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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.
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.
UN Women, in collaboration with the Jordanian National commission for Women(JNCW), held a roundtable meeting on “Jordan-Morocco sharing of experience on the criminal prosecution of rapists “in May 2016 in Amman, Jordan, at which 11 Jordanian parliamentarians as well as Moroccan parliamentarians exchanged views and experience with regards to the current amendments of the Penal Code. The Moroccan parliamentarians have explained the process they went through of reviewing the penal code over two years and then abolishing article 475 (similar provisions to 308) completely after one female minor “Amina” committed suicide for being forced to marry her rapist. At the end of the session, the Jordanian parliamentarians were equipped with knowledge on how to move forward on the abolishment of article 308 of the penal code.
In Afghanistan, with support from the WHO, the Ministry of Public Health is training nearly 7000 health providers and upgrading health facilities in all provinces over the next 5 years to deliver Gender Based Violence services to survivors based on implementation of a national treatment protocol and the WHO clinical handbook for responding to intimate partner violence or sexual violence. In Uganda, health providers in 3 districts were trained based on updated national training guidelines to deliver care and services for GBV to survivors. Similar efforts are underway in India and Namibia.
In Vietnam, UNODC developed training materials on domestic violence for judges and court personnel and trained police officers and legal aid providers to enhance their responses to domestic violence. Domestic violence response checklists and information collection forms helped front-line officers in identifying and acting on reported cases. UNODC helped develop a ministerial circular on gender equality in legal aid services and trained legal aid officers and pro bono lawyers providing legal aid for victims of domestic violence.
In Egypt, UNODC contributed to the government's strengthening of its response to violence against women and girls and began developing training manuals on the appropriate handling of such cases by police and prosecutors.
In Palestine, UNODC published a manual for forensic medical practitioners and a code of practice to aid healthcare practitioners in examining victims of sexual and gender-based violence in accordance with international best practices.
In Mexico, UNODC continued to provide normative assistance on criminal justice and prison reform with emphasis on training and awareness-raising on violence against women.
UNODC, with its Global Programmes against trafficking in persons, smuggling of migrants and field based projects, follows a victims'/migrants' rights-centred and gender-specific approach, aiming to ensure protection of human rights of trafficked persons and smuggled migrants. With women and girls being a particularly vulnerable group, UNODC seeks to contribute to gender equality by strengthening the rights and the position of victims and smuggled migrants during investigation and prosecution by competent authorities. The Global Programmes seek to ensure, where possible, a gender balance in the different activities, notably with regard to participants in capacity building activities/workshops. Performance indicators are, where possible, disaggregated by sex and age. Also, gender is incorporated into questionnaires given to participants (e.g. country assessments, training questionnaires, etc).
In Mexico, UNODC carried out technical assessments and conducted training to increase the quality and accuracy of local interventions in crime prevention, victim assistance and support, and violence against women. In 2015, approximately 2,500 public officials participated in these activities.