United Nations Development Programme

The UNDP project “Access to Justice” in Nepal supports training and the establishment of community-based paralegals to provide information, awareness, and support for women seeking redress in cases of gender-based violence. Hide

In Nepal, UNDP has provided assistance with regard to (a) the development of a training manual and provision of five trainings on gender-based violence and gender justice (reporting, investigation and prosecution) for 125 judges and lawyers; (b) a gender-based violence assessment (on-going); (c) transitional and gender justice training of trainers programmes for civil society actors; and (d) a series of district and central level consultations on “gender-sensitive transitional justice”. Hide

In Serbia, UNDP supported the development of strategies to address sexual gender-based violence and a draft document on this topic was finalized. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, strategies to address sexual gender-based violence were also developed as a part of the transitional justice strategy, which includes a focus on survivors of sexual gender-based violence from the 1992-95 armed conflict. Hide

In Somalia (Somaliland), a referral system, facilitated by UNDP, was established in 2010 through which clan elders refer cases involving serious violations of gender violence to the formal courts. As a result of the new referral system, and the work of the Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Hargeisa (SARC), there has been a 44% increase of sexual violence cases referred to the formal courts, compared to 2009. Hide

In October 2010, UNDP Myanmar organized a discussion forum on the advancement of women, drawing on the Asia-Pacific Human Development Report (APHDR) on Gender, including topics on gender-based violence and trafficking. The panel stressed that cultures and traditions can retain customs that are unfair to women and they need to be addressed. Hide

In Papua New Guinea, UNDP continued to work with faith-based organizations to strengthen the protection and support services for survivors of gender-based violence. UNDP supported the National Council of Women to maintain their protection and support services for survivors at the local level. Hide

UNDP Argentina, with a view towards guaranteeing access to justice for women, including victims of violence, implemented a joint programme (with UNIFEM, UNICEF, PAHO/WHO, UNFPA, and UNIC) to develop a training protocol on gender and gender-based violence in the judiciary. 120 civil servants were trained and will continue by training others in the 24 provinces, including all judicial staff, during 2011. Hide

UNDP-Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery (BCPR) has recruited an expert to contribute to the Team of Experts who will be in post as of February 2011. The Expert will undertake the technical work and deployments of the Team of Experts, whilst BCPR Rule of Law, Justice and Security team and senior management will continue to be closely engaged with the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Sexual Violence in Conflict and the Team of Experts Team Leader regarding the overall strategy and direction of the Team. Hide

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, UNDP supported NGOs to establish eight paralegal centers at the community level; two in North Kivu and six in South Kivu. The paralegal centers have assisted with more than 183 cases by providing information and orientation to victims and ultimately positively influencing national peace processes and contributing to post-crisis recovery and peace-building. In partnership with Avocats Sans Frontieres, UNDP supported the South Kivu Bar Association to launch a pro bono office providing legal aid, now serving Bukavu. As a result of the collective efforts of the international community to support the strengthening of the rule of law in Eastern DRC to counter sexual gender-based violence and through the leading role of UNDP leading role in these efforts (training, mentoring, logistics and equipment to police, victims, paralegals and lawyers), two important investigations were conducted in Walikale territory following the large number of rapes which occurred in May and August 2010. Hide

In Nepal, UNDP and UN Women public awareness materials on gender-based violence and the Anti-Domestic Violence Act were distributed. UNDP also partnered with the Office of Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers to organize a public awareness event in support of the “16-days of Activism Campaign” against gender-based violence. Hide