Universal-Womens-accesss-to-justice-Publications-Practitioners-Guide-Series-2016-ENG

V
WOMEN’S ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE
ix
Access to judicial proceedings treating genderbased
violence in a holistic manner 225
Women’s rights during court proceedings 226
Protection for victims and witnesses 230
Victim-blaming and stereotyping in procedural
law 233
Delay in reporting should not undermine the
credibility of victims 234
Rape and sexual violence: significance of
previous sexual history 235
Rape and sexual violence: challenging the use
of the corroboration rule 237
Torturous and unscientific “tests” for sexual
experience or virginity” 238
BOX: Virginity tests: no scientific value,
discriminatory and violating the rule against
torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading
treatment 239
Sentencing of convicted perpetrators of genderbased
violence 240
Removal of discriminatory exceptions and
reductions of sentences based on social “value”
of women subject to violence 241
Aggravating circumstances for the purposes of
sentencing 242
Limitations of the use of fines as sole sanctions
for domestic violence 243
Reliance on intervention programmes for
perpetrators must not put women’s safety at
risk 244
IX. Practical considerations 246
Finding and preparing cases 246
Laying the foundations for international
accountability 251
Enforcing judgments 253