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In Togo and Chad, OHCHR supported activities on the implementation of UPR and CEDAW recommendations on violence against women. Hide

OHCHR submitted two papers on the application of a human rights approach to prevention of violence against women and human rights based approach to multi-sectoral responses as part of the preparation of the SG’s reports for the 57th CSW session. Hide

OHCHR undertook a project on mapping of women’s access to justice in non-conflict and conflict contexts by members of the Inter-Agency Network on Women and Gender Equality (IANWGE) taskforce. Hide

OHCHR also supported field office work, including: activities to increase access to justice (mobile courts, legal clinics, training of judges); support on holding investigations; and support to the judicial data project. In the DRC, a five pilot initiative to provide support to over 1000 survivors of sexual violence in the areas of Bukavu and Shabunda was implemented. Hide

OHCHR raised awareness amongst women human rights defenders In North Africa and the Middle East (Bahrain, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Syria and Yemen) on the UN framework on the protection of human rights defenders, including gender dimensions. OHCHR also organised a workshop in Beirut on the role of the UN in supporting the work of women human rights defenders in the Middle East and North Africa region. Hide

Through the Multi-Partner Trust Fund of UN Action, OHCHR, in cooperation with DPKO, the Office of the SRSG on Sexual violence in conflict and other partners, obtained support for the deployment of Women Protection Advisors to the human rights components of DRC and Cote d’Ivoire. OHCHR also seconded a staff member to act as the Senior WPA in UNMISS (South Sudan) and assist the mission in the setting-up of the Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Arrangements (MARA). In Angola, an Advisor was deployed to the office of the Resident Coordinator to assist the UN system in promoting follow-up to the commitments made by the Government in relation to sexual violence during the visit of the former SRSG SVC. With the support of UN-Women, the commissions of inquiry for Libya and Syria all included experts on sexual violence. As a member of the TOE, OHCHR worked with Human Rights components to strengthen the capacity of national rule of law and justice actors to address impunity for conflict-related sexual violence. Hide

In Latin America, OHCHR and UN Women, together with the Spanish Federation of Human Rights Organizations and the Carlos IIII University of Madrid supported the formulation of a regional Protocol for the investigation of Femicide. The protocol will assist in strengthening national capacities to investigate, prosecute, punish and redress femicide. The Protocol will be promoted through, inter alia, regional and international human rights mechanisms. In Kosovo, OHCHR supported the development of a national action plan on Security Council resolution 1325. Hide

OHCHR developed a two-day specialised course on monitoring and investigating conflict related sexual violence; briefed the C.34 on its work on sexual violence, together with DPKO and the Office of the SRSG SVC; supported research to understand patterns and consequences of sexual violence during the 1999 conflict in Kosovo, including gaps in access to justice, institutional capacity needs, and perspectives of survivors with regard to reparations; and together with UN Women is finalizing a draft guidance note concerning reparations for victims of conflict-related sexual violence. Hide

OHCHR supported the formulation and implementation of laws on violence against women in accordance with international standards in Afghanistan, Timor-Leste, the Kurdistan region of Iraq and Maldives. In Papua New Guinea, following sustained advocacy by OHCHR and its UN partners, the country’s Law Reform Commission proposed a repeal of the country's sorcery act. In January 2013, at the invitation of the Verma Committee in India, OHCHR made a submission on the review of the law relating to sexual assault, elaborating significant legal and policy elements that should be taken into account to prevent, punish and redress violence against women. Hide

In Guinea Bissau, OHCHR supported and provided technical assistance to national NGO Djinopi in the organisation of the Islamic Conference on combatting Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), where a Declaration by the Imams of Guinea Bissau on the Abandonment of FGM was adopted. Support to Djinop also resulted in the publishing of a “Golden Booklet” in English, French, Portuguese and Arabic containing short Islamic studies and statements against FGM. Hide