Measures

In Equatorial Guinea, the findings and the recommendations of a UNDP-supported study on violence against women and children have been integrated in the draft bill on family law. Hide

Research carried out on domestic violence, with UNDP support, has contributed to policy development and promotion of women’s human rights in Mexico, Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, Jamaica, Croatia, and Belarus. In Jamaica, the findings of a research on gender-based violence were fed into the development of a national action plan, including the identification of school based initiatives and the role of the family to address gender-based violence. Hide

UNDP advocates for the elimination of violence against women and raises awareness by promoting multi-media national and local campaigns, including the “16 days of activism against gender violence” and the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Hide

With UNDP’s support, policy debates and dialogues, backed by research, on women’s security and citizenship in Lebanon, Egypt, Syrian Arab Republic, Morocco, and Bahrain were held to promote women’s human rights and draw attention to violence against women. In Belarus, the findings of an in-depth gender analysis of the situation of commercial sex workers, which was carried out with the support of UNDP, helped to integrate issues, related to human rights of commercial sex workers, including prevention of violence against them, into an on-going project.In Samoa, a Human Rights Small Grants Scheme by UNDP has contributed greatly to increasing the knowledge of community men and women on human rights, especially prevention of domestic violence against women and children. Hide

In Costa Rica, UNICRI carried out specialized training for law-enforcement professionals. It provided training for Hotline and Information Call Centers operators on commercial sexual exploitation of children; the extension of the Information System for specialized public prosecutor offices to the Prosecutor’s Office of Liberia and Jacó and related training of personnel. Hide

UNICRI undertook the production and distribution of information material for child sex crime victims. Hide

In October 2007, the International Conference on the State of Safety in World Cities took place in Mexico. The Conference developed an international framework to support cities in their efforts to address issues of violence and crime, including violence against women; outlined strategies and approaches to address violence against women; and built partnerships between United Nations, and a wide spectrum of stakeholders to address urban crime and violence. Hide

UN Habitat launched awards and competitions on “Safety and Security for Women and Girls in Cities” for Latin American and the Caribbean for 2007/2008 in November 2007. Hide

In November 2007, to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, DPI’s Development Section worked in collaboration with UNIFEM to produce an e-mail campaign. The UN Information Centres mobilized civil society partners to focus on the issue, particularly around the International Day and the campaign ’16 days of activism against gender violence’. Several Information Centres, including those in Asunción, Bogotá, Baku, Cairo, Lima, and Lusaka, developed special campaigns and radio and television programmes, and held press conferences, seminars and educational forums. Africa Renewal magazine issued an article on the realities faced by millions of African women, also noting grassroots work to address violence against women;[ this article is also being offered for placement in regional newspapers]. Hide

UNTV produced several stories that were offered to broadcasters through their series “UN in Action” and “21st Century”, including features on honour killings in Turkey, domestic violence in Nepal and the prevalence of rape in Burundi. UN Radio produced various stories which included attention to violence against women, including in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Iraq. A dozen stories were featured on the high-traffic UN NewsCentre website, with headlines ranging from “When women are empowered, all of society benefits – Migiro,” to “Sexual violence against women in DR Congo amounts to war crime: UN expert”. Several press releases highlighted the seriousness of the issue, including the visit of the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, Yakin Ertürk, to the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Outreach Division, through the New York Festival/UN DPI Awards, has been encouraging filmmakers to publicize this issue by granting awards to several films highlighting women’s conditions globally. Hide