Measures

UNAIDS is working with partners to clarify linkages and effective programmes on violence and HIV in emergency affected populations. A number of activities, funded by Department for International Development (UK), were carried out, including:- A review, in collaboration with WHO, of epidemiological evidence of the links between HIV and gender-based violence in emergency settings- Participation in UN Action against Sexual Violence in Conflict, a global initiative on gender-based violence in emergency settings- Support to regional task forces on gender-based violence in emergency settings- Collaboration with WHO in building capacity in the clinical management of sexual violence in emergencies- Collaboration with FAO on building the capacities for addressing underlying causes of transactional sex. Hide

Recent fundraising efforts by UNAIDS and the Global Coalition on Women and AIDS helped establish a window in the United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women, managed by UNIFEM, to support and document promising interventions on violence against women and AIDS. Private sector donations have contributed towards year two of the HIV window in the Trust Fund.UNAIDS, together with WHO, the Global Coalition on Women and AIDS and other partners, has also formed a technical working group to propose recommendations on how to improve attention to violence within the national AIDS response and how to strengthen the linkages between AIDS programmes and programmes and services focusing on women's rights and violence against women. Hide

As one of its key action areas, the Global Coalition on Women and AIDS advocates for strategies to halt violence against women and to address the linkages between violence and HIV transmission and access to services; promotes the right of women to have control over and decide freely and responsibly on matters related to their sexuality, free of coercion, discrimination and violence; and calls for greater action to address gender-based and sexual violence, including in conflict and post-conflict settings. The link between violence against women and HIV has been featured as an important part of UNAIDS advocacy messages and was the subject of the November 2005 Issues Brief for use with policy makers. Hide

Within the framework of its training initiative, UNITAR conducts courses for peacekeeping operations on the special needs of women and children in conflict situations; enhances the capacity of peacekeepers to deal with societies in and after armed conflict; and promotes the incorporation of gender perspectives into multilateral peacekeeping operations. From 2001 until 2005 25 seminars had taken place. UNITAR’s training programme also supports the United Nations’ efforts to raise awareness for the rights and needs of children in situations of armed conflict. Hide

UNRISD undertook research on violence against women in conflict and post-conflict situations, as part of its report on the occasion of the ten-year review and appraisal of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. Hide

UNV carried out a corporate review of gender mainstreaming (Norrish, 2006) which made recommendations for strengthening performance in this area. As a result, UNV set up a Gender Action Team. Hide

Through the joint project, Partners for Prevention: Working with Boys and Men to Prevent Gender-Based Violence in Asia-Pacific, UNV and UNFPA, together with their partners, are mobilizing boys and men as allies for ending violence and discrimination against women and girls as well as advancing gender equality. Women’s advocates and women empowerment groups are further strengthened in their participatory capacities and leadership skills to enhance the effectiveness of their efforts. Hide

The Liberia National Youth Volunteer Service has 67 national volunteers working in health centres, hospitals and schools to promote reconciliation, peace education, gender equity in schools and awareness-raising of it in the health sectors. In one district, the local women’s organization has found major supporters in male national UNV Volunteers (NUNVs); in another, the NUNVs have supported a local programme (“men and women as partners to end violence against women”), and community members report that the occurrence of gender-based violence and rape has significantly decreased. Working alongside existing structures, or strengthening local organizations and movements, has been an effective strategy to discuss sensitive or “unpopular” subjects, such as traditional gender inequality. Hide

The World Bank is providing Uruguay with a US$300,000 Institutional Development Fund grant to tackle domestic violence, including support to the implementation of the country's first national plan on domestic violence approved in 2004. Specific actions include: designing a comprehensive strategy aimed at identifying a broad range of policies and administrative measures to fulfill Uruguay’s international commitments on gender equality; developing a national database of gender-disaggregated statistics to inform decision-makers of areas where services are required based on concrete data; and building institutional capacity to address and report on women’s human rights and gender-based violence. Hide

In preparation for the 2004 workshop, the World Bank’s Gender and Development Group organized a film series on gender-based violence. The World Bank has also funded activities of the “16 day of activism against gender violence” campaign in Indonesia. Hide