As the principal administrator of justice in any given state, the judiciary is uniquely positioned to take leadership and act as the mobilising power towards addressing VAW and encouraging other stakeholders - such as civil society, the public prosecutor and the police - to play their part. In the course of interpretation of existing laws, the judiciary also performs the role of lawmaker by legislating from the bench. They are therefore seen as protectors and defenders of the fundamental individual rights and liberties of victims and witnesses, of perpetrators and of members of the general public.