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UNHCR has issued a Technical Note on UNHCR's Engagement in the Implementation of the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism for grave violations against children in armed conflict, as well as on Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Arrangements on conflict-related sexual violence. http://www.refworld.org/pdfid/5a6edf734.pdf
In Haiti, priority is given during monitoring activities on collection of disaggregated data by sex on the number and proportion of persons held in police custody without charge for more than 48 hours.
In Guatemala, OHCHR carried out a study to analyse the judgments of the specialized tribunals on the crime of femicide and other forms of violence against women.
In CAR, OHCHR regularly monitors, analyses and reports on patterns and cases of conflict related sexual violence. Data collect and analysis have been done through gender and human rights perspectives owing to the consolidation of protection functions in peace missions
UNV supports the deployment of UN Volunteers in conflict and post-conflict contexts, including peacekeeping missions. There, the UN Volunteers support the UN mandate implementation on the ground, including addressing sexual violence.
In all three Peacebuilding Fund’s Gender Promotion Initiatives, the UN Peacebuilding Support Office, UN-Women, and UN Volunteers have supported gender-responsive peacebuilding programming.
WFP has developed comprehensive protection and gender policies which outline that WFP programmes and interventions must not create, exacerbate or contribute to gender inequalities or discrimination, and must mitigate risks of gender-based violence (GBV). In line with these policies, WFP has developed protection and GBV guidance manuals, which specifically look at concerns of GBV associated with implementing food assistance programmes, including in conflict settings.
In 2018, WFP Ethics Office organised the roll-out of the “Guidance Note about the Prohibition on Engaging Prostitution Services”, aimed at helping employees understand WFP’s expectations of conduct as related to prostitution, considered a form of SEA.
Iraq CO
UN Women, in collarboration with UNDP, provided 935 survivors of gender based violence and conflict related sexual violence with psychosocial support, legal assistance, and referrals as part of the Stop Rape Now United Nations Against Sexual Violence and Conflict fund. Many of these women were survivors of violence perpetrated by ISIS, and were able to register their cases with the Genocide Committee based in Dohuk, Iraq, contributing to documentaion of ISIS's crimes and providing them with access to justice. In the context of Security Council resolution (SCR) 2106 (2013), the UN agreed with the Government of Iraq a joint , (the “Joint Communiqué”) as a framework of cooperation to prevent and address conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) committed in the country on 23 September 2016. During 2017 and 2018, UN Women has been actively engaged in developing the Action Plan for implementation of the Communique and the Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Arrangements (MARA) Mechanism, contributing to the systematic gathering of timely, accurate, reliable and objective information on CRSV against women, men, girls and boys in Iraq. UN Women also supported development of and participated in the SRSG on CRSV visit to Iraq in March 2018, reinforcing its work to combat GBV and support government response for survivors.
Under the UN Action- funded project, UN Women provided technical guidance to JNCW and its partner, NAMA Strategic Intelligence Solutions (contracted by NATO), as they conducted a Gender Audit of the Police, Civil Defense and Gendarmerie. The audit seeks to identify gaps and recommendations for securing the meaningful participation and leadership of women in all parts of the security sector. The audit’s findings will also support the identification of gaps that must be addressed within the security sector as it increases its capacity to respond to incidents of CRSV.The prime minister and cabinet endorsed the JONAP 1325 on 3 December 2017. Throughout the year, the JONAP 1325 benefitted from substantial engagement across all sectors, including consultations with civil society in the different governorates throughout Jordan. The final JONAP includes the following CRSV specific outputs: 3.3.2: “Instruments to monitor, document and report GBV and CRSV are created – linked to national structures and systems,” and 3.3.3: “Prosecutors, judges and the security sector are trained on how to handle GBV and CRSV, and promote access to safe reporting channels”
During the reporting period , UN Women lebanon succeeded to push forward progress on WPS through its leading role to develop the NAP 1325 for Lebanon. Substantive progress was achieved in terms of : a) conducting training sessions to the members of the national Council for Lebanese Women, Meetings with more than 17 focus groups representing Syrian, Palestinian and Iraqi refugees, in addition to meetings with religious leaders. The aim of the meetings is to enhance their knowledge on the UNRC 1325 themes and also collect information oin the challenges they are facing and their concerns. All these will feed in the formulation of UNCR 1325 NP for Lebanon. Furthermore, UN Women as leading UN agency, finalized the situation Analysis, held more than 5 meetings with other UN agencies and 3 meetings with the national counterpart. WPS addresses the 4 pillars which includes Prevention, Protection and Recovery for women within conflects.
As the Global CCCM Cluster lead agency for natural disasters, and in line with the objectives of the global Call to Action, IOM is working to ensure that proper prevention and mitigation measures are in place to reduce the likelihood of GBV taking place in camps and camp-like settings in crises . At the global level, IOM continues to mainstream GBV prevention and mitigation through a range of activities, including the deployment of RRAs. In 2017, IOM deployed RRA to 15 emergency operations to support the GBV mainstreaming activities in humanitarian crisis. RRAs ensured the integration of GBV considerations into programmatic and cluster responses. RRAs have also looked at longer term capacities to pursue efforts in-country, encouraging the appointment of GBV focal points in emergency response teams, and supporting the recruitment of dedicated staff to coordinate GBV mainstreaming activities in countries facing high GBV risks - including in Nigeria, South-Sudan and Bangladesh. IOM also undertook safety mapping and audits in conflict settings to help identify and address immediate GBV risks in conflict settings. The organization adopted programmes based on these findings, for example, it designed and implemented a project for the provision of fuel efficient stoves in South Sudan.
IOM also works to fight impunity, facilitate access to justice and promote accountability. IOM advocates the inclusion of sexual crimes committed against women and girls during conflicts into large-scale victims’ reparations programmes and policies. The organization is currently expanding support on access to care and justice for conflict-related sexual violence survivors in Sri Lanka and Central African Republic.
UN Women undertakes several measures to address sexual violence in conflict situations related to the UN Women workforce such as:
- Message of prohibition of sexual misconduct and SEA and importance of reporting repeatedly communicated by ED.
- Since February 2017, UN Women has provided training to personnel in over 20 field offices and HQ sections.
- Launch of UN Women’s initiative “Take a Stand” in 2016, which provides guidance not only on how to report cases but also on services available to the affected staff member – from telecommuting, to salary advances, to advanced leave requests, and assisting in facilitating their access to safe and secure spaces.
- Established a network of focal points on SEA in headquarters and its Regional Offices from whom staff can request guidance on reporting allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse.
- Ensuring that where there are ANY allegations of SEA or other sexual misconduct committed by UN Women personnel or partners, they are promptly referred for investigation.
- Ensuring that alleged victims are referred to the appropriate service providers for protection, medical care and support.
- Collaborating with the Secretary-General’s Victims’ Rights Advocate Ms. Jane Connors on sexual exploitation and abuse and victims’ assistance.
A Report on “The Impacts of the Crisis on Gender Equality and Women’s Wellbeing in European Union (EU) Mediterranean Countries” was prepared with the involvement of researchers from France, Greece, Italy and Spain. The report included the findings of the gendered impact of the crisis and its consequences for women in the EU Mediterranean Basin.
This study was intended to address the gap in the research about gendered impacts of the economic crisis at national and regional levels and to contribute to the Post-2015 development framework.
It provided insights on the impact of economic downturn on women’s well-being and supported the strategy for promoting women’s rights and gender equality, with a view of attaining the MDGs for 2015. It also explored possible strategies, which can help to minimize risks and alleviate vulnerable situations.
In 2017, UNDP launched the “Ending Gender-based Violence (GBV) and Achieving the SDGs” global project. This project aims to take violence prevention to scale by bringing new partners, strategies and sources of financing to the table. Over three years, it will: design, test and evaluate initiatives that will reduce GBV in select pilot sites; and develop new knowledge, skills and tools to reduce GBV in other contexts. Pilots will integrate GBV into broader UNDP sectoral programming (such as environment and livelihoods) and/or will focus around the principle of leaving no one behind.
All pilots will be implemented at the local level, but their lessons will be global. The project will translate evidence from the pilots into policy and advocacy tools, along with instruments such as new financing modalities.
CRSV: During the reporting period, the Departments of Peacekeeping Operations and Field Support (DPKO-DFS) rolled-out the Integrated Training Materials on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (ITM-CRSV) for newly deployed Military, Police and Civilian Focal Points who are responsible for CRSV mainstreaming and mandate implementation. These Integrated Training Materials (ITM) will strengthen the response of peacekeepers to CRSV, with particular emphasis on the protection of women and girls, within the frameworks of Women, Peace, and Security, Human Rights, Rule of Law, Protection of Civilians, and Child Protection.
The Departments of Peacekeeping and Field Supports (DPKO/DFS), the Department of Political Affairs, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights(OHCHR) and the Office of my Special Representative for Sexual Violence in Conflict (OSRSG-SVC) have developed the first Policy on the Prevention and Response to CRSV by UN Peace Operations with an aim to ensure that the forthcoming policy is a useful reference in support of the effective delivery by complex UN peace operations of their CRSV mandate.
DPKO-DFS is leading the drafting, through consultation with UN peace operations, Member States, key departments and divisions of the UN Secretariat, UN Agencies, and other relevant partners, the Handbook on the Prevention and Response to CRSV by UN Peace Operations which will be co-signed by DPKO-DSF, DPA, OHCHR and OSRSG-SVC. The handbook aims, inter alia, at translating the forthcoming DPKO-DFS Policy on Prevention and Response to CRSV into day-to-day operations and activities; assisting Senior Mission Leadership, Women’s Protection Advisers and civilian, police and military components in UN peace operations in leveraging resources within and outside the mission; better utilizing the unique, comparative advantage of respective mission components and other partners in enhancing prevention and response to CRSV; and strengthen the synergy and complementarity with the implementation of the other key mandates and strategic priorities of respective missions.
Senior Women’s Protection Advisers implemented a significant number of CRSV capacity-building activities with key partners, including national security forces as well as parties to the conflict. The United Nations Stabilization Mission in Mali(MINUSMA) engagement with the Coordination des Mouvements de l’Azawad (CMA) culminated in the signing of a Unilateral Communique on preventing and combatting CRSV supported by a plan of action drafted by CRSV focal points. In South Sudan, although little to no progress was achieved by both parties to the conflict to implement the commitments made to address CRSV in 2014, following the outbreak of the conflict in July 2016, the Joint Technical Working Group, the joint UN- government mechanism set up in 2015 to oversee the implementation of the Joint Communique, resumed its activities after the 2016 outbreak of violence and with the support of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), is currently assisting the Government with the validation of the final implementation plan of the Joint Communique. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, MONUSCO supported the Government to prosecute two emblematic cases of conflict-related sexual violence in 2017. Firstly, a colonel of the FARDC was convicted for the war crimes of rape and pillage affecting 150 civilians in Musenyi, South Kivu; secondly, a Member of Parliament in South Kivu was convicted for his role in the abduction and rape of 39 children in Kavumu as a crime against humanity.
The Department of Peacekeeping Operations is also developing the capability to include Female Engagement Teams in community patrols, so peacekeepers can better interact with all of the local population to target our assistance to help protect the community from conflict- related sexual violence.
Justice and Corrections Support:
- In the Central African Republic (CAR), MINUSCA supports the Special Criminal Court, a national court composed of both national and international magistrates, to investigate and prosecute atrocity crimes. The operationalization of the Court reached a new milestone this year with the appointment of nine of the 11 international and national magistrates, including the international Special Prosecutor and the Deputy Prosecutor. A witness protection strategy has also been adopted. In a further effort to reduce the threat of spoilers and armed groups, MINUSCA is supporting the investigation and prosecution of serious crimes, including SGBV, by other national courts. As a result, to date, 73 high profile individuals from various armed groups are being prosecuted for crimes including war crimes, rebellion and conspiracy, 61 of whom have been detained and are awaiting trial.
- In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), MONUSCO established Prosecution Support Cells to support military justice authorities to investigate and prosecute members of the Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo (FARDC) and armed groups for serious crimes committed against civilians, including crimes of sexual violence. This initiative, which has included joint projects with UNDP, the European Union and other partners, has resulted in the conviction of 832 perpetrators, including 22 command level officers, in the eastern DRC where courts scarcely function or exist.
- In Darfur, with UNAMID assistance, the Office of the Special Prosecutor has tripled its capacity to 16 prosecutors, resulting in increased prosecutions and convictions of serious crimes committed by members of armed groups, including crimes of sexual violence.