Measures

In DRC, the MONUSCO Sexual Violence Unit (Office of the DSRSG-Ro) created an inter-section forum on data collection and sharing with the aim to find a solution with respect to the collection of reliable data on sexual violence. Led by the UN Joint Human Rights Office, a common MONUSCO database was developed, in order to provide more accurate data on sexual violence cases, collected by the Mission’s Military and Civilian Sections. Another project, aimed at increasing and better managing available information on perpetrators of serious human rights violations, is the Profiling Exercise of MONUSCO Human Rights Division, jointly carried out by MONUSCO, UNDP and OHCHR. The project focuses on members of the Congolese security services, especially those in the upper echelons or ranks, with a special focus on their human rights records. The Profiling Team has created a database which will link commanders to serious human rights violations (including sexual violence but not exclusively), clarify current and former command structures of security services and armed groups and serve as the basis for creating detailed profiles of such individuals. This database is still being developed and data is being entered. The database will be fully operational in February 2011. OHCHR is carrying out a mapping of major violations of human rights and humanitarian law, including sexual violence, committed in the DRC from 1993 to 2003. OHCHR’s Mapping Report will be released on 1 October with the objective to enable the Government of the DRC to identify appropriate transitional justice mechanisms to deal with the legacy of these violations. Hide

The ECLAC Gender Observatory of Gender Equality of Latin America and the Carribean recollected and analysed national legislation on violence against women. Hide

ECLAC has pursued the coordination and execution of the interregional project “Enhancing capacities to eradicate violence against women through networking of local knowledge communities”, in coordination with the other Regional Commissions. Activities that are being carried out are the following: a) five national studies on the prevalence, nature, causes, consequences and repercussions of violence against women, as well as the measures taken by the main stakeholders (Argentine, Guatemala, Paraguay, Peru and Trinidad and Tobago); b) three subregional workshops to enhance the capacity of eradicating violence against women and collect information on the indicators recommended by the Statistical Commission in the Caribbean, South American and Central American countries.; c) establishment of a Confluence wiki-platform to integrate various regional communities of knowledge. Hide

ECLAC continued to participate in the regional inter-agency working group, responsible for the regional implementation of the Secretary General’s UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign. ECLAC contributed to the preparations of the Caribbean launching of the campaig Hide

The World Bank’s first global study of urban violence, “Violence in the City” (2010), included analysis of gender based violence (GBV) in urban neighborhoods of Port-au-Prince, Haiti; Dili, Timor-Leste; Nairobi, Kenya; Johannesburg, South Africa; and Fortaleza, Brazil. The study reported lifetime sexual violence victimization ranging from 08.% to over 20% in some neighborhoods, with over half of all incidents occurring in public spaces. Hide

UNIFEM, now part of UN Women, supported: a gender-based violence observatory in Guanajuato, Mexico; integrated domestic violence data collection and monitoring systems in the Caribbean, with PAHO and UNFPA; and studies on domestic violence among Romany women (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia), violence against women and HIV policies (Mercosur countries) and survivor services (Sierra Leone), with the Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs and International Rescue Committee. Hide

UNIFEM, now part of UN Women, participated in UNCT programmes and other inter-agency initiatives in many countries, including: the South Asia Anti-Trafficking Think Tank (formed in partnership with UNODC) and the Amal Coalition in Gaza. UNIFEM supported advocacy and survivor support networks in Algeria, Argentina, Morocco and Uruguay, as well as men’s networks in Cameroon and Mozambique. UNIFEM awareness-raising support included: a workshop on CEDAW and gender-based violence in Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (with the Open Society Institute); a South African sexual harassment campaign; and various events for the 16 Days of activism against gender violence campaign. Hide

Issues # 5 and 6 of Words to Action, DAW’s (now part of UN Women) quarterly newsletter on violence against women, was produced with feature articles on sexual violence in conflict settings, and the vital role of CEDAW in eliminating violence against women. Hide

UNIFEM, now part of UN Women, continued advocacy related to Security Council resolutions 1888 and 1889. UNIFEM participated in UNCT programmes and other inter-agency initiatives in many countries, such as in the development of the UN Action-supported strategy on sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Hide

DAW, now part of UN  Women, finalized the report of the expert group meeting on legislation to address harmful practices. The report sets out recommendations for legislation to address harmful practices against women, with particular attention to female genital mutilation, so called “honour” crimes, acid throwing, stove burning, and harmful practices related to marriage.

DAW, in cooperation with ECA, convened two multi-stakeholder workshops at sub-regional level, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in December 2009, bringing together representatives from 12 countries to support and accelerate legislative reform on violence against women.

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