Across Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia, IRLI works alongside justice institutions to strengthen trauma-informed practice, improve coordination, and remove barriers to access — so justice protects, not harms.
Ahead of International Women’s Day 2026, Irish Rule of Law International (IRLI) is highlighting its commitment to strengthening justice systems that protect dignity, uphold equality before the law, and respond effectively to survivors of gender-based violence.
Across Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia, IRLI works in long-term partnership with national justice institutions to advance survivor-centred approaches grounded in local leadership and sustainability. Our focus is not on delivering parallel services, but on supporting institutions to lead reforms that are embedded, nationally owned and responsive to the realities faced by women and vulnerable groups.
Tanzania and Zambia: Strengthening Courtroom Practice
In Tanzania and Zambia, IRLI supports judicial training on trauma-informed and survivor-centred approaches in cases involving sexual and gender-based violence. Through cascade training models and peer-to-peer exchanges, national institutions are strengthening courtroom practice — reducing harmful questioning, improving case management, and enhancing protections for vulnerable witnesses.
These reforms aim not only to improve survivor wellbeing, but also to strengthen the quality and integrity of justice processes overall.
Judicial trainings in Tanzania strengthen trauma-informed courtroom practice to uphold fairness, privacy and dignity.
Survivor-centered courtroom practice: clear language, controlled questioning, fair treatment.
Malawi: Mapping Access and Strengthening Coordination
In Malawi, IRLI chairs the Malawi Irish Consortium on Gender-Based Violence (2025–2028), supporting strengthened coordination between justice institutions and civil society actors. As part of this work, the Consortium is advancing a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping initiative to identify where gender-based violence services exist — and where significant access barriers remain.
By generating evidence to inform national planning and coordination, this initiative supports more responsive and equitable justice systems.
Map of IRLI's service locations across five districts in Malawi.
Nancy Chidzankufa, gender-based violence adviser.
A Systems Approach
IRLI’s 2026–2030 Strategy places localisation, gender equality and systems reform at the centre of its work. Through trusted partnerships and peer-to-peer collaboration — including professional engagement across the island of Ireland — IRLI supports justice actors to lead sustainable reforms that endure beyond individual programmes.
As International Women’s Day approaches, we reaffirm our commitment to justice systems that protect — not harm — and that ensure survivors are treated with fairness, dignity and respect.
Resources
Irish Rule of Law International Strategy 2026-2030