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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capacity needs, and perspectives of survivors with regard to reparations; and together with UN Women is finalizing a draft guidance note concerning reparations for victims of conflict-related sexual violence.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

OHCHR, as a member of the Inter-Agency Coordination Group against Trafficking in Persons (ICAT) and United Nations Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking (UNGIFT) ensured a human rights based approach was mainstreamed throughout all the policy papers developed by ICAT including the joint paper on the intersection between legal regimes to combat trafficking was produced. OHCHR also continues to promote the application of the Recommended Principles and Guideline on Human Rights and Human Trafficking through the organisation of regional and sub-regional launchings of the Commentary (an in depth analysis of the legal and policy frameworks on trafficking) in parallel with capacity building workshops.OHCHR provided support to the CEDAW Committee in its regional consultations on the drafting of a general recommendation on the realization of women’s rights in conflict and post-conflict, also providing financial support for two regional women’s NGO groups to participate in the consultation in Africa. Hide

OHCHR continued to work closely with the Standing Committee on Women, Peace and Security on implementation of Security Council resolution 1325 and within UN Action against Sexual Violence in Conflict and, through this network and in cooperation with all relevant UN entities, has been closely involved in the development of guidance for the operationalization of SC resolutions on conflict-related sexual violence. Hide

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