The aim of this Handbook is to capacitate investigators in the two oversight institutions in implementing five selected laws related to SGBV, SRHR and HP. Â The 5 laws are:Â
- the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act (2006);
- the Child Care, Protection and Justice Act (2010);
- the Gender Equality Act (2013);
- the Marriage, Divorce and Family Relations Act (2016): and
- the Penal Code (as amended in 2010).
The roles of oversight institutions or bodies generally, can include monitoring law enforcement policy and practice; independently undertaking investigations; issuing binding and/or non-binding recommendations on accountability issues, policies and practices; aggregating data on complaints and malpractices; and publicly reporting on oversight and compliance issues. Such independent oversight is essential to ensure accountability, strengthen stakeholder confidence, and provide a substantive basis for dialogue and cooperation between democratic institutions, the law enforcement sector, justice actors and civil society on security, governance and human rights issues. Structured and systematic reports and other documentation about the behaviour of the law enforcers can provide an empirical basis for reforms to policy and practice at national and local levels.
Similarly, independent oversight institutions are well placed, depending on their mandate, to issue recommendations on improving law enforcement and human rights observance by the law enforcement agencies.