Measures to Address Sexual Violence in Conflict Situations

DPKO Gender Advisers are making efforts to ensure that regular reports of the Secretary- General to the Security Council highlight steps taken to combat sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). In the field, DPKO Gender Advisers are involved in advocacy, in ensuring United Nations leadership on the issue of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) as well in strengthening national and regional efforts towards combating SGBV and they are working with peacekeeping missions’ public information units, particularly radio stations. They have also supported national organizations to spearhead campaigns on SGBV. Hide

The OCHA Emergency Relief Coordinator went on mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in September 2007 and placed considerable attention on gender-based violence. He followed this up with reports to the Security Council and external media coverage. He hosted the meeting of the Executive Committee on Humanitarian Affairs on the Democratic Republic of the Congo and gender-based violence in December 2007. The meeting further directed the United Nations system to support the field operations (MONUC and the UNCT) to accelerate and strengthen their actions to prevent gender-based violence and respond to survivors. Collective efforts also resulted in an improved mandate for MONUC to address gender-based violence. Hide

The Secretary-General’s report to the Security Council on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict (S/2007/643) of 28 October 2007, prepared by OCHA, placed considerable focus on gender-based violence in conflict and highlighted ways for all actors to strengthen their actions. The report called on states to investigate, prosecute and punish perpetrators, including the commanders under whom they serve, if the commanders failed to take measures to prevent the violations, in the case of the armed forces and the police. The report also called on humanitarian actors to strengthen and better coordinate their work. Hide

OCHA is a founding member of the IASC Steering Committee for the Gender Standby Roster (GenCap) which deploys senior gender advisors to work in humanitarian situations. OCHA supported the GenCap Standby capacity to deploy nine senior gender advisers to the offices of Humanitarian Coordinators to ensure strengthened coordination on programmes to address gender-based violence in conflict and displacement. OCHA participated in inter-agency efforts to develop a standard gender-based violence incident reporting system. OCHA spearheaded efforts along with other members of UN Action against Sexual Violence in Conflict to pay special attention to gender-based violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as well as to the follow-up to the UN Action mission to Darfur, Sudan. Hide

In the UNRISD research programme for 2005-2009, violence against women is being addressed under the Gender and Development Programme. The Programme has recently launched an edited volume series, co-published with Routledge, the second of which is Gendered Peace: Women’s Struggles for Post-War Justice and Reconciliation, 2008. Its particular focus is on “post-conflict” or “post-war” period. Hide

OSAGI, now part of UN Women, prepares regular annual reports of the Secretary-General on progress in the implementation of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000), which also addresses the question of violence against women. It coordinated the preparation, and now supports the implementation of a United Nations system-wide action plan for the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). The plan includes steps to prevent and respond to gender-based violence against women in armed conflict. Hide

As part of its work on women, peace and security, OSAGI, now part of UN Women, carries out research and analysis on gender-based violence against women in armed conflict, especially with a view to preparing reports for the Security Council. In collaboration with the Inter-Agency Network on Women and Gender Equality (IANWGE), OSAGI coordinated the preparation of the Secretary-General's Study on Women, Peace and Security (2002), which also covers violence against women. Hide

UNICEF has played a major role in the new initiative UN Action against Sexual Violence in Conflict, as co-chair of the advocacy working group. UNICEF also supports the provision of care and support for survivors of rape, especially in conflict situations. UNIFEM and UNFPA jointly hosted an expert meeting on sexual violence in humanitarian situations to strengthen inter-agency collaborative action to combat sexual violence in crisis. UNFPA also supports the Global Call to Action to End Sexual Violence in Armed Conflict. Hide

UNFPA convened a workshop on the findings of case studies from 8 countries on the implementation of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) (Bucharest, October 2005). Hide

OHCHR continues to cooperate with various agencies such as UNICEF, UNIFEM and WHO on the development of particular tools, such as “Manual on Caring for Survivors of Sexual Violence in Conflict-Affected Areas” (with UNICEF) and “Ethical and Safety Recommendations for Researching, Documenting and Monitoring Sexual Violence in Emergencies”. Hide