Measures to Address Sexual Violence in Conflict Situations

In Sudan, the Human Rights Section of UNAMID organized workshops addressing sexual gender-based violence in West Darfur; it has developed and install billboards related to sexual gender-based violence around South Darfur; it has produced leaflets on the mandate, role and services of the Family and Child Protection Units; and it has trained State actors on human rights and criminal investigation procedures. Hide

The Joint Human Rights Office of MONUSCO (Democratic Republic of Congo - DRC) issued special reports on sexual violence notably in the DRC. It is also implementing a program to increase access to justice for victims and witnesses, including through technical and financial assistance to local non-governmental organizations to enable them to provide free legal advice to victims of sexual violence, as well as support to prosecutors and judicial investigators. Hide

As a member of the “Gender is my agenda campaign” (GIMAC), the ECA co-hosted the 19th Pre-Summit Consultative Meeting, in partnership with Femmes Afrique Solidarité and The Mary Robinson Foundation–Climate Justice, in January 2012. Participants recognized the need to intensify measures to end violence against women and girls, especially in the areas of sexual violence in conflict. Hide

In September 2011 ECLAC, together with UNFPA, organized a regional dialogue on violence and safety of women in conflict and post-conflict environment in efforts to promote the implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1325. This dialogue was launched with a three-day workshop entitled “Experts Workshop for the discussion of a Regional Training Program on Women, Peace and Security in Latin American and the Caribbean”, to provide a space for debate and exchange of experiences on the link between gender violence and physical autonomy on the one side, and situations of insecurity, conflict and post-conflict on the other, including the needs for training in this area in the region. Hide

A 2011 study “Sex and Age Matter” produced by the Feinstein International Center and sponsored by OCHA and CARE International demonstrates that the humanitarian community needs to greatly increase its collection and use of sex and age disaggregated data (SADD) to better inform programming. Researchers thoroughly reviewed numerous published reports from academia, the UN, non-governmental organizations on the effects of natural disasters and armed conflict on civilian populations, with a focus on publications that used SADD, gender and generational analyses to document and analyze those effects. The report can be found at: http://www.unocha.org/what‐wedo/ policy/thematic‐areas/gender‐equality. Hide

OCHA supports the Gender Standby Capacity Project (GenCap), in collaboration with the Inter‐Agency Standing Committee (IASC) and the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), aimed at building the capacity of humanitarian actors at country level to mainstream gender in all sectors of humanitarian response. From June 2007 to April 2011, 54 GenCap Advisers have supported 30 Humanitarian Country Teams. A Gender-Based Violence (GBV) window has been established in the GenCap Roster. In August 2011, the Global Public Policy Institute (GPPI) embarked on an evaluation which was commissioned to inform the decision over whether the GenCap Project should be phased out, maintained or expanded, in addition to providing concrete suggestions for change. In mid‐September the evaluators interviewed a broad spectrum of stakeholders in Geneva. Field visits included South Sudan, Sudan, Pakistan and Zimbabwe. Two learning workshops were conducted to verify findings and refine recommendations. The evaluation found that GenCap advisers have made an effective contribution to raising awareness and increasing the understanding and acceptance of gender among humanitarian actors. It concluded that the GenCap project remains highly relevant and should be continued in the medium‐term future. Hide

The UNAIDS Secretariat provided support for the Security Council debate in June 2011 on Impact of HIV/AIDS on International Peace and Security. The resulting UN Security Council resolution 1983 includes prevention of sexual violence in conflict and post conflict situations. Hide

In June 2011, the United Nations Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific (UNRCPD) co-organised a workshop on Gun Violence in Nepal that brought together political leaders, government officials and media representatives, with significant women’s participation, to raise awareness on gender-based violence. Hide

In March 2011, UNODA’s Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific (UNRCPD) organised a seminar on “UN Regional Best and Promising Practices on Armed Violence Reduction and Prevention for South and Southeast Asia”. A full session of the seminar analyzed, discussed and assessed the interrelations between armed violence and gender. In cooperation with civil society organisations, UNRCPD identified best practices in mainstreaming gender issues and in armed violence reduction programming. Hide

In November 2011, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC) carried out radio and television awareness-raising programmes on the prevention and elimination of violence against women in cooperation with the Togolese Ministry for Women. Hide