Appendix 1 Master questionnaire

This document is a master questionnaire developed by the African Human Security Initiative (AHSI2) to assess the efficacy of the criminal justice system in selected African countries, specifically as a complement to the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). It provides a structured framework of questions and indicators to evaluate state capacity, adherence to international human rights standards, and the functionality of policing, prosecution, the judiciary, and prison systems.

• The AHSI2 project is designed to complement the formal NEPAD/APRM process by focusing on the criminal justice systems of countries identified for APRM review, aiming to broaden the application of APRM principles to areas currently outside its focus.
• The project operates on the premise that security is a public good essential for development, emphasizing that human security requires a functioning state system and a focus on the state's responsibility to provide security through an effective criminal justice system.
• The assessment framework evaluates a country's commitment to various regional and international instruments, including the Universal Declaration on Human Rights (1948), the African Charter on Human and People's Rights (1981), and the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice (1985).
• The questionnaire identifies crime in Africa as a developmental concern rather than solely a law enforcement issue, noting that efforts to find diagnostic solutions are hindered by weak institutional capacity and a lack of basic statistics on prisons, courts, and prosecutions.
• The framework for evaluating prosecution focuses on the autonomy of the Directorates of Public Prosecution (DPP), noting that while the Attorney General often holds ultimate authority, it is desirable for prosecutorial functions to be carried out in a non-political public service.
• The assessment of the judiciary focuses on its independence from executive interference, which the document states tends to skew the delivery of justice in many African countries.
• The questionnaire includes specific evaluations for marginalized groups, focusing on gender equality, the needs of female prisoners and victims of domestic violence, and the availability of resources for the rural poor.
• The framework addresses juvenile and customary justice, aiming to identify gaps in adhering to international standards for minors and assessing the role of non-state, traditional, or tribal dispute resolution systems in relation to the Constitution.

APA

Institute for Security Studies (2009). Appendix 1 Master questionnaire. https://issafrica.org/topics/crime-and-criminal-justice/01-apr-2009-monograph-no-159-the-criminal-justice-system-in-zambia.-enhancing-the-delivery-of-security-in-africa-african-human-security-initiative/appendix-1-master-questionnaire

Chicago

Institute for Security Studies. Appendix 1 Master questionnaire. 2009. https://issafrica.org/topics/crime-and-criminal-justice/01-apr-2009-monograph-no-159-the-criminal-justice-system-in-zambia.-enhancing-the-delivery-of-security-in-africa-african-human-security-initiative/appendix-1-master-questionnaire.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Institute for Security Studies |title=Appendix 1 Master questionnaire |date=April 2009 |url=https://issafrica.org/topics/crime-and-criminal-justice/01-apr-2009-monograph-no-159-the-criminal-justice-system-in-zambia.-enhancing-the-delivery-of-security-in-africa-african-human-security-initiative/appendix-1-master-questionnaire |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{instituteforsecuritystudies2009appendix, author = {{Institute for Security Studies}}, title = {{Appendix 1 Master questionnaire}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2009}, month = apr, url = {https://issafrica.org/topics/crime-and-criminal-justice/01-apr-2009-monograph-no-159-the-criminal-justice-system-in-zambia.-enhancing-the-delivery-of-security-in-africa-african-human-security-initiative/appendix-1-master-questionnaire}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }