United Nations Children’s Fund

UNICEF has played a major role in the new UN Action against Sexual Violence in Conflict initiative, as Co-Chair of the advocacy working group. Under the auspices of UN Action, UNICEF, together with the women’s rights NGO V-Day is leading a global campaign against sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The Campaign, Stop raping our Greatest Resource: Power to the Women and Girls of DRC was launched in Bukavu, DRC, in November 2007. Hide

In June 2008 in Uganda, 35 schools received support by UNICEF to form child rights clubs. Trainings for Parents/Teachers Associations (PTAs) and School Management Committees (SMCs) on child rights and sexual abuse were conducted. UNIFEM supported a regional radio network (ALER) to train community radio staff in Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela, working among indigenous communities. In Honduras, a violence prevention programme was signed between the Instituto Luis Bogran, the Ministry of Education and UNDP for training teachers, parents and students to become change agents in preventing violence. Hide

UNICEF hosted a region-wide workshop on best practices to prevent and respond to gender-based violence in South Africa which brought together representatives from more than 20 UNICEF offices in Africa, along with government partners to learn from the South African experience of addressing gender-based violence and share experiences to prevent and respond to it. Hide

Much of UNICEF’s work on gender-based violence focuses on capacity-building, with all regions increasingly prioritizing this aspect, as well as the development of a protective environment. Emphasis is placed on training of the police, the judiciary, and teachers. For example, both the West and Central Africa region and the East and Southern Africa region have developed strategies on gender-based violence and are working on capacity-building of UNICEF staff, partners and other actors to prevent and respond to gender-based violence. Training materials have been developed for UNICEF staff and partners on gender-based violence. 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

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

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

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’s Innocenti Research Centre conducts research on UNICEF’s priority areas, including on violence against women and girls. UNICEF recently published a report and strategy for the abandonment of FGM/C within one generation and together with the Body Shop, it published a report “Behind Closed Doors”, on the impact of domestic violence on children. 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