Tool 2: Policing and Gender Ê Steps are taken to minimize and closely manage direct contact between the victim/ survivor and the alleged perpetrator at the court and during the trial. This can help reduce distress on the part of the victim/survivor, and can be facilitated by: ƒ disallowing direct examination of the victim/survivor by the defendant ƒ allowing the victim/survivor to testify behind screens or via CCTV. Ê Steps are taken to protect the privacy of the victim/survivor by restricting media and public presence during trials, using pseudonyms and removing identifying information from the public records of the court. Special consideration should be given to victims/survivors of GBV who have been charged with criminal offences, by considering the impact of GBV and claims of self-defence. Likewise, in civil, family or administrative law cases, the courts should be made aware of all relevant information regarding GBV. For example, a woman’s decision to leave a family home to protect herself and/or her children from further violence should not prejudice civil proceedings in child custody cases.12 Remedies should be reviewed to consider whether they address the needs and rights of victims/survivors, and to ensure they enable access to medical, psychological and social care. Training, sensitization and monitoring Policies and skills training for police, prosecutors and judges are needed to avoid the types of gender bias and discrimination discussed in section 2.3. Justice professionals should be supported to develop expertise in dealing with cases involving GBV. Training is discussed further in section 4.9. The handling and resolution of GBV cases should be monitored, including case attrition rates, conviction rates and penalties. Monitoring should be done within the justice system and be subject to external review by formal and civil society actors. Oversight is discussed further in section 4.13. Victim/survivor services Special measures should be taken to support victims/survivors of GBV. Free 24-hour hotlines can offer advice, assistance and referral to other services, such as healthcare, emergency shelter and counselling. Considering that women and girls are the overarching majority of all victims of GBV, specialized services should be in place for women victims of violence. In addition, specialized services for other groups of victims/survivors should be considered, including, for example, services for men and boys, or persons of diverse sexual orientation and gender identity.* Interpreters and translators should be available and properly trained. Provisions also need to be made for the children of victims/survivors, in terms of ensuring that shelters, facilities and services can appropriately accommodate children so victims/ survivors are not forced to choose between seeking justice and looking after their children. Specialized institutions and co-ordination Justice institutions that specialize in GBV can, if properly resourced and supported, better respond to the specific needs of victims/survivors. Such institutions include GBV or sexual offences courts and prosecution offices, mobile courts and legal clinics. Their existence sends a message that such crimes are taken seriously by the state and its institutions. For example, in Sierra Leone “Saturday Courts” helped clear a massive backlog of GBV cases, and provided an environment more sensitive to the needs of victims/survivors. The courts also had a significant impact on attitudes that GBV is unacceptable and would not be tolerated, thus contributing towards protecting women’s rights and facilitating the peace process.13 * For more detailed guidance on services for men and boys, see DCAF (2014) Preventing and Responding to Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Men: A Guidance Note for Security Sector Institutions, Geneva: DCAF. 37