United Nations Development Programme

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, UNDP supported NGOs to establish eight paralegal centers at the community level; two in North Kivu and six in South Kivu. The paralegal centers have assisted with more than 183 cases by providing information and orientation to victims and ultimately positively influencing national peace processes and contributing to post-crisis recovery and peace-building. In partnership with Avocats Sans Frontieres, UNDP supported the South Kivu Bar Association to launch a pro bono office providing legal aid, now serving Bukavu. As a result of the collective efforts of the international community to support the strengthening of the rule of law in Eastern DRC to counter sexual gender-based violence and through the leading role of UNDP leading role in these efforts (training, mentoring, logistics and equipment to police, victims, paralegals and lawyers), two important investigations were conducted in Walikale territory following the large number of rapes which occurred in May and August 2010. Hide

In Indonesia, UNDP engaged with the National Development Planning Agency (BAPPENAS) through the project “TARGET MDGs” to assist in building the capacity of all stakeholders to monitor progress on the attainment of the MDGs and human development, and create a comprehensive database to be used for policy-related decisions. The partnership has introduced basic tools to assist BAPPENAS in developing a system that looks at gender analysis, as well as data and statistics on violence against women. Hide

UNDP supported the establishment of subregional networks of practitioners in South Asia and Southeast & East Asia to enhance the knowledge and capacity of several stakeholders to engage men and boys in gender-based violence prevention. The South Asia sub-regional network (The South Asian Network to Address Masculinities, SANAM), finalized a curriculum on masculinities and gender equality for practitioners, which has been used to provide training and mentoring on the issues of masculinities and gender-based violence to a selected group of ‘fellows’ from the region. Hide

The main objectives of the UNDP “Access to Justice Program” in the Democratic Republic of Congo are to promote legal awareness; strengthen judicial response; and increase access to justice. In 2010, 213 local and traditional leaders benefited from sensitization campaigns, and 20 military officers in charge of training and communication were trained to provide awareness-raising amongst military forces on sexual gender-based violence, command, leadership and disciplinary measures. These officers have further sensitized high-ranking officers and soldiers. Brochures and posters on “how to exercise your rights as a victim of sexual gender-based violence” were disseminated, primarily targeting victims. In Guinea Conakry, UNDP partnered with the Bar Association to organize sensitizations on sexual violence for judiciary personnel. Hide

UNDP Paraguay supported the project “Attention to the victims of inter-familial and gender violence: Citizen security”, implemented by the Department of the Interior (MDI) and financed by the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation for Development (AECID), aimed at supporting the the capacity-building of MDI, enhancing coordination with other departments and improving police interventions with victims of domestic and gender-based violence. Results of this project include the installation of three police stations specializing in violence against women, educational workshops to train personnel, proposals that increase visibility on the issue of violence against women, and the incorporation of a gender perspective in the citizen security program. Hide

In Sierra Leone, UNDP continued to support six civil society organizations to provide legal aid to sexual gender-based violence survivors, resulting in 19 convictions bringing the total to 45 convictions in 2010 (compared to zero in 2009, according to GoSiL). UNDP will continue to build the capacity of the Sierra Leone Bar Association to ensure institutional sustainability of legal service provision on sexual gender-based violence. Hide

UNDP support for data collection, analysis, and research in the ECIS region has covered topics such as: services available to survivors of sexual gender-based violence in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia, the prevalence of domestic violence in Serbia, and an analysis of the legal and policy framework related to domestic violence in Croatia. Hide

In Papua New Guinea, UNDP conducted numerous training sessions on awareness-raising and advocacy on violence against women; a Training of Trainers for staff of the Office for the Development of Women (ODW), National Council of Women (NCW), and the Gender and Development Branch of the Department of Community Development, to support strengthening coordination and communication between the three organizations to address and effectively respond to violence against women at the provincial and local levels. Hide

In Liberia, through its programme on Strengthening the Rule of Law and Administration in Liberia, UNDP supports the capacity of national institutions to address sexual gender-based violence crimes; to implement the recommendations of CEDAW and the Action Plans on SCR 1325 and the National Gender Policy to promote gender equality. The programme continued with financial and technical support to the sexual gender-based violence Crimes Unit. Hide

In Argentina, UNDP collaborates with national women’s organizations to help the effective implementation of the new law on the prevention and elimination of violence against women, the launching of a VAW Observatory, the development of local centres, and the training of local women on issues related to violence against women.In Papua New Guinea, UNDP was engaged with three national women’s organizations to conduct capacity assessments of the organizations themselves, using the Capacity Assessment Framework for Gender Mainstreaming. For the “Office for the Development of Women”, the engagement looked at its capacity in developing and monitoring the implementation of national policies to protect women from domestic violence. The engagement also included capacity development to support the development and implementation of strategies and action plans on violence against women of the three women’s organizations.Via the UN Gender Theme Group, UNDP Myanmar provided inputs into the National Action Plan on the Advancement of Women being prepared by the Ministry of Social Welfare, which may be submitted for cabinet approval in the beginning of 2011. Hide