Measures

The OHCHR Regional Office for the Pacific, in partnership with the Regional Rights Resource Team and the International Services for Human Rights, held a regional training and consultation workshop for civil society representatives,(6-10 September) presenting, among other issues, a topic on violence against women. The meeting focused on raising human rights issues through local and international mechanisms. Human Rights & Rule of Law Section of UNIOSIL in Sierra Leone organised in October 2010 an interactive forum for Traditional Women Leaders in the northern region and Family Support Units and Local Court officials in Kenema district respectively, addressing human rights, child’s rights and gender-based violence with emphasis on harmful traditional practices, such as female genital mutilation(FGM). Participants resolved to collaborate with human rights institutions to monitor, prevent and prosecute gender-based violence in their communities. Within the joint UN MDG gender programme on gender equality and women’s empowerment in the oPt and in coordination with other specialized organizations, Hide

The OHCHR Regional Office for South-East Asia participated in the Commemoration of the 10th Anniversary of UN Security Council 1325, on Women, Peace and Security held by the Thematic Working Group on Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women (TWG-GEEW). The event also launched the Regional Advisory Group on Women, Peace and Security, where several stakeholders were present. The OHCHR Regional Office in the Pacific gave a presentation on “Women and Conflict and Peace and Security” at the Regional Training Program on violence against women, which was organized and facilitated by Fiji Women’s Crisis Center (FWCC). On 26 October, the Regional Office and the OHCHR New York Office organized a workshop for the 1325 anniversary in New York entitled: Unrecognized Conflict: Women’s Survival and Security. The workshop discussed issues of unknown and unrecognized conflicts and how they impact women’s security. On 27 October, in New York, the OHCHR facilitated a workshop on “Building Peace: Exploring the Intersections of Militarism and Violence against Women”, as part of the 1325 anniversary. The OHCHR Regional Office in the Pacific published a discussion paper for the 10th Anniversary of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, entitled “Armed Tribal Conflict and Sorcery in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea.” On 25 October, the Regional Office further presented issues from the discussion paper at a workshop ‘Voices from the Frontlines’ organized by the United Methodist Women and World Council of Churches. Hide

OHCHR Regional Office for Europe provided a briefing (21 October) on the work of the Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women at an International Conference on Violence against Women in Central America which took place in London and was organized by the Central America Women's Network (CAWN). Hide

The OHCHR/Human Rights Adviser in the Russian Federation contributed to activities of the annual campaign “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence” in partnership with the UN Gender Theme group.The OHCHR Regional Office in Central Africa participated in a conference/debate ("causeries éducatives"), organised by the UN Theme Group on Gender, on 8 December 2010, in Yaoundé, Cameroon, where several issues were discussed, including early and forced marriages; female genital mutilation and gender-based violence and HIV/Aids. Several stakeholders participated in the event. The Human Rights Section of MINUSTAH in Haiti, in collaboration with the MINUSTAH Multimedia Center held a session on the different types of violence against women, with representatives of the civil society (November 2010). Hide

Following the report of the “Panel on Reparations for Sexual Violence in the democratic Republic of Congo”, in December 2010, the OHCHR undertook a follow-up mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo to discuss the findings and recommendations of the report with all stakeholders. Hide

In November 2010, the United Nations launched the "United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children" that has been established by General Assembly resolution on the United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons. The Fund will be administered by UNODC, as the designated Fund Manager. Hide

In November 2010, UNODC in collaboration with the Southern African Development Community and the Southern African Regional Police Chief Council Organisation, organized in Pretoria a regional training workshop on effective law enforcement responses to violence against women in the Southern African region, involving trainers from six countries (South Africa, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe). The training tested the UNODC Handbook on effective police responses to violence against women and a related training curriculum, adapting them into the specific needs of the Southern African region. In Panama, within the framework of the MDG project “Improving citizen's security in Panama-contributing to the social construction of peace”, UNODC organized a training workshop for justice and law enforcement officers, based also on the UNODC Handbook and on national and international regulation framework (17-18 November). Hide

UNODC is currently working at developing a gender approach in the criminal justice system of Panama, including the effective application of the law on the prevention of violence against women. Hide

In December 2010, UNODC launched the "Model Law against the Smuggling of Migrants", a tool to assist States to implement the Smuggling of Migrants Protocol by introducing relevant provisions of the Protocol in their domestic legislation. The Model Law addresses, inter alia, the protection of migrants against violence and assistance to migrants whose lives or safety are in danger. Hide

In October 2010 UNODC together with other members of the Inter-Agency Coordination Group against Trafficking in Persons (ICAT), established by the UN General Assembly, launched the report: "An analytical review: 10 years on from the adoption of the UN Trafficking in Persons Protocol'" Hide