National Legislation

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.

At the request of the Government of Pakistan, IOM participated in a national consultation in July 2008, on the draft Domestic Violence Bill. IOM is working with UNIFEM and civil society organizations to review and propose amendments to the Prevention and Control of Human Trafficking Ordinance of 2002 which, at present, does not cover internal trafficking.

UNIFEM, now part of UN Women, provided legislative reform support to the Alliance on the elimination of violence against women in Pakistan; and support to the Regional Rights Training Team and UNDP in advocating for the passage of sexual and gender-based violence bills in Fiji and Vanuatu.

UNICEF country offices continued to support the development of legislation pertinent to violence against women and girls.

In collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), DAW, now part of UN Women, organized an expert group meeting on good practices in legislation on violence against women at the United Nations Office at Vienna, in May 2008. The report of the expert group meeting includes a model framework for legislation on violence against women with detailed recommendations and explanatory commentaries containing examples of good practice.