Judiciary and police weak link in femicide fight, say feminists

A coalition of anti-femicide campaigners is blaming the criminal justice system for the spike in gender-based violence, saying it is not doing enough.

The lot, convened by the Defenders Coalition, bringing together the End Femicide Movement and the Ni Mama Network, say the law enforcement arm and the courts have not taken the violence seriously and are condoning it by their alleged aloofness.

In a wide-ranging memorandum they have sent to the technical working group on gender-based violence including femicide, the campaigners cite various technical and systemic inefficiencies in the law enforcement and court’s handling of the cases that they complain perpetuate the crime.

For example, they say police units repeatedly demonstrate a stark lack of specialised training and modern forensic tools essential for handling GBV cases.

This shortcoming not only obstructs justice for survivors but also reinforces a system where impunity prevails, the document shared with the Star reads.

The lobbies also allege that whenever women — who are victims of violation and gender-based abuse — report to police, the officers perpetrate stereotypes that deny them justice, thereby emboldening the perpetrators to do the unthinkable.

“Law enforcement officers frequently perpetuate outdated gender stereotypes and engage in victim-blaming practices. Such conduct marginalises survivors, undermining their dignity and effectively silencing their voices,” it reads.

The lobbies say insufficient witness protection has discouraged people who may come forward to testify against offenders from doing so, thereby weakening prosecution of perpetrators.

The current mechanisms to protect survivors and witnesses from intimidation or retaliation are grossly inadequate, they say.

“This neglect leaves individuals exposed, especially in cases involving intimate partner violence and femicide and signals a systemic failure to uphold their rights.”

For the Judiciary, the women advocates say, delayed determination of cases and loopholes that are then exploited by the offenders and their accomplices have weakened the fight against femicide.

“The Judiciary has been characterised by sluggish case management, frequent adjournments and overwhelming backlogs. These deficiencies prolong the justice process, discourage reporting and ultimately deprive survivors of timely redress,” the document reads.

The activists claim some judicial officers are biased when handling femicide cases.