• Legislation should ensure that complainants/survivors have access to advocates who will be present and advise them through the legal process, including filing for orders of protection, accompanying them to court, and filing for restitution or compensation available by statute. Legislation should provide that these advocates must be trained in counseling and in domestic violence issues and in the law and practice of their country.

• Legislation should reflect the importance of the confidentiality of the relationship between an advocate and a complainant/survivor.For example, the law of Georgia states that “The information on state of physical and psychological status of the victim shall be confidential and its disclosure shall be permitted only in cases provided by law.” Article 19

(Fuller, Rana SA, “The Importance of Confidentiality Between Domestic Violence Advocates and Domestic Violence Victims,” StopVAW, The Advocates for Human Rights)

For information on advocate/complainant/survivor privilege, see Family Violence: A Model State Code; Sec. 216; available in English; and Advocacy Guidelines, StopVAW, The Advocates for Human Rights; available in English.

For more on the relationship of advocates and complainant/survivors see: Davies, Jill (2008) “When Battered Women Stay…Advocacy Beyond Leaving”; available in English; and

National Prosecuting Authority of South Africa (2005) Uniform Protocol for the Management of Victims, Survivors, and Witnesses of Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences; available in English.