Prevention, Including Awareness Raising and Advocacy

WFP used International Women’s Day 2009 as an opportunity to raise awareness and plan activities to prevent gender-based violence including through a film screening, panel discussions and workshop in Burkina Faso; and a declaration signed by WFP and partners, as part of the launch of the National Action Plan for Women in Afghanistan, which included a commitment to “Fast track the enactment of the proposed law to combat violence against women”.In Chad, WFP has become part of a coordinated response addressing issues related to the collection of firewood by the beneficiaries in the camp. In response to sexual exploitation and abuse of women who venture outside of the camp for firewood, WFP provided women with fuel efficient stoves, increased access to firewood and improved roads through food for work programmes. Hide

The UNRWA-supported Community Mental Health program in West Bank and Gaza continued psycho-educational workshops and lectures in all camps addressing topics such as sex education, equality between both sexes in the family, violence against women and children. The workshops targeted both women and men (whenever possible). In West Bank there is an ongoing program with 2 groups of male abusers. Hide

On International Women’s Day, UNRWA Lebanon Field Office organized, in collaboration with a Lebanese NGO “KAFA”, awareness-raising sessions on “Women and men united to end violence against women and girls”. UNRWA’s Women Program Centers organized sessions on the use of the CEDAW Convention and Human Rights tools in advocacy. Hide

UNHCR, in a joint endeavor with UNODC and IOM and in close co-operation with the Serbian Government, has developed a comprehensive and multi-year anti-human trafficking project in Serbia.Four community-based films have been produced which encapsulate key issues addressed in the UNHCR’s Handbook for the Protection of Women and Girls. Hide

During reproductive health and HIV field missions to MENA and West African countries, UNHCR health staff advocated with stakeholders for the strengthening of sexual and gender-based violence prevention and response and for the integration of reproductive health, including sexual and gender-based violence, into community-based outreach activities and awareness-raising campaigns.In Liberia, UNHCR and its partners supported the establishment of a new community health department and organized community health committees and volunteers. The volunteers participated in awareness-raising sessions on primary health care, reproductive health, sexual and gender-based violence and HIV/AIDS. Hide

In September 2009, UNHCR conducted workshops to promote the engagement of men and boys in the prevention of SGBV in the East and Horn of Africa. The participants of the workshop developed country level action plans for 2010 and contributed to a collection of good practices.In September 2009, UNHCR undertook a pilot training in Uganda on the e-learning Guide on Safe Schools and Learning Environment to build the capacity of UNHCR staff and partners to prevent and respond to violence, including SGBV, in and around schools. Hide

UNICRI continued to carry out activities related to women’s empowerment in Nigerian Edo State as a preventive measure against trafficking of women. As part of these activities, a second lot of beneficiaries was selected to receive training, micro-credit and all necessary equipment to start small business activities. Hide

In collaboration with “Jagori“, UN-Habitat initiated a Youth and Safety Project in slums in New Delhi. The project is implemented in the relocated community of Madanpur Khadar and focuses on gender-based safety by involving young men and young women, in order to enhance security in the slum for the most vulnerable.A National Youth Crime and Violence Prevention Conference was held by UN Habitat in Nairobi, Kenya, with providing safe spaces for young women and girls, as one of the thematic areas. Recommendations were made to local government to be proactive in providing these spaces, especially in disadvantaged communities. Hide

DPI worked to promote the Secretary-General's Campaign, focusing on raising awareness of violence against women globally; mobilizing public opinion to urge decision-makers to implement or change policies, in order to end violence against women; and generating awareness about the role of the United Nations in efforts to end violence against women. DPI’s network of UN Information Centres (UNICs) actively participated in promoting the Campaign at the national and regional levels, including through work with governments, students and civil society. UNICs organized media workshops, panel discussions, performances, photography and art exhibits, as well as film screenings. DPI also worked to further develop a visual identity for the campaign, as well as a campaign slogan and poster, a campaign ideas brochure, and a brochure setting out the campaign’s Framework for Action. The campaign website was updated on a regular basis in the six official UN languages.A segment on domestic violence, entitled Austria: Showing the Red Card, was completed for the “21st Century” television series, and new radio programmes on ending violence against women and promoting gender equality were produced. Hide

The International Women's Day in 2009 was used to highlight the campaign, with the theme of “Women and Men United to End Violence against Women and Girls.” DPI carried out promotional activities and media outreach to promote the day at UN Headquarters and around the world, including the dissemination of information materials and press conferences. DPI also facilitated the placement of op-eds by the Secretary-General and the High Commissioner for Human Rights for International Women's Day; these were published in major publications in all regions, particularly Europe, North America and Latin America. The Secretary-General’s message for International Women's Day was picked up in articles in the international press. Hide