Measures

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 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

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

The Civilian Police Section of DPA/United Nations Peace-building Office in the Central African Republic (BONUCA) conducted training for national gendarme officers on human rights issues and gender-based violence. DPKO Gender Advisers have partnered with UNPOL to highlight gender-based violence in training for National Police. Hide

In December 2007, the Under-Secretary-General of DPA drew the attention of the heads of all DPA field missions to the initiative – UN Action against Sexual Violence in Conflict, and to the Security Council’s Presidential Statement calling on the Secretary-General to include in his reporting to the Council information on violence against women and girls. He noted the Department’s commitment to the principles on which UN Action was based, and requested staff’s compliance with the Security Council’s request. Hide

Working in partnership with United Nations Country Teams (UNCT), DPKO Gender Advisers are also supporting national partners to develop and adopt national action plans as well as build capacity of national actors to address sexual and gender-based violence. Hide

DPKO Gender Advisers in peacekeeping missions support efforts to address gender-based violence within the work of mission components such as the UN Police (UNPOL), human rights, rule of law and public information, as an important part of their gender mainstreaming strategy. Hide

DPKO Gender Advisers support the adoption and implementation of laws to address SGBV at national level. Hide

DPKO Gender Advisers are making efforts to ensure that regular reports of the Secretary- General to the Security Council highlight steps taken to combat sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). In the field, DPKO Gender Advisers are involved in advocacy, in ensuring United Nations leadership on the issue of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) as well in strengthening national and regional efforts towards combating SGBV and they are working with peacekeeping missions’ public information units, particularly radio stations. They have also supported national organizations to spearhead campaigns on SGBV. Hide