Measures to Address Sexual Violence in Conflict Situations

In implementation of Security Council Resolution 1325, UNESCO, in collaboration with partners from the University of Hull (UK) and the Center for Human Rights, University of Pretoria (South Africa), launched a research programme on women's rights for peace and security in post conflict democracies in Africa. The aim of this program is to develop policy recommendations that address obstacles, such as violence against women, to women’s full participation in and contribution to peace and security in post conflict countries in Africa. UNESCO organized, in 2005, a consultation in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, engaging a wide range of stakeholders. It focused on the status of women in the Great Lakes region of Africa, covering also violence against women, especially sexual violence. Hide

The Third Session of the Committee on Women of ESCWA was convened in Abu Dhabi, in March 2007, and focused on women and armed conflict in the Arab region, including violence against women. ESCWA also convened an expert group meeting in March 2007 on the impact of armed conflict on women, and the advancement of women living under conflict conditions. Topics included gender-based violence during armed conflict. Hide

The ESCWA Centre for Women devoted the first issue of its newsletter on women and armed conflict. The newsletter examined gender-based violence against women in conflict settings in the Arab world. The March 2007 issue was devoted on violence against women in the ESCWA region and was distributed on International Women’s Day 2007, as part of the global effort to call attention to this important issue. Hide

UNDP has developed gender equality and crisis prevention and recovery training materials for technical staff of its Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery. UNDP has trained 13 UNDP offices in conflict and post-conflict situations on gender mainstreaming for country programming. Hide

UNDP’s 2006-2007 Plan of action for mainstreaming gender perspectives in crisis prevention and recovery addresses violence against women in the context of conflict and post-conflict situations. Hide

IFAD’s Transitional Programme of Post-Conflict Reconstruction in Burundi aims to combat sexual violence, a primary threat to the physical security of Burundi’s rural women and girls, and end impunity of perpetrators. The programme, which started in 2004, includes a legal component to make justice available to the rural poor, particularly women, and vulnerable people. Hide

DPKO works to ensure that adequate policies are in place to prevent and respond to gender-based violence against women in armed conflict, and to protect women against sexual abuse and exploitation. Hide

ESCAP produced a publication on women, violence, human rights and armed conflict (2000). Hide

OCHA’s Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN) has produced a number of publications and videos on violence against women in war, and on female genital mutilation. OCHA contributes to awareness-raising and outreach by informing communities about the availability and value of support services for victims of gender-based violence, including sexual violence. It disseminates information on international humanitarian law to arms bearers. Hide

UNAIDS is working with partners to clarify linkages and effective programmes on violence and HIV in emergency affected populations. A number of activities, funded by Department for International Development (UK), were carried out, including:- A review, in collaboration with WHO, of epidemiological evidence of the links between HIV and gender-based violence in emergency settings- Participation in UN Action against Sexual Violence in Conflict, a global initiative on gender-based violence in emergency settings- Support to regional task forces on gender-based violence in emergency settings- Collaboration with WHO in building capacity in the clinical management of sexual violence in emergencies- Collaboration with FAO on building the capacities for addressing underlying causes of transactional sex. Hide