To effectively support legislative reform, it is useful to begin with a comprehensive assessment of whether the country has ratified international and regional frameworks to end VAWG and successfully integrated key provisions in its national legislation. It is also important to look at whether the existing laws have areas that are outdated, ineffective, or not in compliance with these frameworks. Look for loopholes that could be exploited and identify any gaps in content, implementation, weaknesses, barriers to protection, investments and budget allocations, as well as monitoring mechanisms for enforcement of the laws. For example, do existing laws provide protection orders? Are sentencing provisions sufficient? Do they cover new forms of VAWG, such as online violence? Are there discrepancies between customary law (traditional or religious) and formal law?

Several Spotlight Initiative programmes, including in Mexico, Jamaica, Timor-Leste and Trinidad and Tobago, conducted assessments of the existing legislative frameworks. In most countries, these assessments focused on identifying significant barriers to the effective implementation of these laws, such as insufficient resources or implementation capacity, as well as gaps in laws and policies.

For more information, learn more about how to analyse the national policy, legal and institutional environment.

Survivors should be centred within the process of legislative reform to ensure that laws are directly responsive to their needs, experiences and rights. A survivor-centred approach acknowledges the agency of survivors, prioritises their safety and well-being, and seeks to empower them throughout the legal process. Spotlight Initiative programmes – including those in Belize, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Papua New Guinea, and Timor-Leste – supported the engagement (and influence) of survivors in drafting legislation, making legal information accessible and ensuring training for legal and judicial officers is survivor-centred. In Liberia, Spotlight Initiative supported renovations of criminal courts to establish an in-camera victim protection room, prioritising the rights and privacy of survivors during trial proceedings.

Engaging a wide range of stakeholders enriches the legislative process with diverse viewpoints, as well as encourages a sense of ownership and commitment to end VAWG. The key stakeholders vary between contexts, but are likely to include:

• Survivors provide invaluable insights into their experiences of current laws, including any practical challenges faced in accessing justice and support services. See page on how to address barriers survivors face in accessing services.
• Women’s organisations and civil society groups have extensive knowledge and can mobilise support for change. See page on how to facilitate women’s movement building to end VAWG.
• National (and state) governments and parliamentarians are essential to secure legal reforms and play a critical role in implementation. See pages on how to work effectively with national governments, how to work with parliamentarians and how to develop a VAWG influencing strategy.
• National human rights institutions, police, legal professionals, healthcare providers and other service providers ensure a holistic approach to implementing legal reform. See page on engaging sectoral ministries to end VAWG.
• National statistical offices and service providers can provide essential data and insights into the effectiveness of current laws and measures. See page on how to understand and use VAWG data.
• Religious and community leaders can be pivotal in mobilising communities and ensuring that reforms are culturally sensitive and widely accepted. See page on how to engage traditional and faith leaders to end VAWG.

When drafting legislation, it is important that legal reforms are evidence-based and compliant with global and regional frameworks. The UN Handbook for Legislation on Violence against Women advises that legislation be grounded in data and research on the scope, prevalence and incidence of all forms of violence against women, as well as the causes and consequences. Drawing on lessons learned and good practice from other countries can help enhance the quality and effectiveness of new laws. It is also important that laws are unambiguous, with clear definitions of what constitutes violence, encompassing physical, emotional and sexual abuse. This clarity reduces the potential for misinterpretation by law enforcement and the judiciary.

Despite many countries introducing new laws or reforming existing laws, there continues to be a gap in the implementation and enforcement of laws. Key factors contributing to the effective implementation of laws and policies on ending VAWG include:

• Political will and a comprehensive policy framework, which includes a national action plan and data collection to monitor the effectiveness of implementation. This data should be gathered at regular intervals and disaggregated by sex, race, age, ethnicity and other relevant characteristics.
• Coordination mechanisms for different government agencies and service providers to ensure a comprehensive approach.
• Adequate budgets for implementing these laws and policies, particularly for frontline prevention and response services.
• Appropriate training and capacity building of public officials, including police and judicial officers to ensure that legislation protects women and girls from violence and holds perpetrators accountable.
• Specialised prosecutorial units and courts that can help identify, refer, protect and support women who have experienced violence.
• Prevention strategies, such as awareness campaigns, to popularise new laws and shift attitudes and norms around VAWG, both amongst enforcement agencies/institutions and the wider public.
• Monitoring of implementation by civil society and women’s organisations.

To ensure that laws remain relevant, effective and up to date with changing realities (e.g. developments in technology and social media), establish mechanisms to monitor implementation. This involves regular data collection on the prevalence of VAWG and the effectiveness of legal responses, as well as gathering feedback from various stakeholders. In addition to formal mechanisms, women’s rights organisations and other civil society groups can play a vital role in monitoring implementation, for example through shadow reporting mechanisms, observatories and diagnostic surveys to regularly collect data. These independent mechanisms track progress, identify gaps, and advocate for necessary changes and updates in legislation.