Green Enterprise Solutions (Green), recently completed a project for the victim-friendly court for gender-based violence (GBV) at the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court in Katutura. During the renovations, provisions were made, and equipment was installed to help victims of GBV testify against their accusers in a safe environment.
The Minister of Justice, Yvonne Dausab, and Chief Justice, Peter Shivute, officially opened the renovated victim-friendly magistrate’s court. Testifying in court can be difficult and is often a terrifying experience, this new courtroom is designed to help victims feel safe while giving evidence. The equipment needed to create this safe space to testify was provided and installed by Green and consists of Digital Recording System, known as a DSP. This Digital Signal Processing allows these live signals to be stored, edited, replayed, and transferred efficiently and accurately. With the necessary training given as well as to how to operate the equipment.
Dausab said; “The courtroom facility is an example of an institutional mechanism designed to eradicate GBV, and to protect victims. “Its design specifically eases the burden for victims testifying in court. While this burden is significant for women who have been victims of gender-based violence, it is even more significant for children testifying against those who have abused them.”
This courtroom will hopefully be the first of such courtrooms across the country, leveraging and engaging technology to support victims, keeping them safe when testifying and enhancing their wellbeing, and encouraging victims to participate in, or stay involved with, the criminal justice process. Chief justice, Peter Shivute, stated: “The escalation of GBV in the country has become a national concern and innocent lives, particularly those of women and children, are lost because of gender-based violence. This courtroom will provide the necessary tools for those victims to be able to testify.”
Kehad Snydewel, Managing Director of Green, stated at the opening of the new courtroom; “It is with great pride that we see this courtroom being opened and applaud the Ministry for having the foresight to use technology to keep victims of GBV safe whilst testifying against perpetrators of the scourge that is GBV.”