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United Nations System Efforts to Address
Violence Against Women
Luisa Blanchfield
Analyst in International Relations
July 27, 2009
Congressional Research Service
7-5700
www.crs.gov
RL34518
CRS Report for Congress
P
repared for Members and Committees of Congress
c11173008
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United Nations System Efforts to Address Violence Against Women
Summary
The United Nations (U.N.) system supports a number of programs that address international
violence against women (VAW). These activities, which are implemented by 35 U.N. entities,
range from large-scale interagency initiatives to smaller grants and programs that are
implemented by a range of partners, including non-governmental organizations (NGOs), national
governments, and individual U.N. agencies. U.N. member states, including the United States,
address VAW by ratifying multilateral treaties, adopting resolutions and decisions, and supporting
U.N. mechanisms and bodies that focus on the issue.
Many U.N. activities and mechanisms address VAW directly, while others focus on it in the
context of broader issues such as humanitarian assistance, U.N. peacekeeping, and global health.
U.N. entities do not specifically track the cost of programs or activities with anti-VAW
components. As a result, it is unclear how much the U.N. system, including individual U.N.
agencies, funds, and programs, spends annually on programs to combat violence against women.
The U.S. government supports many activities that, either in whole or in part, work to combat
international violence against women. Some experts argue that when considering the most
effective ways to address VAW on an international scale, the United States should take into
account the efforts of international organizations such as the United Nations. Were the 111th
Congress to decide to use U.N. mechanisms to combat VAW, a number of programs and options
might be considered. Congress has appropriated funds to the U.N. Trust Fund in Support of
Actions to Eliminate Violence Against Women, for example, as well as to U.N. agencies, funds,
and programs that address types or circumstances of violence against women and girls. These
include the World Health Organization (WHO), U.N. Development Program (UNDP), the U.N.
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and the U.N. High Commissioner
for Refugees (UNHCR). The Senate has also given its advice and consent for U.S. ratification of
treaties that address international violence against women and girls—including the Protocol to
Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children.
This report supplements CRS Report RL34438, International Violence Against Women: U.S.
Response and Policy Issues. It provides an overview of recent U.N. efforts to address VAW by the
Secretary-General and highlights key U.N. interagency efforts. The report also discusses selected
U.N. funds, programs, and agencies that address international violence against women. It does not
measure the extent to which VAW is directly addressed or is part of a larger initiative or program.
This report will be updated as events warrant.
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Contents
Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 1
Issues for Congress ..................................................................................................................... 2
Priorities and Resource Allocation......................................................................................... 2
Funding U.N. Anti-VAW Efforts ........................................................................................... 2
United States Anti-VAW Activities in U.N. Fora.................................................................... 3
U.N. Definition of Violence Against Women ............................................................................... 4
Key U.N. System Efforts............................................................................................................. 4
Secretary-General Initiatives ................................................................................................. 4
U.N. Study on Violence Against Women ......................................................................... 4
Campaign to End Violence Against Women..................................................................... 5
The U.N. Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate Violence Against Women ................ 6
Selected Interagency Activities.............................................................................................. 7
Inter-Agency Network on Women and Gender Equality (IANWGE)................................ 7
Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) ...................................................................... 8
U.N. Action Against Sexual Violence in Conflict (U.N. Action)....................................... 8
Selected U.N. Conferences, Agreements, and Resolutions ........................................................... 8
U.N. World Conferences on Women ...................................................................................... 8
U.N. Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) ............... 9
U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) ............................................................... 9
Trafficking in Persons Protocol ........................................................................................... 10
U.N. Security Council Resolutions 1325 and 1820 .............................................................. 10
Selected U.N. Commissions, Departments, and Specialized Agencies........................................ 11
Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)....................................................................... 11
Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) ............................................................... 12
Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA)........................................................... 12
U.N. Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) ................................................................. 13
U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) .................................. 13
World Health Organization (WHO) ..................................................................................... 14
U.N. Development Program (UNDP) .................................................................................. 14
U.N. Children’s Fund (UNICEF)......................................................................................... 14
U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) .............................................................. 15
U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA)................................ 15
U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA).......................................................................................... 16
U.N. Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC)......................................................................... 16
International Labor Organization (ILO) ............................................................................... 16
Joint U.N. Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)..................................................................... 17
Tables
Table 1. U.S. Contributions to the UNIFEM Trust Fund to Eliminate Violence Against
Women, FY2005-FY2010 ........................................................................................................ 7
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Contacts
Author Contact Information ...................................................................................................... 17
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United Nations System Efforts to Address Violence Against Women
Introduction
Since the late 1990s, the United Nations (U.N.) organization has increasingly recognized violence
against women (hereafter VAW) as a global health concern and violation of human rights.
Ongoing U.N. system efforts to address VAW range from large-scale interagency initiatives to
smaller grants and programs implemented by non-governmental organizations (NGOs), national
governments, and individual U.N. agencies. A number of U.N. system activities address VAW
directly; however, many are also implemented in the context of broader issues such as
humanitarian aid, peacekeeping, global health, and human rights. Most U.N. entities do not
specifically track the cost of programs or activities with anti-VAW components. Therefore, it is
unclear how much the U.N. system, including individual U.N. agencies and programs, spends
annually on programs to combat violence against women.
U.N. member states collectively address VAW through the work of U.N. bodies such as the
General Assembly, Security Council, and Economic and Social Council. Members of these bodies
have adopted resolutions and decisions addressing VAW in general, and more specifically
violence against women migrant workers, honor crimes against women and girls, trafficking in
women and girls, sexual violence in conflict, VAW prevention, and women, peace, and security.1
Many U.N. member states have also ratified international treaties that address violence against
women, including the U.N. Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons,
Especially Women and Children; the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW); and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).
In addition, members of the U.N. Human Rights Council support the work of the U.N. Special
Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, its Causes and Consequences. U.N. member states also
make voluntary contributions to U.N. funds and other mechanisms that address violence against
women.
Since 2005, at the direction of U.N. member states, former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan
and current Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon have worked to coordinate and enhance anti-VAW
activities among various U.N. entities. In late 2005, for example, as part of then-Secretary-
General Annan’s In-Depth Study on All Forms of Violence Against Women, the U.N. Secretariat’s
Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW) compiled an inventory of U.N. system activities
that address violence against women. The inventory, which was last updated in February 2009,
has identified 35 U.N. entities that work to combat VAW on a global, national, or local level.2 In
1 See, for example, (1) U.N. General Assembly resolution 61/143, Intensification of Efforts to Eliminate all Forms of
Violence Against Women, December 19, 2006; (2) U.N. General Assembly resolution 60/139, Violence Against Women
Migrant Workers, December 16, 2005; (3) U.N. General Assembly resolution 60/139,Working Towards the Elimination
of Crimes Against Women and Girls Committed in the Name of Honour, December 20, 2004; (4) U.N. General
Assembly resolution 59/166, Trafficking in Women and Girls, December 20, 2004; (5) U.N. General Assembly
resolution 62/134, Eliminating Rape and Other Forms of Sexual Violence, December 18, 2007; and (6) U.N. ECOSOC
Resolution 2006/29, Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Responses to Violence Against Women and Girls, July 22,
2006; and (7) U.N. Security Council Resolution 1325(2000) on Women, Peace, and Security, October 31, 2000.
2 The largest of these include the U.N. Development Program (UNDP), the U.N. Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the
World Health Organization (WHO), the International Labor Organization (ILO), the U.N. Office of Drugs and Crime
(UNODC), the U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA), the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), The U.N.
Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO). See Preventing
and Eliminating Violence Against Women: An Inventory of United Nations System Activities On Violence Against
Women, updated February 2009, available at http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/vaw/v-inventory.htm.
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February 2008, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched a U.N. system-wide public awareness
campaign to end violence against women.
This report provides examples of recent U.N. system efforts to address VAW, including the Trust
Fund to Eliminate Violence Against Women, anti-VAW initiatives of past and current U.N.
Secretaries-General, and interagency activities. It also discusses selected U.N. agreements,
mechanisms, agencies, funds, and programs that—either in whole or in part—work to eliminate
violence against women. It does not assess the scope of U.N. anti-VAW activities or evaluate a
U.N. entity’s progress in achieving its goal. This report supplements CRS Report RL34438,
International Violence Against Women: U.S. Response and Policy Issues.
Issues for Congress
When considering U.S. efforts to address violence against women internationally, Members of the
111th Congress may wish to take into account ongoing U.N. efforts to address the issue. Were
Congress to decide to use U.N. mechanisms to combat VAW, a number of policy issues and U.N.
programs might be considered.
Priorities and Resource Allocation
Some experts argue that providing financial or technical support to international organizations
that address VAW is an effective use of U.S. resources. They maintain that such assistance
benefits the United States because it allows the U.S. government to share anti-VAW costs and
resources with other governments and organizations. Moreover, some maintain that U.S. support
of U.N. anti-VAW activities may prevent duplication of anti-VAW programs. Others argue that
the U.S. government should focus on its own anti-VAW activities, and emphasize that U.N. anti-
VAW activities may not always align with U.S. foreign assistance priorities.
Funding U.N. Anti-VAW Efforts
Some maintain that the U.S. government should increase its contributions to U.N. programs and
mechanisms that combat violence against women—particularly the U.N. Trust Fund in Support of
Actions to Eliminate Violence Against Women.3 The Trust Fund is a multilateral U.N. mechanism
that provides governments and NGOs with money specifically to address violence against
women. It relies on voluntary contributions from U.N. member states, including the United
States, which first contributed in FY2005.4 Policymakers, including some Members of Congress,
have recognized the Fund as a possible tool for addressing international violence against women.
Proposed legislation in the 110th Congress, for example, increased U.S. contributions to the
Fund.5
3 See, for example, “Violence Against Women Expert Lauds Foreign Appropriations Subcommittee for Increasing
Funds for UNIFEM and Its Trust Fund,” Family Violence Prevention Fund press release, June 24, 2004.
4 For further discussion of the Trust Fund, including U.S. contributions, see the “Key U.N. System Efforts” section.
5 See S. 2279 (110th), the International Violence Against Women Act, 2008, which authorized appropriations of $5
million for the Trust Fund from FY2008 to FY2012 through the International Organizations and Programs Account.
Also see H.R. 5927 (110th), the International Violence Against Women Act of 2008, which authorized appropriations
of $5 million from FY2009 to FY2013.
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A number of other U.N. agencies, funds, and programs work to eliminate violence against
women. These include offices and departments funded through the U.N. Regular Budget, such as
the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Division for the Advancement of Women
(DAW). U.N.-specialized agencies such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and
International Labor Organization (ILO) also support anti-VAW activities through their regular
budgets. An additional number of U.N. programs and funds rely on voluntary contributions from
member states to support anti-VAW activities. These include the U.N. Development Program
(UNDP), U.N. Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), and U.N. High Commissioner for
Refugees (UNHCR).6
United States Anti-VAW Activities in U.N. Fora
The United States may address VAW through several U.N. mechanisms, including multilateral
treaties that focus on types or circumstances of violence against women. The U.S. Senate, for
example, has provided its advice and consent for ratification of the U.N. Protocol to Prevent,
Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (Trafficking
Protocol). Other multilateral treaties that address VAW include the Convention on the Elimination
of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the U.N. Convention on the
Rights of the Child (CRC). The United States has not ratified CEDAW or CRC, however, because
of concerns over U.S. sovereignty.7
The United States may also address VAW by promoting or advocating resolutions and decisions
in U.N. fora such as the General Assembly, Security Council, and Economic and Social Council.
In March 2007, for example, the U.S. government drafted a resolution on forced and early
marriage during the 51st Session on the Commission on the Status of Women.8 In October 2007,
U.S. representatives to the United Nations also advocated the adoption of a General Assembly
resolution condemning the use of rape as an instrument of state policy.9 In 2000 and 2008, the
United States led in the adoption of U.N. Security Council Resolutions 1325 and 1820,
respectively, addressing women, peace, and security.10
6 For more information on the anti-VAW activities of these U.N. entities, see the “Selected U.N. Commissions,
Departments, and Specialized Agencies” section.
7 For the Administration position on CEDAW, see Letter from Secretary of State Colin Powell to Senator Joseph
Biden, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, July 8, 2002 in Digest of United States Practice in
International Law, 2002, Office of the Legal Adviser, U.S. Department of State, International Law Institute,
Washington, DC, 2003, p. 277. For the Administration position on CRC, see United States Participation in the United
Nations: Report by the Secretary of State to the Congress for Year 2002, Department of State Publication 11086,
October 2003, p. 70. For further details on the Trafficking Protocol, CEDAW and CRC, see the “Selected U.N.
Conferences, Agreements, and Resolutions,” section.
8 U.N. document E/CN.6/2007/L.4, March 2, 2007.
9 The resolution was adopted on December 18, 2007. (See U.N. document, A/RES/62/134, Eliminating Rape and Other
Forms of Sexual Violence in All Their Manifestations, Including in Conflict and Related Situations.)
10 For further information on U.N. Security Council Resolution 1325, see the “Selected U.N. Conferences, Agreements,
and Resolutions” section.
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U.N. Definition of Violence Against Women
The U.N. General Assembly was the first international body to agree on a definition of violence
against women. On December 20, 1993, the General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the
Elimination of Violence Against Women (DEVAW).11 The Declaration, which was supported by
the U.S. government, describes VAW as “any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is
likely to result in, physical, sexual, or psychological harm or suffering to women, including
threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or
private life.”12 Though non-binding, DEVAW provides a standard for U.N. agencies and NGOs
urging national governments to strengthen their efforts to combat VAW, as well as for
governments encouraging other nations to combat violence against women.13 Specifically, the
Declaration calls on countries to take responsibility for combating VAW, emphasizing that “states
should condemn violence against women and should not invoke any custom, tradition or religious
consideration to avoid their obligations with respect to its elimination. States should pursue by all
appropriate means and without delay a policy of eliminating violence against women.”14
Despite the international adoption of DEVAW, governments, organizations, and cultures continue
to define VAW in a number of ways, taking into account unique factors and circumstances. How
VAW is defined has implications for policymakers because the definition affects the types of
violence that are measured and addressed.
Key U.N. System Efforts
Secretary-General Initiatives
U.N. Study on Violence Against Women
On July 6, 2006, then-U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan published an In-depth Study on All
Forms of Violence Against Women.15 The study provides a statistical overview of types of VAW,
including information on its causes and consequences. It also examines U.N. system efforts to
address VAW, identifying 32 U.N. entities that work to combat types and circumstances of VAW
on a global, national, or local level.16 (In February 2009, an updated inventory of U.N. system
11 U.N. document, A/RES/48/104, December 20, 1993. DEVAW was adopted without a vote by the 48th Session of the
U.N. General Assembly.
12 The term “gender-based violence” is broader than VAW because it can include violence perpetrated against men and
boys in addition to women and girls. In many instances, however, the two terms are used interchangeably.
13 A Concise Encyclopedia of the United Nations, edited by Helmut Volger, Kluwer Law International, The Hague,
Netherlands, 2002, p. 671.
14 U.N. document, A/RES/48/104, December 20, 1993, Article 4.
15 U.N. document, A/61/122/Add.1, July 6, 2006. The study was mandated by U.N. General Assembly resolution
58/185 on December 22, 2003. It was prepared by the Division for the Advancement of Women in the U.N.
Department of Economic and Social Affairs and conducted within existing financial resources. For a discussion of
global statistics and research on the causes and consequences of VAW, see CRS Report RL34438, International
Violence Against Women: U.S. Response and Policy Issues, coordinated by Luisa Blanchfield.
16 U.N. document, A/61/122/Add.1, July 6, 2006, p. 20.
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anti-VAW activities identified 35 U.N. entities addressing the issue.)17 The study discusses gaps
and challenges in U.N. system anti-VAW activities, including (1) implementation of legal and
policy frameworks that guide U.N. system efforts to eliminate VAW, (2) data collection and
research, (3) awareness raising and dissemination of best practices, (4) resource mobilization, and
(5) coordination mechanisms at the international level.18
To address these issues, the study recommends that U.N. resources addressing VAW should be
“increased significantly,” and highlights the need to provide countries with technical support that
promotes best practices for VAW data collection and research. The study also urges national
governments to establish national action plans on combating violence against women. To improve
coordination among U.N. agencies on VAW-related issues, it recommends that the Special
Advisor to the Secretary-General on Gender Issues and the Advancement of Women leads a
systemwide coordination effort through a newly established Task Force on Violence Against
Women in the Inter-Agency Network on Women and Gender Equality (IANWGE).19
On December 19, 2006, in response to the Secretary-General’s study, the U.N. General Assembly
adopted resolution 61/143, which calls on U.N. member states and the Secretary-General to
intensify efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women.20 The study and the subsequent
resolution have contributed to recent U.N. efforts to enhance current U.N. anti-VAW efforts and
develop new strategies to address the issue.21
Campaign to End Violence Against Women
On February 25, 2008, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced the launch of the U.N.
Campaign to End Violence Against Women to “mobilize public opinion to ensure that policy
makers at the highest level work to prevent and eradicate violence against women.”22 The
campaign, which runs from 2008 to 2015, focuses on three key areas: (1) global advocacy, (2)
U.N. leadership by example, and (3) regional, national, and international partnerships. According
17 See Preventing and Eliminating Violence Against Women: An Inventory of United Nations System Activities On
Violence Against Women, updated in February 2009, available at http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/vaw/v-
inventory.htm.
18 Ibid.
19 The Special Advisor is Ms. Rachel Mayanja of Uganda. IANWGE is a network of gender focal points from U.N.
specialized agencies, offices, funds and programs. It works to promote gender equality throughout the U.N. system. For
more information, see the “Selected Interagency Activities” section.
20 U.N. document, A/RES/61/143, December 19, 2006. Specifically, the resolution urges U.N. member states to (1)
take action to eliminate all forms of VAW through a more systematic, comprehensive, multi-sectoral, and sustained
approach through national action plans; (2) end impunity for VAW by prosecuting and punishing all perpetrators; (3)
review, revise, amend, or abolish laws and policies that discriminate against women; and (4) strengthen national health
and social infrastructures to address the health consequences of VAW. The resolution also encourages states to increase
voluntary contributions for U.N. activities that work toward eliminating VAW, and requests the Secretary-General to
establish a coordinated database on the extent, nature, and consequences of all forms of VAW (comprised primarily of
data submitted by U.N. member states).
21 Examples of recent efforts include the establishment of a Violence Against Women Database, which is run by the
U.N. Division for the Advancement of Women. For more information, see the “Department of Economic and Social
Affairs (DESA)” section. In addition, per General Assembly resolution 64/143, the Secretary-General reports and
makes recommendations to the General Assembly and U.N. member states on U.N. system efforts to address VAW.
See, for example, U.N. document A/62/214, Intensification of Efforts to Eliminate all Forms of Violence Against
Women, Report of the Secretary-General, August 4, 2008.
22 More information on the campaign is available at http://endviolence.un.org/.
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to the Secretary-General, the campaign builds on the momentum created by recent General
Assembly and Security Council actions on all forms of violence against women,23 as well as the
work of women activists, NGOs, and other civil society organizations. The Secretary-General
stated that he will urge states to review all applicable to laws to ensure VAW is always
criminalized; personally approach world leaders to spur action through national campaigns; form
a global network of male leaders to assist the U.N. Secretariat in creating VAW awareness among
men and boys; and promote a high-level event in 2010 to review accomplishments of the
campaign, share best practices, and plan future actions.24
The U.N. Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate Violence
Against Women
The U.N. Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate Violence Against Women (the Trust
Fund) is the only multilateral mechanism that specifically focuses on government and NGO
efforts to combat VAW on regional, national, and local levels.25 The Trust Fund is administered
by the U.N. Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) and relies on voluntary contributions from
national governments, the non-profit and private sectors, and individuals. Top government donors
include Spain, the Netherlands, Norway, the United States, Finland, Japan, Italy, Australia, the
United Kingdom, Ireland, Austria, Denmark, and Iceland.
Since it became operational in 1997, the Fund has distributed approximately $44 million in small
grants to over 291 anti-VAW initiatives in approximately 119 countries. Money from the Trust
Fund is distributed primarily to non-profit organizations and, more recently, to U.N. country
teams. In 2008, the Fund distributed 23 grants to groups in 29 countries for a total of $19 million.
The grants focus on strengthening national policies and laws addressing violence against women.
They also support programs that work with men and boys, address the link between VAW and
HIV/AIDS, and implement public education and awareness campaigns. Trust Fund grantees in
2008 include Social Services of Cambodia, ActionAid in Cameroon, and Oxfam Great Britain.26
Recognizing the relatively small amount of money administered by the Trust Fund, the Secretary-
General’s 2006 study on violence against women recommended that U.N. member states and
other international donors “increase significantly the financial support for work on violence
against women in the United Nations ... including the United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence
Against Women.”27 The IANWGE Task Force on Violence Against Women is working with the
U.N. Division on the Advancement of Women (DAW) to develop a new framework for the Trust
Fund.
23 This includes U.N. General Assembly resolution 62/134, Eliminating Rape and Other Forms of Sexual Violence,
December 18, 2007, and U.N. Security Council Resolution 1325(2000) on Women, Peace, and Security, October 31,
2000.
24 U.N. press release, “The Secretary-General Remarks to the Commission on the Status of Women,” New York,
February 25, 2008, at http://endviolence.un.org/statements.shtml.
25 The Trust Fund was established by U.N. General Assembly resolution 50/166 adopted on December 22, 1995. For
more information, see http://www.unifem.org/gender_issues/violence_against_women/trust_fund.php.
26 A list of 2008 Trust Fund grantees is available at http://www.unifem.org/gender_issues/violence_against_women/
trust_fund_grantees.php.
27 U.N. document, A/61/122/Add.1, July 6, 2006, p. 113.
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Table 1. U.S. Contributions to the UNIFEM Trust Fund
to Eliminate Violence Against Women, FY2005-FY2010
($ in millions)
Fiscal Year
Administration Request
Actual Funding (unless otherwise indicated)
2005 —
.992
2006 —
1.485
2007 —
1.485
2008 —
1.785
2009 —
2.500
(estimate)
2010 —
TBD
Source: Congressional Budget Justifications, FY2006-FY2010, U.S. Department of State.
The U.S. government has contributed to the Trust Fund since 2005, with funding levels ranging
from $990,000 in FY2005 to $2.5 million in FY2009 (see Table 1). The George W. Bush
Administration did not request funding for the Trust Fund from FY2005 through FY2009, and the
Obama Administration did not request funding for FY2010. Congress typically allocates money
during the appropriations process. Funding for the Trust Fund is drawn from the International
Organizations and Programs account and generally supplements U.S. voluntary contributions to
UNIFEM.28
Selected Interagency Activities
U.N. funds and programs are engaged in several interagency activities that address specific types
and circumstances of VAW directly, or deal with VAW as part of a broader agenda.
Inter-Agency Network on Women and Gender Equality (IANWGE)
IANWGE is a network of designated gender focal points from U.N. agencies, offices, funds, and
programs. It comprises 60 members representing 25 entities of the U.N. system, and supports a
Task Force on Violence Against Women that aims to strengthen U.N. system-wide anti-VAW
efforts.29 The Task Force is leading pilot projects in 10 countries to implement joint programming
on violence against women.30 Under the projects, U.N. country teams work with national
governments to develop individual work plans that will increase national capacity to prepare,
implement, monitor, and evaluate national efforts to end violence against women. It is anticipated
that the U.N. Trust Fund to Eliminate Violence Against Women will serve as the funding
mechanism for the Task Force.
28 In FY2007, the United States contributed $3.218 million to UNIFEM, and in FY2008 it contributed $3.571 million.
In FY2009 it will contribute an estimated $4.5 million. (See Congressional Budget Justification, Foreign Operations,
Fiscal Year 2010, p. 92).
29 Co-conveners of the Task Force are the U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA) and the U.N. Division for the Advancement
of Women (DAW).
30 The 10 countries participating in the pilot project are Burkina Faso, Chile, Fiji, Jamaica, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan,
Paraguay, Philippines, Rwanda, and Yemen.
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Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC)
IASC is the primary U.N. mechanism for interagency coordination of humanitarian assistance.
Participants include U.N. entities, international organizations, and NGOs. IASC supports a Task
Force on Gender and Humanitarian Assistance that, among other things, works to carry out
programs that prevent and respond to gender-based violence. In 2005, the Task Force published a
manual, Guidelines on Gender-Based Violence in Humanitarian Settings, to assist communities,
governments, and humanitarian organizations (including U.N. agencies) in establishing and
coordinating interventions to prevent and respond to sexual violence during the early phases of
emergencies.31 The Task Force meets every four to six weeks and includes representatives from
over 20 U.N. entities and related NGOs.
U.N. Action Against Sexual Violence in Conflict (U.N. Action)
U.N. Action draws 12 U.N. entities together to improve and better coordinate the U.N. system
response to sexual violence before and after conflict.32 It operates through existing coordination
mechanisms, including the Inter-Agency Standing Committee, and focuses on building capacity
and training advisers in anti-VAW programming at the country level. It aims to strengthen
medical and legal services to survivors and, in the long term, address gender imbalances. It also
works to raise public awareness of sexual violence and urges governments to address the issues.
Selected U.N. Conferences, Agreements, and
Resolutions
This section discusses selected U.N. conferences, agreements, resolutions, and multilateral
treaties that address VAW, either in whole or in part. It does not assess U.N. member state
compliance with or implementation of these mechanisms.
U.N. World Conferences on Women
Since 1974, the United Nations has held four World Conferences on Women.33 Recognition of
VAW as an international human rights issue, however, was first achieved at the Third World
31 The Guidelines are available at http://www.humanitarianinfo.org/iasc/content/products/docs/
tfgender_GBVGuidelines2005.pdf.
32 The 12 agencies, offices, or programs include U.N. Department of Political Affairs; U.N. Department of
Peacekeeping Operations (Best Practices); U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA); U.N.
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR); Joint U.N. Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS); U.N.
Development Program (UNDP); U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA); U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR); U.N. Children’s Fund (UNICEF); U.N. Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM); World Food Program
(WFP); and the World Health Organization (WHO).
33 In 1974, the United Nations coordinated and led the first World Conference on Women in Mexico City. The second
conference was held in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1980, and the third conference was held in Nairobi, Kenya, in 1985.
The first conference inaugurated the U.N. “Decade on Women,” which spanned from 1976 to 1985, and included two
additional World Conferences on Women. (The United Nations periodically designates years to raise awareness of and
highlight disadvantaged groups. Examples include the Year of Refugees, of Youth, and of the Disabled.) Additional
information on the four U.N. World Conferences on Women is available at http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/
beijing/index.html and http://www.un.org/esa/devagenda/gender.html.
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Conference on Women in Nairobi, Kenya in 1985, and reaffirmed at the Fourth World Conference
in Beijing in 1995. The Nairobi Conference’s main outcome document, negotiated and adopted
by 152 U.N. member states—including the United States—laid the groundwork for future
international anti-VAW initiatives. It noted that VAW was a “major obstacle to the achievement of
peace and the other objectives of the [U.N. Women’s] Decade and should be given special
attention,” and stated that member states should formulate legal measures to assist victims and
establish national mechanisms to address VAW within families and society.34 At the Fourth World
Conference in Beijing, U.N. member states (including the United States) identified violence
against women as one of the “12 critical areas of concern” for women, and also agreed that VAW
“constitutes a violation of basic human rights and is an obstacle to the achievement of the
objectives of [Women’s] equality, development, and peace.”35
U.N. Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against
Women (CEDAW)36
CEDAW is the only multilateral treaty that specifically focuses on the comprehensive rights of
women. It calls for parties to eliminate discrimination against women in all areas of life,
including healthcare, education, employment, domestic relations, law, and political participation.
The Convention entered into force in 1981, and 186 U.N. member states are party to the treaty.
The United States led the drafting of CEDAW but is one of seven U.N. member states that has not
ratified the Convention. The United States signed CEDAW in 1980, but the full Senate has not
considered the treaty for advice and consent to ratification because of concerns that it may
undermine U.S. sovereignty. Though the Convention text does not directly address VAW, its
implementing body, the CEDAW committee, adopted a general recommendation affirming that
gender-based violence is a form of gender discrimination. The committee defined gender-based
violence as “violence that is directed against a woman because she is a woman or that affects
women disproportionately.”37
U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)
CRC is an international treaty that requires parties to ensure that all children have certain rights,
regardless of sex.38 Article 19 of CRC specifically addresses violence against children, stating that
parties shall “protect the child from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse,
neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse, while in the
34 U.N. document, A/CONF.116/28/Rev:1, 1986, Report of the World Conference to Review and Appraise
Achievements of the UN Decade for Women: Equality, Development and Peace, Chapter 1, Section A: The Nairobi
Forward-Looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women, paragraph 258.
35 Platform for Action, The U.N. Fourth World Conference on Women, Action for Equality, Development and Peace,
Beijing, China, September 1995, available at http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/beijing/platform/violence.htm.
36 For further information on CEDAW, see CRS Report RL33652, The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW): Congressional Issues, by Luisa Blanchfield.
37 General Recommendation No. 19 (11th session) on Violence Against Women, 1992, available at http://www.un.org/
womenwatch/daw/cedaw/recommendations/recomm.htm#recom19.
38 In addition to sex, the Convention also states that children have certain rights regardless of “color ... language,
religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, property, disability, birth or other status.”
(Preamble.) The Convention defines a child as “every human being below the age of eighteen years.” (Article 1.) The
text of the Convention is available at http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/k2crc.htm.
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care of parent(s), legal guardian(s) or any other person who has the care of the child.” CRC was
unanimously adopted by the U.N. General Assembly on November 20, 1989, and entered into
force on September 2, 1990. The United States was an active participant in the Convention’s
drafting. It joined in the General Assembly consensus adopting the Convention, and signed the
treaty on February 16, 1995. Successive Administrations have chosen not to transmit CRC to the
Senate for its advice and consent. As of January 2009, 193 parties have ratified the Convention—
only the United States and Somalia have not ratified the treaty.39
Trafficking in Persons Protocol40
In 1999, U.N. member states drafted the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in
Persons, especially Women and Children. On November 15, 2000, the U.N. General Assembly
adopted the Convention on Transnational Crime, which includes the Protocol on Trafficking. The
Convention and its three Protocols were designed to enable countries to work together more
closely against criminals engaged in cross-border crimes, including trafficking in women and
girls. The Protocol on Trafficking commits countries to enforce relevant laws against traffickers,
provide some assistance and protect trafficking victims, and share intelligence and increase
border security cooperation with other countries. The Protocol entered into force on December
25, 2003. The United States signed the treaty in December 2000, and the Senate gave its advice
and consent to ratification on October 7, 2005. The United States became party to the Protocol on
December 3, 2005.41 At present, 132 countries are party to the Protocol.
U.N. Security Council Resolutions 1325 and 1820
On October 31, 2000, the U.N. Security Council adopted resolution 1325 relating to women,
peace, and security. The resolution, which is strongly supported by the United States, addresses
the impact of war and conflict on women and highlights the need for protection of women and
girls from human rights abuses. Specifically, the resolution calls on all parties to armed conflict to
“take special measures to protect women and girls from gender-based violence, particularly rape
and other forms of sexual abuse, and all other forms of violence in situations of armed conflict.”42
It also urges U.N. member states and the U.N. Secretary-General to work toward increased
representation and participation of women in all decision-making levels in national, regional, and
international institutions that address conflict resolution, management, and prevention.43 U.N.
efforts in this area have intensified since 2003 and 2004, following media reports on sexual abuse
and exploitation of vulnerable civilians by U.N. peacekeeping personnel.
39 For more information, see CRS Report R40484, The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child:
Background and Policy Issues, by Luisa Blanchfield.
40 This section was drawn from CRS Report RL34317, Trafficking in Persons: U.S. Policy and Issues for Congress, by
Liana Sun Wyler, Alison Siskin, and Clare Ribando Seelke. Text of the Protocol is available at http://www.uncjin.org/
Documents/Conventions/dcatoc/final_documents_2/convention_%20traff_eng.pdf.
41 The instrument of U.S. ratification was deposited on November 2, 2005.
42 U.N. document, S/RES/1325 (2000), October 31, 2000, available at http://www.peacewomen.org/un/sc/res1325.pdf.
43 In addition, the resolution “urges member states to increase their voluntary, technical and logistical support for
gender-sensitive training efforts.” (See paragraph 7.) Additional information on the resolution is available at
http://www.un.org/womenwatch/ianwge/taskforces/wps/national_level_impl.html.
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In June 2008, when the United States served as president of the Security Council, then-Secretary
of State Condoleezza Rice participated in an open thematic debate on “women, peace, and
security: sexual violence in situations of armed conflict.”44 After the debate, Security Council
members unanimously adopted Resolution 1820, marking the first time the Security Council
adopted a resolution on women and violence since Resolution 1325. Resolution 1820 “demands
the immediate and complete cessation by all parties to armed conflict in all acts of sexual
violence against civilians with immediate effect.”45 It reaffirms commitment to Resolution 1325,
and notes that rape and other forms of sexual violence can constitute a war crime, a crime against
humanity, or a constitutive act with respect to genocide. It further requests that the U.N.
Secretary-General establish training programs for all peacekeeping and humanitarian personnel
deployed by the United Nations, and encourages troop and police contributing countries to take
steps to heighten awareness of and prevent sexual violence in conflict and post-conflict situations.
Selected U.N. Commissions, Departments, and
Specialized Agencies
This section highlights selected U.N. bodies that—either in whole or in part—address
international violence against women, and provides examples of VAW-related activities. It does
not measure the extent to which VAW is directly addressed or is part of a larger initiative or
program.46
Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)
CSW, a functional Commission under the U.N. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), is the
principal intergovernmental policymaking body on women’s issues in the United Nations.47 It
meets annually at U.N. Headquarters and is composed of 45 member state representatives elected
by ECOSOC members (other states serve as observers). CSW observes, monitors, and
implements measures for the advancement of women, including those that address violence
against women. It also reviews and supports the mainstreaming of gender perspectives into the
U.N. system. At its 51st session in 2007, CSW member states focused on violence against women
and girls as a priority issue area. At its 52nd session in 2008, CSW members adopted a resolution
on ending female genital mutilation, which urges states to condemn all harmful traditional
practices, and take necessary measures, including enacting and enforcing legislation, to prohibit
the practice.48
44 In a Security Council Open Debate, non-Council members may address the Council without being invited.
45 U.N. document, S/RES/1820 (2008), June 19, 2008.
46 For information on United Nations and U.S. funding of U.N. system agencies, funds, and programs, see CRS Report
RL33611, United Nations System Funding: Congressional Issues, by Marjorie Ann Browne and Kennon H. Nakamura.
47 CSW was established in February 1946. The United States is a member of CSW. Its term will expire in 2012. For
more information, see http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/.
48 See (1) CSW 51st Session,”The elimination of all forms of discrimination and violence against the girl child,” at
http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/csw/51sess.htm; and (2) U.N. document, E/CN.6/2008/L.2/Rev.1, Ending Female
Genital Mutilation, March 2008.
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Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO)49
DPKO prepares and manages U.N. peacekeeping operations. It focuses on all types and
circumstances of VAW, particularly sexual exploitation and abuse of vulnerable women and girls
by peacekeeping personnel. In order to prevent and address such abuses, each peacekeeping
mission has a gender unit that supports regional and international initiatives addressing violence
against women. The gender units support legal reform processes in particular countries and serve
as resources for national authorities and law reform organizations. Gender units also encourage
collaboration among law enforcement, victim support organizations, and the judiciary, and work
to ensure that women’s NGOs are included in national efforts to end violence against women.
Moreover, several peacekeeping units—including those in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Sierra Leone, and Timor-Leste—have conducted training activities for peacekeeping personnel on
preventing and responding to violence against women.50
Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA)
DESA supports two key offices that coordinate or analyze violence against women activities at
the United Nations.51 First, the Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW) supports and
services agenda items and discussions for U.N. intergovernmental bodies that promote gender
equality, including the General Assembly, ECOSOC, and the Commission on the Status of
Women. DAW also conducts research and compiles reports for the Secretary-General on violence
against women. In 2006, for example, DAW prepared the Secretary-General’s In-Depth Study on
All Forms of Violence Against Women.52 It also conducts follow-up workshops and activities
related to the study.53
The Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and the Advancement of Women (OSAGI),
which was established in March 1997, supports the U.N. Special Adviser on Gender Issues.54 The
Office promotes interagency collaboration to eliminate VAW and develops new strategies,
programs, and policies to address gender equality in the U.N. system. It also coordinates and
implements the outcomes and the follow-up to the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform of
49 For further information on U.N. efforts to address sexual abuse and exploitation and prevent trafficking in persons,
see Report to the Congress on United Nations Efforts to Prevent Trafficking in Persons and Sexual Exploitation and
Abuse in U.N. Peacekeeping Missions, submission to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the U.S. Senate and to the
Committee on Foreign Affairs, of the U.S. House of Representatives by the State Department, February-August 2007.
(As requested in Section 104(e) of P.L. 109-164, the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, FY2006.)
50 For more information on DPKO efforts to address sexual exploitation and abuse, see http://www.un.org/depts/dpko/
CDT/about.html. For further discussion of U.N. peacekeeping and allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation and the
U.N. response, see CRS Report RL33700, United Nations Peacekeeping: Issues for Congress, by Marjorie Ann
Browne.
51 In addition, the DESA U.N. Statistics Division collects, processes, and disseminates statistical information on
women’s issues, including violence against women. It works to standardize statistical methods, definitions, and
classifications, publishing The World’s Women: Progress in Statistics every five years.
52 U.N. document, A/61/122/Add.1, July 6, 2006.
53 DAW, for example, is the secretariat for the U.N. Violence Against Women Database, which compiles data provided
by states on the extent, nature, and consequences of VAW. The database was created by General Assembly resolution
61/143, Intensification of Efforts to Eliminate All Forms of Violence Against Women. Further information on the
database is available at http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/vaw/v-database.htm.
54 Ms. Rachel Mayanja, appointed in 1994, is the Special Advisor to the Secretary-General on Gender Issues. See
http://www.un.org/womenwatch/osagi/homethepost.htm.
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Action, and U.N. Security Council 1325 Resolution on Women, Peace, and Security, both of
which address violence against women.
U.N. Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)
UNIFEM is one of the leading U.N. entities that addresses violence against women. It administers
the U.N. Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate Violence Against Women, and works to
raise awareness of VAW in local and national governments—particularly among law
enforcement, parliamentarians, government ministries, and the judiciary. UNIFEM also aims to
strengthen anti-VAW legislation and policies related to domestic violence, trafficking, and forced
marriage, and assists governments and organizations in implementing such efforts. Other recent
areas of focus include sexual and gender-based violence in conflict and post-conflict settings in
sub-Saharan Africa—including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda—
and trafficking in women in Southeast Asia.55 UNIFEM also supports the data collection and
research on international violence against women.
U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
(OHCHR)
OHCHR, which works to promote and protect human rights established under the U.N. Charter
and international human rights instruments, supports research and operational activities that
address violence against women.56 OHCHR commissions research and analyze access to justice
for victims of sexual violence, with a focus on the prosecution of rape under international
humanitarian and human rights law. OHCHR field operations work to reduce or eliminate VAW at
the national and regional level, providing technical assistance in law reform and government
monitoring, and organizing training activities for governments and members of civil society.
OHCHR also supports U.N. Human Rights Council country and thematic rapporteurs who
address types and circumstances of violence against women and girls. This includes the position
of Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, its Causes and Consequences, which was
established in 1994 by a U.N. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) resolution.57 According
to the resolution, the Special Rapporteur shall “seek and receive information on violence against
women, its causes and consequences from Governments, treaty bodies, specialized agencies,
other special rapporteurs responsible for various human rights questions and intergovernmental
and non-governmental organizations and to respond effectively to such information.”58 The
Rapporteur shall also “recommend measures, ways and means ... to eliminate violence against
women and its causes, and to remedy its consequences.” Other rapporteurs who address aspects
55 For more information on UNIFEM activities to address violence against women, see http://www.unifem.org/
gender_issues/violence_against_women/.
56 For further information on OHCHR efforts to address VAW, see http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/
ViolenceAgainstWomen.aspx.
57 The Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women is Rashida Manjoo of South Africa. For more information on
the work of the Special Rapporteur, see http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/women/rapporteur/index.htm.
58 U.N. ECOSOC decision 1994/254, July 22, 1994.
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of VAW include the Special Rapporteurs on Trafficking in Persons; the Sale of Children; and
Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions.59
World Health Organization (WHO)
The WHO addresses VAW through various activities, including policy formulation, program
guidance, advocacy, and research. Specifically, it has developed a series of VAW norms and
guidelines and conducted studies on VAW prevalence.60 It also leads a research initiative to
develop a network of researchers, policymakers, and activists to ensure VAW is addressed from a
variety of disciplines.61 Moreover, WHO develops training programs and provides technical
support on sexual violence for healthcare providers in conflict areas, and works with partners to
develop a framework for integrating HIV prevention activities into intimate partner and sexual
violence programs. WHO also works to raise public awareness of VAW, particularly in the
context of HIV/AIDS. Such activities include VAW sensitization programs for civil servants,
journalists, healthcare providers, and policymakers.
U.N. Development Program (UNDP)
UNDP addresses VAW through programs and activities that involve trafficking, HIV/AIDS, and
disaster, conflict, and post-conflict situations. It works with governments to develop national
strategies to protect victims of intimate partner violence, and aims to incorporate gender
perspectives into crises prevention and recovery in conflict situations. UNDP also promotes VAW
awareness through national and local campaigns, including the “16 Days of Activism Against
Gender-Based Violence” campaign and the International Day for the Elimination of Violence
Against Women. In addition, UNDP works on a national level to disseminate knowledge and
awareness of VAW through radio, television, and posters. In addition, it supports a website,
GenderNet, which facilitates discussions on gender and violence against women.62
U.N. Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
UNICEF works to protect children’s rights, provide for their basic needs, and expand their
opportunities.63 The majority of UNICEF’s violence against girls programs focus on capacity
building, with an emphasis on awareness-raising and research. On a global level, for example,
UNICEF has developed policies to protect women and girls from sexual abuse by U.N. staff and
other aid workers. On a country level, it addresses different manifestations of VAW, which vary
depending by country or region. National UNICEF programs address female genital cutting, early
marriage, trafficking, domestic violence, school-related violence, and violence in armed conflict.
59 The Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Execution addresses honor killings, when women
are killed to preserve the family honor; and femicide, when infants are killed because of their gender.
60 Norms and guidelines include Ethical and Safety Recommendations for Interviewing Trafficked Women; Preventing
Child Maltreatment: A Guide to Taking Action and Generating Evidence; and Preventing Injuries and Violence: A
Guide for Ministries of Health.
61 The Sexual Violence Research Initiative is a WHO/Global Forum for Health Service program. It has developed a
research agenda and studied women’s responses to sexual violence. For more information, see http://www.svri.org/.
62 Further information on UNDP women’s programs is available at http://www.undp.org/women/. For more
information on GenderNet, see http://www.gendernet.at/opencms/opencms/gnet/de/.
63 For more information on UNICEF and its anti-VAW programs, see http://www.unicef.org.
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UNICEF also assists governments in drafting anti-VAW legislation, and works to raise VAW
awareness among teachers, police, and the judiciary.
U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)64
UNHCR’s mandate is to provide protection to refugees and other populations of concern. Since
2003, it has promoted and encouraged prevention and treatment guidelines in field operations to
address the prevalence of sexual and gender-based violence.65 In March 2008, UNHCR published
the UNHCR Handbook on the Protection of Displaced Women and Girls, to distribute to UNHCR
staff and partners. In addition, UNHCR (along with nine other U.N. agencies) recently signed an
interagency statement to address female genital mutilation.66
UNHCR has also sponsored regional and country-level training programs on VAW prevention
and response for its staff and implementing partners. Standard operating procedures on the
prevention and response to VAW were expected to be in place in all field operations by December
2007. In addition, to further establish an organizational strategy on this issue, UNHCR has set up
an independent evaluation of its efforts towards prevention of and response to gender-based
violence, which began in late 2007.
U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
(UNOCHA)67
UNOCHA coordinates humanitarian response, policy development, and humanitarian advocacy
among U.N. agencies and national and international actors. It serves as the co-chair of the Inter-
Agency Standing Committee’s Task Force on Gender and Humanitarian Assistance, providing
support for the development and implementation of Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC)
guidelines for gender-based violence interventions in humanitarian settings. UNOCHA also
implements a confidential complaints mechanism on gender-based violence, and works to raise
public awareness of the issue. The organization’s Integrated Regional Information Network
(IRIN), for example, has produced several publications and videos on VAW in conflict and female
genital cutting.68
64 This section was written by Rhoda Margesson, CRS Specialist in International Humanitarian Policy.
65 The UNHCR guidelines are complemented by the 2005 IASC guidelines on responding to sexual and gender-based
violence. IASC guidelines focus on the emergency phase and while UNHCR guidelines focus more broadly on the
displacement cycle.
66 Other U.N. agencies that signed the interagency statement include OHCHR, UNAIDS, UNDP, U.N. Economic
Commission for Africa (UNECA), U.N. Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), UNFPA,
UNICEF, UNIFEM and WHO. More information is available at http://www.unifem.org/resources/item_detail.php?
ProductID=110.
67 This section was written by Rhoda Margesson, Specialist in International Humanitarian Policy.
68 For more information on OCHA activities related to VAW, see http://ochaonline.un.org/HumanitarianIssues/
ProtectionfromSexualExploitationandAbuse/tabid/1204/Default.aspx.
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U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA)
UNFPA aims to help countries improve reproductive health and expand access to family planning
services.69 It addresses VAW through a combination of research-based and operational activities.
On a global level, for example, UNFPA has undertaken studies on the socio-cultural context of
VAW, and hosts workshops and meetings on sexual violence. It develops guidelines and tools to
combat VAW, and supports sensitivity training for medical professionals.70 On a national level,
UNFPA works with governments to develop national strategies to address VAW prevention and
protection, and provides counseling to girls who experience FGC or forced marriage. UNFPA also
supports basic services to VAW victims, including legal and counseling services and access to
shelter.
U.N. Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
UNODC is the guardian of the U.N. Trafficking Protocol. Its Global Program Against Trafficking
in Human Beings, for example, assists member states to implement the Trafficking Protocol and
prevent human trafficking. There are more than 30 UNODC technical cooperation trafficking
projects underway. In February 2006, UNODC, the United States, and India launched a U.S.
government-funded anti-trafficking initiative. The project provides training and awareness for law
enforcement officers and strengthens their capacity to investigate and prosecute traffickers.71
UNODC also develops tools, handbooks, and manuals addressing the needs of women and
children to support national legal and criminal justice reform efforts. In November 2008,
UNODC collaborated with the U.N. Division for the Advancement of Women to publish a report,
Good Practices in Legislation on Violence Against Women, which provides guidelines and a
framework for legislation addressing violence against women.72
International Labor Organization (ILO)
The ILO promotes internationally recognized human and labor rights. It supports a number of
programs that combat trafficking and forced and bonded labor, many of which include gender-
specific components. Through the International Program to Eliminate Child Labor (IPEC) for
instance, ILO works with participating governments to (1) prevent children from becoming child
laborers; (2) remove children from hazardous work, including exploitative work like forced
prostitution; and (3) offer children and their families education, income and employment
opportunities. The ILO Conditions of Work and Employment Program researches violence in the
workplace, including violence against women. The ILO Labor Standards Department also
conducts research on violence against migrant workers, particularly women, as well as violence
against indigenous and tribal women workers.
69 More information on UNFPA anti-VAW activities is available at http://www.unfpa.org/gender/violence/htm.
70 These programs have been tested in several countries, including Cape Verde, Ecuador, Lebanon, Lithuania, Russia,
and Sri Lanka. For more information on UNFPA, see CRS Report RL32703, The U.N. Population Fund: Background
and the U.S. Funding Debate, by Luisa Blanchfield.
71 For more information on UNODC activities related to human trafficking, see http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/
human-trafficking/index.html.
72 The report is based on an expert group meeting held by DAW and UNODC in May 2008. For further information,
see http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/egm/vaw_legislation_2008/vaw_legislation_2008.htm.
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Joint U.N. Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)
UNAIDS works with international partners to identify and address the possible links between
HIV/AIDS and violence against women. It promotes education and awareness of HIV within
international peacekeeping operations, and national uniformed services through training and
distribution of peer education kits, which include sections on gender issues and sexual violence.
UNAIDS has also worked in Southern and Eastern Africa to determine how to improve health
services for women who have experienced violence. Furthermore, it supports regional task forces
on VAW in emergency settings, collaborates with WHO to improve clinic services on sexual
violence, and works with experts to develop cost estimates for integrating VAW awareness,
prevention, and treatment into AIDS programs. In addition, the UNAIDS Global Coalition on
Women and AIDS raises public awareness of HIV/AIDS and VAW linkages.73
Author Contact Information
Luisa Blanchfield
Analyst in International Relations
lblanchfield@crs.loc.gov, 7-0856
73 For more information on this initiative, see http://womenandaids.unaids.org/about.html.
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