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On 20 July 2018, CEDAW signed a framework of cooperation with the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict. Under this framework of cooperation, CEDAW and the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Sexual Violence in Conflict seek to advance the rights of women and girls by combating conflict-related sexual violence and supporting the implementation of the United Nations Security Council resolutions on women, peace and security and CEDAW’s General Recommendation No. 30 (2013) on women in conflict prevention, conflict and post-conflict situations. Based on the framework of implementation, CEDAW and the SRSG-SVC have exchanged information on countries of concern that the two entities have been seized of under their respective mandates. In 2018 OHCHR supported the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, on her thematic report to the General Assembly on the gender dimension of trafficking in persons and on integrating a human rights- based approach to trafficking in persons in the women, peace and security agenda of the Security Council, where she strengthened the link between trafficking in persons and conflict-related sexual violence(A/73/171)
In March 2018, CEDAW adopted General recommendation No. 37 (2018) on the gender-related dimensions of disaster risk reduction in the context of climate change. The General Recommendation provides guidance to States parties on the implementation of their obligations under the Convention in relation to disaster risk reduction and climate change. The General recommendation recognises that women and girls also face a heightened risk of gender-based violence during and following disasters. In the absence of social protection schemes and in situations in which there is food insecurity combined with impunity for gender-based violence, women and girls are often exposed to sexual violence and exploitation as they attempt to gain access to food and other basic needs for family members and themselves.
On 18 September 2018, CEDAW published its inquiry report into so-called “bride kidnapping” in Kyrgyzstan. CEDAW found that women and girls suffer grave and systematic violations of their human rights due to a culture of abduction, rape and forced marriage. In 2018 and 2019, OHCHR supported the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, in its engagement with CEDAW for the elaboration of a General Recommendation on trafficking in women and girls in the context of global migration. The Special Rapporteur intervened in the context of CEDAW informal consultations in December 2018 and produced a written submission in the context of CEDAW Half-Day of General Discussion in February 2019.
In Mali, OHCHR training military and government officials in relation to the prevention of CRSV by Malian actors. In 2017, 446 security officials, 132 members of the civil society organizations and 89 officials of the governmental institutions were trained to address and prevent CRSV.
In Ukraine, OHCHR documented and reported instances of CRSV, affecting women and men, both in the territory controlled by armed groups, and in Government-controlled territory. Following the release of the report in February 2017, OHCHR in Ukraine participated in 15 events to present the key findings of the report and recommendations. Overall approximately 495 people participated in these events at national and local levels from various groups – civil society, State institutions, international community. The report was instrumental to get the Government commitment to work towards addressing CRSV. OHCHR and UN Women helped the Government to develop the Strategy to prevent and address CRSV. In 2018, OHCHR and UN Women will continue joint work to integrate the developed Strategy to prevent and address CRSV into 1325 National Action Plan.
OHCHR-Guatemala provided technical assistance and closely followed up on key transitional justice cases in the country related to sexual violence committed during the armed conflict. This includes the Sepur Zarco case, in which two ex-military officials were found guilty (affirmed on appeal in July 2017), of crimes against humanity in the form of sexual violence and slavery against Q’eqchi’ women during the armed conflict and the ongoing Molina Theissen case, which involves the alleged 1981 rape of Emma Molina Theissen and the disappearance of her 14-year-old brother.
In Honduras, in September 2017, during a workshop organised with CEJIL for WHRD, a review of the main HR regarding of the interamerican and universal system regarding WHRD was developed. Also as part of their engagement in the drafting of the new Criminal Code, OHCHR provided technical assistance and accompaniment in their presentation of proposals before Congress, regarding crimes concerning violence against women and femicide.
In Gambia, OHCHR and the Government co-organized a workshop to adopt a national action plan on combatting VAW. The action plan enabled the inter-ministerial task force which acts as national mechanism on reporting and follow-up to treaty bodies
In Senegal, OHCHR in May 2017, a symposium with religious leaders on the rights of women and children in Islam using CRC and CEDAW recommendations as a basis for discussion. This event was particularly important to raise awareness on misperceptions about Islam and human rights and the importance of increasing knowledge on the human rights mechanisms where religious and traditional values play a major role and can have an impact on respect for human rights especially on Women and girl child.
In Liberia, OHCHR in efforts to support the Government in combatting impunity for SGBV crimes organized a consultative meeting in several cities with traditional and community leaders to discuss SGBV, its impact on society, and to establish linkages between remote communities and the formal SGBV response mechanisms through strong and engaged traditional and cultural structures.
At HQ level, OHCHR organised the following activities:
On 15 March, 2018 a side-event focusing specifically on sexual violence was organized at the HRC. The OHCHR Women’s Human Rights and Gender Section (WHRGS) provided support to the CoI by organizing a workshop with experts to help the Commission set-out its investigation plan on sexual and gender-based violence.
On 27 and 28 March, 2018 the WHRGS team hosted an expert workshop with various participants, such as UN entities and CSOs working on issues related to the protection of victims of sexual violence in a lessons learned exercise with the aim to identify best practices which will then be gathered in for internal and external use.
OHCHR is currently engaged in the development of the UN policy on conflict-related sexual violence for peace operations.
In Ukraine, OHCHR jointly with UN Women led the drafting and finalisation of the UN Country Team Submission to the CEDAW Committee. It also participated in the consultations organised CSOs shadow reports to the CEDAW Committee. The Office thereby participated in the confidential briefing of the CEDAW committee, which led to the insertion of some of their recommendations in the Committee concluding observations – followed by the dissemination of the recommendations.
In 2017, OHCHR supported the elaboration by the CEDAW of General recommendation No. 35 on gender-based violence against women, updating general recommendation No. 19, including through the active participation of the Special Rapporteur on violence against women. Support was also provided for the development of global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration envisaged in the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants (A/71/1) of the General Assembly. Including during the Fifth Informal Thematic Session on “Smuggling of migrants, trafficking in persons and contemporary forms of slavery, held on 5 September 2017 in Vienna. Besides this, the SRVAW campaigned for the inclusion of the human rights aspects of possible victims of trafficking, especially women and children from among migrants and refugees, via high-level bilateral discussions.
In Argentina, OHCHR started supporting the process of adaptation of the Latin American Model Protocol for the investigation of gender-related killings of women (feminicide), similar actions will take place in Chile and Peru. OHCHR RO for Central America and UN Women Regional Office for Latin America organized workshops with the Prosecutor’s specialized Unit for adaptation of the Latin American Model Protocol. The workshop also shared the Brazil experience with the adaptation of the Protocol. Support will continue into 2017. In Chile, the Interagency Group on Gender and Human Rights co-organized a workshop with the Ministry of Interior to discuss the different impact on women, men, girls and boys, and that women and men have different capacities to respond according to their social, economic, cultural and geographical situation and therefore differentiated answers and solutions are required.
In Kosovo, OHCHR conducted research on potential conflict related SGBV (Sexual and Gender Based Violence) survivors among non-majority communities in Kosovo. The research included desk review of all relevant documents, meetings and interviews with all stakeholders that might possess information including governmental entities, victim associations, international organizations and religious communities. It enabled access to information about 51 potential non-majority survivors. The follow-up consist in contacting survivors and facilitating verification of status and subsequent access to reparation programs.
In DRC, the UNJHRO (United Nations Joint Human Rights Office) trained 37 medical doctors on sexual violence forensic expertise, 40 lawyers on the judicial assistance to victims of SGBV, 43 penal court registers’ and prosecution secretaries on the management and handling of SGBV files, 35 magistrates on sexual violence and SGBV related matters as well as protection of victims and witnesses and drafting of judgments. The UNJHRO also organised 3 workshops for magistrates on feminization of justice and fight against impunity of SGBV.
In Latin America, OHCHR in coordination with UNDP Regional Virtual School, finalized the design of a self-learning on-line course on the Latin American Protocol for the investigation of gender-related killings of women. The virtual course was successfully tested by 28 participants from the region (academia, Judiciary, Public-Attorney’s Offices, forensics, psychologists and OHCHR staff). Related traning courses have been organised by OHCHR RGA in Panama, in Bolivia, and other countries from the region.
OHCHR advocated the adoption of laws for reparations of survivors of sexual violence and worked to strengthen capacities of national rule of law and justice actors in order to address impunity for conflict-related sexual violence. OHCHR’s Guidance Note on reparations for victims of conflict-related sexual violence was published in June 2014 during the UK Summit on Sexual Violence in Conflict. This guidance note provided policy and operational guidance for Member States, UN agencies, development actors, and civil society organizations regarding reparations for victims of conflict-related sexual violence. In 2015, OHCHR provided support to strengthen the capacity of human rights component in Mali to monitor and investigate conflict-related sexual violence. Inputs and comments were provided on legislation on sexual gender based violence in a variety of countries to ensure compliance with international norms (including in Zambia, Belarus Bolivia, Paraguay, Chile, Somali, and Papua New Guinea). As part of the Team of Experts on the Rule of Law on Sexual Violence in Conflict, OHCHR continued to provide technical advice and capacity-building assistance to national authorities in addressing accountability for conflict-related sexual violence (in Central African Republic, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea, Liberia, Somalia and South Sudan).