Measures

At the global level, UNICEF is actively involved in efforts to develop policies aimed at the protection of women and girls from sexual abuse and exploitation by United Nations staff and related personnel. Hide

Many UNICEF country offices support the development of legislation on violence against women, including trafficking, domestic violence and sexual offences. UNICEF also works with the Inter-Parliamentary Union to strengthen legislative responses to violence against women and children. UNICEF recently published a guide for Members of Parliament on addressing violence against children. Hide

UNICEF is working for the adoption of a comprehensive policy and strategy for victims of abuse and exploitation and supports the follow-up to Stockholm/Yokohama commitments on commercial sexual exploitation of children. In every sub-region, UNIFEM provides support to efforts to introduce and strengthen policies against gender-based violence, including domestic and sexual violence, trafficking in women and forced marriage. Hide

UNICEF has developed a new manual for football coaches to encourage them to talk to boys about violence against women and girls, in order to promote a culture of non-violence and non-discrimination. Hide

A network of gender focal points in regional and country offices work with UNICEF’s Gender Equality and Human Rights Unit in promoting gender issues and awareness, including on violence against women and girls, through television and radio campaigns. In line with the Secretary-General’s study on violence against children, several country offices have led campaigns on violence against children, with an emphasis on violence against girls. Hide

UNFPA supports and advocates for attention to the macro-economic impact of gender-based and the costs of interventions to prevent it; for the inclusion of the costs of gender-based violence in gender equality and health accounts, as well as the provision of more resources for such efforts; and for the mapping of existing programmes and projects and the sharing of good practices to address gender based violence across regions. Hide

UNFPA undertakes research and studies, for example on the socio-cultural context of violence against women, on masculinity, fatherhood, men as offenders and as protectors including religious leaders and military personnel. Hide

UNFPA supports and advocates for the integration of training on gender-based violence into the curricula of school teachers, healthcare providers, the police, the judiciary, planners and statisticians. Hide

UNFPA convened a workshop on the findings of case studies from 8 countries on the implementation of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) (Bucharest, October 2005). Hide

In Kenya, UNFPA advocates for and provides counselling services for rescued girls who escaped from FGM/C or forced marriages to help them to return home without risking their health and well-being. UNFPA is working jointly with UNICEF on the prevention and treatment of sexual and gender-based violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).UNFPA promotes availability of services to victims of violence, including counselling for affected groups such as young people, pregnant women, the displaced and refugees. This entails strengthening referral networks, infrastructure and local capacity, including shelters, safe houses and legal and psychological services. Hide