Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

OHCHR commissions and conducts research and analysis on access to justice for victims of sexual violence, clarifies and draws attention to this issue, and develops materials to assist the development of policy and advocacy strategies. One of the mechanisms for so doing is through the development of legal analyses, guidelines and principles based on human rights, which address issues of critical importance for women. These will be developed in response to regional priorities but the aim is to ensure global resonance, with a focus on the current jurisprudence relating to the prosecution of rape, both under international humanitarian law and human rights law, and on the inter-linkages between access to justice and the protection of women’s economic, social and cultural rights, with the aim to influence legal standard-setting and subsequently policy development. In addition OHCHR conducts research and analysis of all forms of violence against women and girls. Hide

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. Hide

In order to ensure gender mainstreaming, OHCHR works directly with a range of UN partners in the areas of development cooperation, humanitarian affairs, and peace and security to ensure that human rights principles, norms and standards relating to gender equality and women’s rights are integrated into their work, including as it relates to violence against women. OHCHR is contributing to various UN initiatives to prevent and respond to sexual exploitation and abuse by UN personnel with a view to placing such acts within the framework of violations of human rights, trying to push specifically for UN accountability in this area. Hide

In February 2007, OHCHR formally joined the UN Action against Sexual Violence in Conflict. Hide

OHCHR continues to cooperate with various agencies such as UNICEF, UNIFEM and WHO on the development of particular tools, such as “Manual on Caring for Survivors of Sexual Violence in Conflict-Affected Areas” (with UNICEF) and “Ethical and Safety Recommendations for Researching, Documenting and Monitoring Sexual Violence in Emergencies”. Hide

OHCHR extends legal assistance to victims of violence and members of their families. In Côte d’Ivoire, OHCHR has initiated a series of high visibility activities on the promotion of economic, social and cultural rights of women as a tool to empower them in their efforts against gender-based violence. Hide

Awareness-raising activities, including on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and the International Day for the Elimination of Racism and Racial Discrimination, addressing violence against women are a key feature of OHCHR strategic management plan. Hide