Protection, Support and Services for Victims/Survivors

UNDP Argentina, with UNICEF and UNIFEM, continues to support the work of a Domestic Violence Office at the National Supreme Court of Justice, which has provided assistance to 13,000 victims of domestic violence the last two years (80% women and 20% men, mainly boys). The office has collected and disseminated statistics on the issue of violence against women for the first time in the history of Argentina’s justice system. Three more similar offices opened in the provinces of Tucumán, Santiago del Estero, and Salta. Hide

UNDP Paraguay supported the project “Attention to the victims of inter-familial and gender violence: Citizen security”, implemented by the Department of the Interior (MDI) and financed by the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation for Development (AECID), aimed at supporting the the capacity-building of MDI, enhancing coordination with other departments and improving police interventions with victims of domestic and gender-based violence. Results of this project include the installation of three police stations specializing in violence against women, educational workshops to train personnel, proposals that increase visibility on the issue of violence against women, and the incorporation of a gender perspective in the citizen security program. Hide

In FYR Macedonia, survivors of domestic violence were supported by UNDP to start their own businesses or to be employed in the private sector through subsidized employment. Hide

A joint mission by UNDP Asia-Pacific Regional Centre/Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery made recommendations to the Justice and Human Rights project in Afghanistan to enhance the involvement of women in shuras/jirgas, to raise awareness on rights and entitlements under the law, and to continue engagement with religious leaders on issues related to women in Islam. Hide

The UNDP project “Access to Justice” in Nepal supports training and the establishment of community-based paralegals to provide information, awareness, and support for women seeking redress in cases of gender-based violence. Hide

In Papua New Guinea, UNDP continued to work with faith-based organizations to strengthen the protection and support services for survivors of gender-based violence. UNDP supported the National Council of Women to maintain their protection and support services for survivors at the local level. Hide

UNIFEM, now part of UN Women, contributed to improved policies and service delivery for women survivors of violence, through its work with National Women’s Machineries, including in Ghana, Liberia and Peru; increased access to legal assistance in Ethiopia, Fiji and the Occupied Palestinian territory (oPt); and strengthened police response in Nigeria. UNIFEM deployed teams in post-earthquake settlements in Haiti to provide referrals for survivors of violence. Hide

UNFPA has developed a knowledge asset on "Addressing Violence against Women and Girls in Sexual and Reproductive Health Services". The review of the literature in this asset focuses on the integration of violence against women and girls – into sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services, aimed at providing guidance to health sector programme designers and managers. This asset is available on the following web-link: http://www.unfpa.org/public/home/publications/pid/6233. Hide

The OHCHR/Human Rights and Transitional Justice Section in the UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste monitored the response of the formal justice system to reported cases of violence against women, including whether traditional justice mechanisms are given priority in such cases. In March 2010, through participation in working groups, the OHCHR also provided a human rights and protection commentary on draft governmental policy related to emergency shelters and safe houses for survivors of violence against women. Hide

WHO is developing Guidelines for the health sector response to intimate partner and sexual violence. Hide