used in decision-making
Evaluation should follow a specific methodology designed to gather information about programme success
Monitoring and evaluation should respect principles of participation and involve all programme stakeholders, including programme implementers, beneficiaries (programme users), women and girl survivors when appropriate and safe, local officials, and other observers such as related civil society groups
Monitoring and evaluation should respect and protect the rights, welfare, and confidentiality of all those involved in the programme

Examples of Objectives for Monitoring and Evaluation of Justice/Legal Sector Initiatives

Strategy/ intervention	Examples of possible objectives	Examples of possible indicators
1. campaigns for improved laws and policies	Discriminatory laws and policies are amended or repealed Appropriate laws, policies and protocols around violence against women are developed, enacted and implemented Adequate resources are allocated for initiatives	Percentage of the budget allocated for initiatives aimed at preventing violence against women, providing services for survivors and increasing access to justice for victims Systematic national level data is collected on violence against women Ratification of CEDAW, its Optional Protocol and/or removal of reservations Ratification of relevant regional conventions Legal recognition of non-discrimination and gender equality Constitutional guarantee of gender equality Specific action plan on violence against women All forms of violence against women are criminalized and treated as serious offenses Training on violence against women is offered and made mandatory for justice sector personnel
2. campaigns to increase women’s awareness of their rights, empower them to claim their rights, and mobilize communities to defend those rights	Women increase their knowledge and awareness of their rights under international and local law Women feel empowered to claim their rights under law Women and girls understand that violence against women is a violation of their human rights Men, other community members and leaders understand that violence against women and girls is a violation of human rights and understand the law in this area Communities galvanize action to raise awareness around and promote a woman’s right to a life without violence	Proportion of women (and men) who identify all forms of violence against women (specify forms) as a violation of human rights Proportion of women who are able to identify their rights under specific legislation Proportion of women who state they would report violence against them to the police Proportion of women who state they understand and feel empowered to take their case through the legal process Proportion of women who know of a local organization that provides legal aid to survivors Number of violence against women complaints reported to the police (disaggregated by form of violence – i.e. domestic, sexual, other) Proportion of men and other community members - attending or participating in awareness-raising events - who identify violence against women as a violation of human rights and a critical issue Proportion of men and other community members - attending or participating in awareness-raising events – who make a commitment to protecting women’s rights and preventing violence against women
3. training to sensitize police, judges and all other justice sector actors around human rights, violence against women, and gender-related concerns, norms and stereotypes	Law enforcement professionals are able to respond to incidents of violence against women and girls according to established protocols Law enforcement professionals are sensitized around gender, violence against women and barriers women and girls face, including the impact of prevailing norms and stereotypes Law enforcement professionals address violence against women and girls as a violation of human rights, and are able to meet their obligations appropriately	Number of law enforcement professionals trained to respond to incidents of violence against women and girls according to established protocols Proportion of violence against women cases that are investigated by the police Proportion of investigations that are conducted according to an established protocol Proportion of law enforcement officials demonstrating appropriate knowledge, attitudes and practice around gender and violence against women issues Proportion of women filing cases with the police who state that law enforcement officials handled their complaints with sensitivity Proportion of women filing cases with the police who state that laws enforcement officials provided appropriate, meaningful assistance
4. efforts to strengthen institutional capacity to respond to violence against women and girls	National protocols for addressing complaints of violence against women and girls are established Commodities and infrastructure for addressing violence against women in police departments are improved Community referral systems for providing services/ assistance to survivors are developed and widely accessed Documentation of cases of violence against women and collection of systematic data, including on prosecution and convictions, is strengthened Collection of systematic data on prevalence of all forms of violence against women and girls is strengthened Collaboration with the health sector for the collection of forensic data is strengthened	Proportion of law enforcement units following a nationally-established protocol for complaints of violence against women – including the proper introduction of medico-legal evidence Proportion of law enforcement units that have appropriate commodities/ infrastructure for interviewing women filing cases Proportion of violence against women cases prosecuted by law Proportion of prosecuted cases of violence against women that resulted in a conviction Proportion of law enforcement officers that are able to refer women to organizations in a community-based referral network Proportion of law enforcement units that systematically collect disaggregated data (such as form, age, perpetrator) on violence against women cases, including on prosecution rates
5. ongoing monitoring of the implementation of laws and policies	Mechanisms for monitoring implementation of laws and policies are developed and publicized	Database of laws, national strategies and action plans, programmes and institutional mechanisms for addressing violence against women and girls set up and maintained Mechanism available and operational for ongoing monitoring of implementation of policies and enforcement of laws, and for publicizing of reports

Source: PATH. Monitoring and Evaluation Module, Virtual Knowledge Centre to End Violence against Women and Girls 2010.

Monitoring and evaluation should use multiple methods of data gathering to answer the same question. This allows for triangulation of data, or comparison of results from multiple sources. This in turn increases the validity of the result, or the likelihood that the data collection has captured a real result.