Prosecution in context includes connecting the victim with intensive, ongoing advocacy services, expanding the response to greater flexibility in response to the victim’s needs and increasing communication and coordination with private advocates, community agencies and other support providers.Pay close attention to the victim’s goals, priorities and interests in order to respond in a flexible manner to her safety concerns while at the same time ensuring perpetrator accountability
What practitioners say
Consistent with literature
Formation or joining community support groups or safety nets: Domestic violence victim support groups have been established in several communities in Northern Uganda where women watch over each other. In one of the communities in Gulu, women have whistles to alert the rest of the group members in case of a domestic violence incident; when one of them blows the whistle, they all come to her rescue, this has enhanced women’s safety in this community.
Using a rights-based approach to empower victims of domestic violence especially women to speak out and demand for support services: Many non-government and community-based organizations have adopted this approach and consequently enabled women to demand for protection of victims whenever domestic violence incidents in their community are unaddressed. Women are also able to challenge policies, laws and services that are not responding to their needs. This has often resulted into leaders and law enforcers stepping up services or visiting the community to publicly caution perpetrators and commit to supporting victims, such action has sometimes deterred domestic violence and enhanced victim safety at community level.
Other suggested practices
Utilising community driven initiatives/solutions to handle domestic violence cases: Examples of such initiatives include the Bataka model in Kagadi, locally established cultural structures in Gulu and clan meetings that are used to resolve domestic disputes in several communities in the Central, Eastern and Western parts of Uganda. Practitioners say that sometimes they refer cases of domestic violence to these structures especially when the victim does not want to take an adversarial approach. These informal structures have sometimes promoted collective responsibility and ownership of both the issue and solutions and made the family and community accountable for the victim’s safety.
- Even when a domestic violence case is being pursued in the formal justice system, involving the family or immediate community in its resolution may help to secure victim safety. However, it must be done with caution to avoid breach of confidentiality and to guard against reinforcing gender and power inequalities between men and women. Bringing the family and community on board is important because often they are the first point of contact when the victim is seeking help and it is important to equip them with the right information and skills to support the victim during and after the case
Resources and Methodology
- Most plausible interventions
- PICO question
- Search strategy
- Assessment and grading of evidence
- Recommendation
The three main sources used for this particular subject are:
Matthew R. Sanders, W. Kim Halford and Brett C. Behrens, Parental Divorce and Premarital Couple Communication (1999) Tamara D. Afifi, Tara McManus, Susan Hutchinson and Birgitta Baker, Inappropriate Parental Divorce Disclosures, the Factors that Prompt them, and their Impact on Parents’ and Adolescents’ Well-Being (2007) Paul Schrodt and Tamara D. Afifi, Communication Processes that Predict Young Adults’ Feelings of Being Caught and their Associations with Mental Health and Family Satisfaction (2007)
The article by Sanders, Halford and Behrens is based on a detailed observational analysis of couples’ interaction. The article by Afifi, McManus, Hutchinson and Baker bases its findings mostly on clinical and empirical evidence. The article by Schrodt and Afifi uses both empirical and meta-analysis to support its findings. According to the HiiL Methodology: Assessment of Evidence and Recommendations, the strength of this evidence is classified as ‘low’ to ‘moderate’.
Desirable outcomes
It is important to note that, based on uncertainty reduction theory, children need some information about the separation in order to reduce their uncertainty about the state of their family (Afifi, McManus, p. 80).
Undesirable outcomesResearch has shown that parents’ inappropriate disclosures give children psychological distress, physical ailments and feelings of being caught between their parents (Afifi, McManus, p. 79). Examples of inappropriate information are: negative information about the other parent (including complaints on lack of child-support), sensitive information and information judged not to be suitable (such as on financial issues, the reason for separation and personal concerns of the parent), and information that makes children feel caught between their parents (Schrodt, p. 209).
If children are completely uninformed about the separation, they can feel deceived, which can produce mistrust, diminished satisfaction with their parental communication, and a fear of establishing committed romantic relationships upon maturity (Afifi, McManus, p. 80). It can be difficult to for some parents to determine the fine line between disclosing the right amount of information and inappropriate information.
Balance of outcomes
In determining whether actively limiting disclosure of information to children about the other parent is more effective than sharing all information for their well-being, the desirable and undesirable outcomes of both interventions must be considered. The available literature suggests that certain information is not to be disclosed for the sake of the wellbeing of the child. In particular, revealing negative information about one parent would have severe negative effect physically and psychologically in both the long and short term. This type of information is classified as ‘inappropriate’. However, it is important to keep in mind that children should be informed during the separation process.
RecommendationIn light of the undesired outcomes of revealing inappropriate information to children, we make the following recommendation: For the well-being of children, it is appropriate that parents disclose information on the separation, albeit in a considered and limited way.
Domestic violence victims usually have multiple needs that cannot be adequately met by a single service provider. Accessing the different service providers may sometimes be difficult for a victim whose movement is restricted by a controlling and abusive partner. Therefore, having a one stop center where all relevant services are located can avail high quality, accessible, acceptable multisectoral care for victims of domestic violence, but this is only possible if the model is implemented as designed or intended
What practitioners say
Consistent with literature
Putting the needs of the victim at the centre of any intervention: Interventions that have enabled victims of domestic violence to smoothly navigate the justice system are those where the service provider puts the needs of the victim at the centre of any decisions and employs the do no harm principle. A victim centred approach prioritizes the safety, needs, interests, voice, and participation of the victim. Usually with this approach, the first action of the practitioner or actor is to conduct a risk assessment and together with the victim draw a safety plan, this helps to secure the victim’s immediate and long-term safety.
Ensuring that domestic violence victims obtain or have access to medical care, counselling, and psychosocial support as primary response mechanisms: The wellbeing of the victim and ability to cope with legal proceedings is greatly enhanced when at the onset of the case they receive necessary medical care, and it is followed up with counselling and psychosocial support. This works best when the practitioner or actor regularly follows up with both the victim and the counsellor to ensure that the support is ongoing and adequate. This primary intervention is often done simultaneously with legal interventions such as giving legal advice, conducting investigations, drafting necessary court papers and representing the victim in court proceedings. It therefore, does not have to halt other urgently needed interventions unless the victim is incapacitated or unable to cope until they attain a certain level of healing. It is important for the practitioner or actor to explain the necessary procedures and how long the case is likely to take and check-in upon completion of every stage if the victim is mentally and physically prepared to move to the next stage and provide support accordingly. Practitioners and actors have noted that most domestic violence victims suffer from depression and or post-traumatic stress disorder and need continuous counselling to deal with the tedious and uncertain justice system processes. Additionally, sometimes physical injury inhibits victim participation in the justice system and ensuring that their medical needs are attended to makes them feel cared for and enhances their ability to participate.
Referring victims of domestic violence to organizations that provide economic empowerment: Economic empowerment entails equipping victims of domestic violence with income generating skills and or seed money. Sometimes it extends to connecting the victim to a market for their products or produce, access to credit and or supporting victims to register their interest in moveable and immovable property and to acquire title over the same. These interventions are usually implemented by non-government or community-based organizations. The victim’s ability to follow their case to fruition especially for a woman who financially depends on her abusive partner is greatly enhanced when she is supported to attain economic independence.
Providing legal aid or ensuring that domestic violence victims have access to legal aid services: Legal aid coupled with other services such as psychosocial support, economic empowerment, follow up and referral enables many victims of domestic violence especially women to follow their cases to fruition. Providing legal aid or connecting the victim to a legal aid service provider enhances their ability to navigate the justice system. The victim’s ability to engage with the system is also enhanced when the practitioner makes it clear that the victim can access legal aid and other support services whether they choose to pursue the case or not. Allocating a particular legal aid worker to offer support and be physically present at every level in the justice system not only builds trust between the victim and the legal aid worker but also reduces the number of times the victim will have to retell their story and reduces re-traumatization.
Continuous specialized training of service providers: When police officers, health care workers, prosecutors, judicial officers, legal aid workers, probation and social welfare officers among others, are continuously equipped with skills and knowledge on a trauma informed approach to domestic violence, provision of victim centred services, the cycle of domestic violence, tactics of perpetrators, identifying the dominant aggressor in domestic violence cases, among other aspects, revictimization is reduced and victims’ experiences in the justice system are improved. Specialized training yields better results when conducted jointly with all relevant actors, this enriches the discussion with across-the-board experiences that actors greatly learn from. Joint training also enhances communication, coordination and collaboration among actors which quickens referrals thereby improving the experience of domestic violence victims during their quest for justice.
Other suggested practices
Bringing domestic violence response services closer to the communities especially in rural areas where support services may be limited or absent: This is being done through mobile legal aid clinics often conducted by non-government organisations or law school clinics. Mobile legal aid clinics offer on spot legal advice and yield more results when conducted after an awareness session on domestic violence. Specialized units such as the family and children’s protection unit of the Uganda Police, special court sessions on gender-based violence cases including domestic violence have also enabled many victims of domestic violence who would have otherwise failed to pursue justice to navigate the system.
Involving prosecutors in domestic violence case investigations or prosecution led investigations: These have proven to enhance collection of sufficient and reliable evidence in addition to supporting its preservation and expediting trial processes in domestic violence cases. Prosecution led investigations also enhance victim safety as prosecutors play a crucial role in devising means to protect witnesses which improves the victim’s experience of the justice system
Resources and Methodology
- Most plausible interventions
- PICO question
- Search strategy
- Assessment and grading of evidence
- Recommendation
One Stop Center (OSC) model
Standalone OSCs are usually established by non-government organizations while the first two are often state funded facilities (Olson et al, 2020). It is important that domestic violence support services are state aided and provided holistically because it is the duty of the state to protect victims of crime, this will also enhance sustainability of the services.
This intervention was chosen because of the numerous challenges identified by victims of domestic violence while seeking support from the traditional nonintegrated system. Due to the multidisciplinary needs of these victims and yet services are often scattered in different locations, victims find themselves retelling their stories of trauma at every service point which contributes to secondary revictimization (Colombini et al, 2012). The OSC model seeks to address these challenges.
Multi-sectoral approach
This approach entails coordination, collaboration and communication between the relevant support providers within the informal and formal justice system, the social sector and the health sector. A multi-sectoral approach yields better outcomes for victims of domestic violence as a result of improved service delivery and provision, in fact it is said to reduce domestic violence (Murphy and Fanslow, 2012).
The multi-sectoral approach is characterized by collaboration among actors such as the village local councils, community-based organizations, police, prosecutors, judicial officers, legal aid service providers, psychosocial support providers, shelter workers, probation and social welfare officers, health care providers, peer support groups, among others.
With this approach, the responsibility of each agency is derived from its core mandate and competence for example police should investigate domestic violence cases and conduct arrest in preparation for prosecution while social workers and health care providers should facilitate disclosure, offer necessary support to victims and collaborate with the police to ensure that the cases are reported and documented. All agencies should always maintain open communication and collaboration, in several jurisdictions, this has materialized through case conferences where all agencies meet and devise best ways to handle domestic violence cases and support victims (Hagemann–White, 2019).
This intervention was chosen because research shows that where this collaboration exists, victims gain more support and information and are empowered to make informed choices about whether to engage the justice system or not (Murphy and Fanslow, 2012).
- Marianne Hester and Nicole Westmarland, Tackling Domestic Violence: effective interventions and approaches: Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate (2005).
- Carol Hagemann–White, “Redress, Rights, and Responsibilities – Institutional Frameworks of Domestic Violence Intervention in Four Countries.” In Interventions against Child Abuse and Violence against Women: Ethics and Culture in Practice and Policy, edited by Hagemann-White Carol, Kelly Liz, and Meysen Thomas, 87-103. Opladen; Berlin; Toronto: Verlag Barbara Budrich, (2019)
- Lori L. Heise, What Works to Prevent Partner Violence? An Evidence Overview: Report for the UK Department for International Development (2011)
- Daniel P. Mears, Research and Interventions to Reduce Domestic Violence Revictimization. Trauma, Violence & Abuse, vol. 4, no. 2, (2003)
- Women’s Access to Justice for Gender-Based Violence. A Practitioners’ Guide, International Commission of Jurists, (2016)
| One Stop Center (OSC) model | Multi sectoral approach |
| Because all services in a one stop center are located in one space it makes reporting, medical examinations, coordination of investigations and support services easier for victims and support workers (Daly and Bouhours, 2011)A one stop center may avoid revictimization caused by victims having to retell their stories at every service point, provides better psychosocial support and may allow for better multisectoral collaboration. It may also be better equipped with infrastructure to provide a full range of multi-disciplinary services (Daly and Bouhours, 2011). A one stop center also enhances safety as victims don’t have to move from one point to another and it facilitates referrals (International Commission of Jurists, 2016). | Coordinated and collaborative responses to family violence result in better outcomes for victims and perpetrators, enhanced processes in and between agencies, improved service delivery and provision and reduced violence (Murphy & Fanslow, 2012).Research shows that having a coordinated response enables victims to engage with a wider range of agencies for much longer periods. This gives them more support and information from trained advocates. Therefore, as a result of the coordinated approach victims of domestic violence are empowered and able to make informed choices about whether to engage with the justice system (Murphy & Fanslow, 2012). |
| One Stop Center (OSC) model | Multi sectoral approach |
| A one stop center may be expensive and less feasible in rural areas. A one stop shop center based in a health facility is feasible, but this may be difficult where such facilities are scarce (Olson et. al, 2020). A stand-alone OSC that donors phase out from may increase the risk of survivor stigmatization and may not meet medical needs of survivors, especially when it comes to emergencies and specialty needs. The sustainability of a NGO-based stand-alone OSC is uncertain because they are donor driven especially if it is NGO based, this may have a negative impact on victims of domestic violence who may need these services after donors phase out (Olson et. al, 2020). | Without clear processes to resolve tensions between service providers, the ability of professionals and their agencies to work cooperatively to meet clients’ needs may not be possible. For a multi-sectoral approach, members of different agencies may hold different professional values and world views and are likely to work with different codes of practice. This can result in misunderstanding of other agencies, and disagreement or uncertainty about what is expected of members and the nature and aims of a coordinated network (Murphy & Fanslow, 2012).Some agencies may focus on their own agendas to the detriment of the victim’s well-being. This results in lack of a coordinator and role demarcation, lack of mutual trust and respect, power imbalances between actors, lack of buy in and commitment, communication and information sharing issues, missing linkages with diverse multi-sectoral partners e.g., community networks that may not have a clear legal mandate (Murphy & Fanslow, 2012). Lack of unified outcomes or agreed upon objectives across sectors/agencies may inhibit collaboration and attainment of the victim’s justice outcomes and put the victim at risk of further harm (Murphy & Fanslow, 2012). |
| In determining whether adopting a one stop center model is better than a multisectoral approach for the well-being of victims of domestic violence who are navigating the justice system, the desirable and undesirable outcomes of both interventions must be considered.Evidence suggests that adopting the one stop center model avoids re-traumatization caused by victims having to retell their stories at every service point, provides better psychosocial support, may allow for better multi-sectoral collaboration and may be better equipped with infrastructure to provide full range of multi-displinary services. It also enhances victim safety as they don’t have to move from one point to another and makes referral easier. On the other hand, it may be expensive and less feasible in rural areas where many vulnerable domestic violence victims may be situated and may increase the risk of survivor stigmatization and may not meet medical needs of survivors especially emergencies and specialty needs, especially when it is a stand-alone facility also, this kind of OSC is often donor driven and therefore not sustainable. Taking the multisectoral approach has limitations such as members of agencies may hold different professional values and world views and are likely to work in services with different codes of practice. This can result in misunderstanding of other agencies, and disagreement or uncertainty about what is expected of members and the nature and aims of a coordinated network. Without clear processes to resolve these tensions, the ability of professionals and their agencies to work cooperatively to meet clients’ needs is heavily impaired. Some agencies may focus on their own agendas to the detriment of the bigger picture, lack of role demarcation, lack of mutual trust and respect, power imbalances between actors, lack of buy in and commitment, communication and information sharing issues, lack of a clear coordinator, missing linkages with diverse multi sectoral partners e.g., community networks that may not have a clear legal mandate. Accordingly taking the one stop center model is recommended. |
| Taking into account the evidence and the balance of outcomes towards the one stop center model, the following recommendation can be made: For victims of domestic violence trying to navigate the justice system, the one stop center model is better than the multisectoral approach for their wellbeing. |
- Start: During the start phase key community members and stakeholders are recruited and sensitized.
- Awareness: The awareness phase involves conducting activities that foster a greater awareness and discussion of how power can be misused, its implications, and also the ability for people to use their power in more positive ways.
- Support: Supporting community members who make changes in their own lives to prevent and respond to cases of violence in their community is part of the third phase.
- Action: Institutionalizing the achieved change within the community
What practitioners say
Continuously raising awareness on domestic violence: The awareness usually entails topics on what constitutes domestic violence, its forms, cause, effects, magnitude, how to live non-violent lives and support services available. The awareness is usually conducted in the local language by local council leaders, community volunteers, social workers, lawyers and community development workers, in both informal (under a tree or community meeting place) and formal settings (organised in form of a workshop) within the community. Creating awareness on domestic violence is more sustainable when the capacity of community structures such as local councils is strengthened to own and continue the initiatives. Therefore, the awareness is done in conjunction with local leaders who not only mobilize the community but also speak about pressing issues in the community.- The awareness has a bigger impact when it is coupled with domestic violence prevention and response-targeted training for local councils, probation officers and or community development officers, community activists, religious leaders, cultural leaders, village health committees, health workers, police, etc., to equip them with skills to support and refer victims of domestic violence – those who may disclose and actively look for support as well as those who may not be willing to look for support.
- Awareness sessions that are tailored to meet specific information needs and take into consideration the position and influence of community members are highly effective. These are key in equipping specific groups of men, women, boys, girls, youth, religious leaders, cultural leaders, opinion leaders, etc. with knowledge and information that they use to influence their constituencies.
- Awareness on domestic violence if incorporated in economic empowerment initiatives is also effective. This is done in cases where women have formed saving groups to facilitate individual and group income generating activities through revolving schemes or other initiatives to support each other to obtain credit. The awareness in this setting helps domestic violence victims to disclose the abuse within the safety net of the group, which in turn supports the victims to seek help or report. When a victim of domestic violence is economically empowered their ability to report the abuse is enhanced.
- Providing or making information on domestic violence as a crime and available support services readily available also equips gainfully employed women who may be experiencing domestic violence but are unable to report. Many gainfully employed women experience domestic violence in silence due to various reasons including negative socio-cultural norms and stigma.
- Helplines are effective when support providers are continuously equipped with skills to handle domestic violence cases in addition to gender sensitive training. Such training enables helpline support providers to guard against asking questions that revictimize or blame the victim for the violence they are experiencing. Practicing sensitivity by using non-judgmental language and avoiding questions such as ‘what did you do?’ and instead focusing on the form, severity, and frequency of abuse during a call, creates a conducive environment for the victim to give sufficient information upon which meaningful advice can be based. The more information the support provider gets from the victim, the better placed they are to assess the safety of the victim and to give effective advice and referral. Below is a table including details of some of the most used helplines.
| No. | Organization | Services offered | Operational time | Helpline |
| 1. | SAUTI | National helpline for reporting violence against children cases | 24 hours | 116 |
| 2. | Communication for Development Uganda (CDFU) | Telephone Counselling for survivors of Domestic Violence and referrals | Monday to Saturday8am- 7pm | 0800 200 600 |
| 3. | The MIFUMI Project | Counselling, legal aid and Psychosocial services | 24 hours | 0800200250 |
| 4. | Naguru teenage center | Counselling for teenagers and reproductive health and referrals | 8:00am-5:00pm | 08001122220800311222 |
| 5. | Uganda Network on Law, Ethics and HIV (UGANET) | Counselling, legal aid and shelter for GBV victims | 24 hours | 08003331230774199374-WhatsApp |
| 6. | Uganda Police Force ( | GBV response | 24 hours | 0800199195 |
| 7. | Legal Aid Services Providers Network (LASPNET) | GBV information, legal aid, and referral | 24 hours | 0800111401 |
| 8. | Uganda Association of Women Lawyers (FIDA Uganda) | GBV information, counselling, legal aid, and referral | 8:30am – 5:00pm | 0800111511 |
| 9. | Uganda Law Society | Legal information and advice, counselling, access to a lawyer and referrals | 8:30am -5:00pm | 08001001500800100151 |
Resources and Methodology
- Most plausible interventions
- PICO question
- Search strategy
- Assessment and grading of evidence
- Recommendation
- Lori Anne Shaw, Divorce Mediation Outcome Research: A Meta-Analysis (2006)
- Robert Emery, Divorce Mediation (1986)
- Linda D. Elrod, Reforming the System to Protect Children in High Conflict Custody Cases (2001)
- Joan B. Kelly, Family Mediation Research: Is There Empirical Support for the Field? (An Update) (2014)
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