• Legislation should provide that courtroom safety protocols are mandated for all criminal courtrooms. See Model Strategies 7(h), p.36-37; and Council of Europe General Recommendation (2002)5 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on the protection of women against violence adopted on 30 April 2002 and Explanatory Memorandum, App 43ff. For example, the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court states that:

The Court shall take appropriate measures to protect the safety, physical and psychological well-being, dignity and privacy of victims and witnesses. Art. 68

• Legislation should provide that survivor waiting rooms are staffed by law enforcement personnel. 

• Legislation should provide for judicial training which promotes an effective judicial response to threats or acts of violence in the courtroom. This can include enhanced victim protection and swift and public disposition of charges in order to promote confidence in the safety of the legal process. (See: The Toolkit to End Violence Against Women p. 10.)

• Legislation should provide that victims of sexual assault cases are notified of witness protection programs. (See: UN Handbook 3.9.4.)

See:

Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, Best Practice Manual for the Investigation and Prosecution of Sexual Violence Crimes in Situations of Armed Conflict: Lessons from the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (2008), which provides recommendations for creating an “enabling courtroom environment.” Available in English.

United Nations Economic and Social Council Resolution 2005/20, Guidelines on Justice in Matters involving Child Victims and Witnesses of Crime; available in English.