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

V
WOMEN’S ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE 173
with a domestic violence case, which require a number of basic
steps to be established in policing laws and regulations:
“Interviewing the parties and witnesses, including
children, in separate rooms to ensure there is an
opportunity to speak freely;
“Recording the complaint in detail;
“Advising the complainant/survivor of her rights;
“Filling out and filing an official report on the complaint;
“Providing or arranging transport for the
complainant/survivor to the nearest hospital or medical
facility for treatment, if it is required or requested;
“Providing or arranging transport for the
complainant/survivor and the complainant/survivor’s
children or dependents, if it is required or requested;
and
“Providing protection to the reporter of the violence”. 461
This level of detail is important to lay down a record of
evidence about the concerns of the victim and reports of the
violence so far, and also for allowing the victim to make choices
to take action about previous assaults at a later date. This is
especially important in the situation of domestic violence. Often
women subject to gender-based violence take some time to
gain sufficient confidence with the police to be able to progress
an investigation. If a thorough investigation takes place at the
beginning of a woman’s engagement with the police, then she
can show a longer term pattern of violence.
Proactive policing requires that police officers have the
expertise to advise women on how State agencies and officials
can secure their safety and access to justice and reparation,
including referrals to appropriate service-providers.
Policing: ensuring safety
Good practice requires the police to attend reports of genderbased
violence promptly and to offer immediate protection to
461
UN Handbook for Legislation on Violence against Women, above
note 413, page 36.