United Nations Children’s Fund

UNICEF’s MICS 3 (Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey) collected in 2007 for the first time information on attitudes towards domestic violence and child disciplining. MICS also includes modules on female genital mutilation/cutting and child marriage (information is available at www.childinfo.org). UNICEF Swaziland, in partnership with the Centres for Disease Control, published a study on sexual abuse of girls, which will be replicated in other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Hide

Following the launch of the UN Interagency Statement ‘Eliminating Female Genital Mutilation’, by the UN Deputy Secretary General in February 2008, UNICEF-supported efforts were made to implement the approach described therein in national policies. Hide

Many UNICEF country offices in 2008 have utilized television and radio campaigns and capitalized on international awareness days to publicize violence against women and girls. Hide

Through the UNFPA and UNICEF Trust Fund and Joint Programme on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) a quarterly monitoring tool was developed to capture achievements of each output under the Joint Programme, the lessons learned and challenges; the contribution of each output towards achievement of the outcomes in the Joint Programme was developed; a baseline matrix was drafted to guide the collection of baseline information and was circulated to all countries for adaptation. Hide

The UNFPA and UNICEF Trust Fund and Joint Programme on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) aims at reducing FGM/C by 40 per cent in 17 countries by 2012. Over the last six months, work plans were finalized in eight countries and funds disbursed for programme implementation. Hide

Through the UNFPA and UNICEF Trust Fund and Joint Programme on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C), achievements included: launch in Djibouti and Guinea Bissau, where a forum was created for advocacy and policy dialogue towards accelerated abandonment of FGM/C within a generation, with a wide range of stakeholders; policy discussions were held in four Country Offices of UNFPA and UNICEF and with partners, in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Guinea Bissau, Sudan, and Egypt aimed at clarifying issues related to the operation of the Joint Programme and Trust Fund. In Sudan, the Trust Fund supported media advocacy capacity for partners implementing the Joint Programme. Hide

UNICEF country offices continued to support the development of legislation pertinent to violence against women and girls and to work with the Inter-Parliamentary Union. Hide

UNICEF facilitates the establishment of partnerships with governments and non-governmental organizations, and places emphasis on the development of national action plans on gender-based violence. Hide

As a follow up to the Secretary-General’s Study on Violence Against Children, in December 2007, UNICEF supported the development of a new publication on violence against girls, entitled ” From Invisible to Indivisible” highlighting the recommendations of the Secretary-General’s study on violence against children and the study on violence against women. Hide

At the global level, UNICEF contributed extensively to the work of the General Assembly on a comprehensive policy and strategy for victims of abuse and exploitation by United Nations staff and partners. The policy, which was adopted by the General Assembly in resolution A/RES/62/214 in December 2007, explicitly notes the vulnerabilities of women and girls and seeks remedy for harm done to them. Hide