Jul 2007

In every sub-region, UNIFEM (now part of UN Women) supports efforts to introduce and strengthen legislation against gender-based violence, including domestic and sexual violence, trafficking in women and forced marriage, and to ensure that all forms of violence against women are criminalized.

UNDP supports the development of legislation addressing domestic violence. ILO undertakes research and analysis of national legislation, case law and practice on sexual harassment in ILO Member States.

OHCHR field presences address violence against women at the national or regional levels, through technical assistance in law reform and monitoring of Government’s and other stakeholders’ compliance with their international commitments.

In Sierra Leone, Liberia, Burundi and Haiti, DPKO gender units/advisors contribute to national consultative processes on reform and adoption of legislation on violence against women generally, or on issues such as rape or domestic violence. Such units/advisers provide support to national authorities, including ministries of gender equality or justice, and law reform commissions.

WFP contributed to the development of the guidelines for the Secretary-General's Bulletin on special measures for protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (ST/SGB/2003/13).

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.

UNHCR has assigned country-level focal points in each of its offices to carry out the recommendations of the Secretary-General’s Bulletin on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (ST/SGB/2003/13). The Office continues to promote and report on the implementation of the Bulletin and provides annual refresher sessions for staff on its Code of Conduct. UNHCR’s Code of Conduct includes a section on sexual exploitation and abuse by humanitarian workers.

In November 2004, the World Bank held a workshop on “The Development Implications of Gender-Based Violence” to inform staff about the causes and development impacts of gender-based violence; and identify actions that the World Bank can take to address gender-based violence in its work. The workshop recommended that the Bank include gender-based violence in its core work and that further evidence of the costs of gender-based violence be gathered in order to convince client governments to take action.

In 2007, UNFPA developed a draft corporate strategy on gender-based violence to identify priority areas of focus for investing its resources strategically at country, regional and global levels, based on its comparative advantages and experience. The draft strategy also lays out the organization’s capacity development initiatives, resources and partnerships for an effective approach to addressing gender-based violence.

UNHCR organizes training on SGBV to enable the organization to meet standards in prevention and response.UNHCR’s system for measuring progress in operations includes standards and indicators on SGBV, and offices are required to report on their performance in relation to meeting the standards. In addition, the UNHCR’s global strategic objectives and measurable targets include a requirement that all UNHCR operations will have in place standard operating procedures for SGBV prevention and response by the end of 2007.