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

V
WOMEN’S ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE 171
violence against women. 453 Good practice requires such training
to be systematic and mandatory. 454
Appropriate expertise is necessary for police to cooperate
effectively with other agencies in multi-disciplinary teams
working to ensure victim safety. 455 Police should be held to
account through appropriate oversight and accountability
mechanisms that are responsible for implementing procedures
and enforcing these under codes of conduct. 456
Police services should aim to recruit women at all levels of
seniority, and increase numbers of women officers working on
front-line services so that women who are victims of genderbased
violence can speak to a woman officer. 457
453
Ibid, paragraph 16(d) of which urges States to “ensure that
attitudes of criminal justice officials that foster, justify or tolerate
violence against women are held up to public scrutiny and sanction”.
454
In-depth study on all forms of violence against women, above note
379, paragraph 296.
455
Updated Model Strategies and Practical Measures, above note 380,
paragraph 16(b) of which urges States to “develop mechanisms to
ensure a comprehensive, multidisciplinary, coordinated, systematic
and sustained response to violence against women in order to increase
the likelihood of successful apprehension, prosecution and conviction
of the offender, contribute to the well-being and safety of the victim
and prevent secondary victimization”.
456
Ibid, paragraph 16(a) of which urges States to “ensure that the
applicable provisions of laws, policies, procedures, programmes and
practices related to violence against women are consistently and
effectively implemented by the criminal justice system and supported
by relevant regulations as appropriate”. See also paragraph 16(j)
which urges States to “ensure that the exercise of powers by police,
prosecutors and other criminal justice officials is undertaken according
to the rule of law and codes of conduct and that such officials are held
accountable for any infringement thereof through appropriate
oversight and accountability mechanisms”.
457
Ibid, paragraph 16(k) of which urges States to “ensure genderequitable
representation in the police force and other agencies of the
justice system, particularly at the decision-making and managerial
levels.” See also paragraph 16(n), which urges States to “provide