The city’s large Mongolian community was one of the reasons it was selected as the destination for an exposure visit facilitated by IDLO for a delegation of Mongolian justice professionals looking to learn about different approaches from U.S. counterparts. The mixed group of ten Mongolian police officers, prosecutors, judges and academics – champions of justice working together to combat domestic violence – spent a week in Washington DC and Virginia.

Domestic violence in Mongolia

Domestic violence is a significant problem in Mongolia, and recent reports have estimated that one in three Mongolian families suffer abuse. Legislation was introduced in 2017 making it a criminal offence, and better cooperation between agencies is critical to reducing the incidence of violence by improving prosecution.

IDLO has been working in Mongolia since 2015 to strengthen the response to domestic violence and increase access to justice for survivors. Supported by the U.S. Department of State, IDLO’s current program is focused on building the professional capacity of first responders through targeted training and improved regulation to formalize coordination efforts.

"The exposure visit gave the Mongolian representatives an opportunity to exchange ideas and compare activities with their counterparts in the U.S.,” explained Oyunchimeg Dash, IDLO’s Field Program Manager in Mongolia. “The coordinated approach they observed in U.S. institutions and organizations constitutes good practice and will help them determine future objectives. But Mongolian law enforcement is on the right path; a lot of international best practice is already being implemented in the country.”