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UNFPA and WHO jointly hosted a meeting on “Prenatal Sex Selection for Non-Health Reasons” in June 2009 in order to build a common understanding that will lead to the issuance of a joint UN inter-agency statement on the subject. Hide

An OHCHR consultant is implementing the pilot country gender strategy aimed at mainstreaming a gender approach in all of the Office’s programming and activities, including ways to identify and analyze cases of gender-based violence and women’s rights violations. Hide

OIOS recently commenced a thematic evaluation of the start-up phase of the Secretary-General’s Campaign “UNiTE to End Violence against Women”. The evaluation will also consider the broader framework in which the campaign is carried out, namely the UN’s work on gender mainstreaming and gender equality. The regional (ECLAC) working group for the Secretary-General’s UNiTE Campaign, in addition to UNIFEM, UNFPA and ECLAC, expanded to include the Interamerican Commission for Women (ICW), the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), ILO, OHCHR, PAHO, UNAIDS, UNDP and WFP.As part of a review of the implementation of the mandate of OHCHR, OIOS surveyed 1,200 Colombians from different regions and socio-economic groups. Two thirds of all respondents indicated respect for human rights, as the most important issue to them, on a list that also included economic development, environmental protection and international relations. Women reported significantly higher levels of interest in human rights and significantly lower levels of knowledge concerning human rights mechanisms in Colombia than did men (A/64/203, Box, Knowledge of human rights among the population of Colombia, pp. 9-10). Seventy two per cent of respondents felt violence and civil unrest were definitely human rights issues. Staff of the OHCHR and its partners, from a wide range of stakeholders, were also interviewed, indicating that the OHCHR had contributed to increased protection of potential victims, reduction of human rights violations and more measures to improve access to human rights by marginalized and discriminated groups, including women.OIOS is providing support to the building of capacity and specialized skills for investigating SEA, including advanced training techniques involving victims of sex crimes. OIOS issues reports that request confirmation of follow-up by Member States contributing troops for peacekeeping operations, in order to ensure that allegations of SEA are not treated with impunity. Hide

UNDP held its Global Conference on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Caracas, Venezuela, in order to better identify entry points for UNDP’s work on gender-based violence. Hide

In July 2009, UNHCR held a seminar with the CEDAW Committee on promoting the use of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women to protect women affected by forced displacement and statelessness, focusing on sexual violence and discrimination against displaced women and girls. Hide

UNRWA revised the technical guidelines for the health department in April 2009, including the detection, counseling and referral of women victims of violence.A workshop for UNRWA health gender focal points on lessons learned in detecting women victims of violence in health centers was held in Damascus, in July 2009. The need for an internal and external referral system in partnership with host country stakeholders was highlighted. Hide

In October 2008, UNHCR finalized a three-year Strategic Plan to prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence. Hide

In September 2009, UNFPA held a regional meeting in Namibia to develop a UNFPA Africa-wide regional strategy on GBV. Hide

UNHCR has developed a Strategic Plan for Reproductive Health (2008-2012), including key sexual and gender-based violence strategies on the establishment of policies, guidelines and programmes to prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence; clinical management and protocols for rape survivors; access to early diagnosis; and care and treatment for rape survivors. Hide

During 2008, all UNHCR offices were required to view and discuss the film “To Serve with Pride”, produced by the ECHA/ECPS UN/NGO Task Force on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse. UNHCR has also taken the lead in developing guidance for field offices in setting up community-based complaints mechanisms for sexual exploitation and abuse. Hide