Support for Legislative Development

UN Women also worked with governments, parliamentarians, civil society and other partners to ensure that normative progress at global level was translated into strengthened legal protections against all forms of VAWG, as outlined in the Handbook for Legislation on Violence against Women. Laws are essential, and Countries with comprehensive domestic violence laws report 9.5% lower rates of intimate partner violence compared to those without legislation. Between 2022-2023, with UN women’s support 177 laws were adopted, revised or repealed to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment with a focus on EVAWG.  

Specific examples of UN Women’s work include:

North Macedonia: Supported amendments criminalizing femicide, stalking, and online sexual violence.

• Nigeria: Expanded the Violence Against Persons’ Prohibition (VAPP) Act, increasing its adoption from 25% in 2019 to 97% in 2023.
• Safe and Fair Programme (Asia): Strengthened laws protecting migrant women in:
  • 79 laws and policies were adopted by 2023 through support of this Spotlight Initiative.
  • The Philippines (Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, 2022).
  • Thailand (Damages for Injured Person Act amendments).
  • Vietnam (Law on Domestic Violence Prevention and Control, 2022).
• Ecuador: Assisted in implementing a National Protocol for Investigating Femicide, leading to better case tracking and prosecution.
• Femicide Legislation in Latin America: Collaborated with MESECVI to provide a model law on femicide/feminicide, addressing severe violations of women's human rights and analyzing existing legislation to provoke debate and improvement.
• UN Women supported CSOs to successfully advocate against repeal of FGM bans in The Gambia by mobilizing advocacy efforts through AC GBV and the ACT programme.
• Under the Spotlight Initiative, ROAP provided technical inputs to over 130 laws and policies, of which 79 were adopted, enhancing legal protection frameworks for women migrant workers. 

Since its inception, Spotlight Initiative has helped to develop or strengthen 548 new laws and policies addressing VAWG at national, regional, and local levels. Across Spotlight countries, progress has been made to ensure that survivors are protected through formal, informal, and traditional legal structures.  

Examples of legislative development achievements include the following: 

• Liberia: Spotlight Initiative, in collaboration with OHCHR and civil society organizations, successfully advocated for the passage of the Domestic Violence Law and the drafting of the Female Genital Mutilation Bill. Awareness-raising sessions with government officials at national and local levels improved knowledge of the laws and supported its implementation.  
• Zimbabwe: The Initiative supported the inclusion of online violence provisions in the Data Protection act, the first of its kind in the country. The Act now criminalizes the use of information and communications technology (ICTs) for violence against women and children, establishing clear codes of conduct to address technology-facilitated violence. Additionally, the Initiative supported the Zimbabwe Gender Commission in launching the first National Inquiry on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse of Vulnerable & Marginalized Groups, strengthening institutional accountability.   
• Niger: Spotlight Initiative supported traditional justice reform by engaging the Sultan of Tibiri to appoint the first-ever female advisors in a traditional court. One advisor specifically addresses cases of violence against women and girls, while the other focuses on ending child marriage and supporting girls’ education. This landmark initiative enhances survivor access to justice and reduces barriers to reporting violence.  

UNFPA plays a pivotal role in supporting governments to develop legislation that is responsive to the needs of survivors while aligning with international laws and human rights standards. Through its technical expertise, human resources, and financial support, UNFPA supports governments in the development and implementation of national laws that effectively address GBV and ensure the protection of survivors. 

One notable example of UNFPA’s advocacy efforts is its successful work in The Gambia, where it helped uphold the 2015 law criminalizing FGM. UNFPA countered repeal efforts by providing technical support, fostering regional partnerships, engaging with parliamentarians, and collaborating strategically with religious and civil society leaders. This work highlights the importance of multifaceted approaches to legislative advocacy and survivor protection. 

UNFPA has also supported legal framework strengthening and the development of National Action Plans for GBV response across the EECA region (Eastern Europe and Central Asia). In 17 EECA countries, the focus has been on domestic violence prevention, protection, and survivor support, which reflects UNFPA’s comprehensive approach to legislation and policy development. 

Progress at regional and national level: 

• In Latin America, UNFPA has advanced critical GBV legislation. Notable achievements include the passage of comprehensive laws in Chile and bans on child marriage and early unions in Peru and Colombia. These legislative advancements demonstrate UNFPA’s active role in shaping policies that prioritize the rights and protection of women and girls in the region.
• In the Arab States, UNFPA has partnered with the Arab Institute for Human Rights to build capacity in 9 countries for addressing violence against women and girls (VAWG) through the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) reporting process. This partnership highlights UNFPA’s commitment to improving accountability and monitoring mechanisms for human rights issues in the region. 

OHCHR is developing a Regional Protocol to provide practical tools for public prosecutors, forensic experts and others, to guide their investigations into violent deaths of LGBTIQ+ people in Latin America and the Caribbean. 

In Ethiopia, UNODC supported the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs in drafting a national policy for preventing and responding to gender-based violence and organized a national consultation forum on the role of women in peacebuilding and conflict resolution.  

UNODC provided legislative guidance on Albania’s draft gender equality law, aligning recommendations with the United Nations standards and norms in crime prevention and criminal justice. These contributions aimed to strengthen the country’s legislative framework on gender equality. 

In Viet Nam, UNODC, in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), provided advisory services in relation to a draft of a law on domestic violence prevention and control, which was subsequently passed.  

In Nigeria, UNODC supported the development of a gender-responsive five-year strategic plan, standard operating procedures, and a monitoring framework for police accountability and victim support. 

 IOM has provided support to national governments in developing legislative frameworks for reparation programs aimed at redressing victims of CRSV in Iraq, Ukraine and Ethiopia. In Iraq, IOM’s support in partnership with the UN Special Representative for Sexual Violence in Conflict Team of Experts was instrumental for adoption of the Yazidi Survivors Law, and corresponding bylaws, framework which provides reparations to women survivors of CRSV perpetrated by ISIS.  

Supporting legislative and policy development is a core strategic priority of the UN Trust Fund, and one of the three outcome areas in its Strategic Plan 2021-2025. It therefore provides funding to civil society and women’s rights organizations to support legislative development.

As such, between 2021 and 2024, an average of 46% of initiatives supported by the UN Trust Fund per year included strategies to increase effectiveness of legislation, policies, national action plans and accountability systems to end violence against women and girls. Strategies utilized by grantee partners included strengthening the capacity of lawyers, advocating for strong legal protections for women and girls, and the use of strategic litigation to highlight emblematic cases.

For example, in 2024, The Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA) strengthened partnerships with women’s and girls’ rights organizations in Somalia and Somaliland to advocate for legal frameworks that better protect displaced and minority women and girls, who are disproportionately affected by sexual and gender-based violence. SIHA’s coalition has advocated for legislation that guarantees their right to live free from violence, access services and see accountability for perpetrators.

In Mexico, the Grupo de Acción por los Derechos Humanos y la Justicia Social established a network of more than 30 feminist lawyers across 17 states to provide legal aid and represent women and girls in cases of gender-based violence. Building on the organization’s experience in strategic litigation, including high-profile femicide cases, the initiative’s participatory model encourages survivors to claim their rights and regain control of their lives. The network is also training new lawyers using a gender-focused, specialized pedagogy that is unavailable in traditional law schools, and strengthening local groups of women survivors.