11 th WAVE Conference September 24, 2009 Vienna A Life Free of Violence:

1. 11th WAVE Conference September 24, 2009 Vienna A Life Free of Violence: UNIFEM’s Work toward Ending Violence against Women

2. Outline • Intro: Reform of the Gender Equality Architecture • Global framework for Action • Priority areas for UNIFEM’s work against VAW (globally) • UNIFEM global flagship initiatives: SAY NO - UNiTE to End Violence against Women Campaign; Safe Cities; Global Knowledge Management initiative • UNIFEM’s work against VAW in Southeast Europe

3. Gender Equality ArchitectureReform • General Assembly Resolution A/63/L103 (September 15, 2009) – supports the consolidation of the UN gender-specific entities into a composite entity. • Strengthening the effectiveness of the UN system in advancing GE and women’s empowerment. • Discussions on-going (Sep 23-26 and 28-30) on mission statement, organizational arrangements, funding and the executive board

4. Gender based violence – the global problem • Globally, up to six out of every ten women experience physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime. • In 48 surveys from around the world, 10-69% of women stated that they had been physically assaulted by an intimate partner at some point in their lives. In a range of countries 40-70% of female murder victims were killed by an intimate partner. (WHO data) • 113 million up to 200 million women are demographically “missing”

5. A global framework for action UN system is taking a more forceful stand against GBV • Landmark 1993 UN Vienna Declaration on VAW; 1995 Beijing Platform for Action • 1995, General Assembly established the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women and designated UNIFEM as its administrator. • Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (2000) • Resolution 1820 on sexual violence in armed conflict (2008) • SG’s In-depth Study on All Forms of Violence against Women (2006)

6. UNIFEM’s work on EVAW Emphasis on implementation of national commitments Global priority areas: • Data collection, analysis and research; • Harmonizing national and local laws, policies and programmes with international human rights standards; • Implementing national commitments formulated in existing policies, laws and action plans addressing violence against women; • Addressing sexual violence in conflict and post-conflict situations; • Incorporating prevention and responses to violence against women and girls in leading national development and funding frameworks; • Developing effective prevention approaches; • Working with adolescents (10 to 19 years old); • Working with men and boys (Ex: MOU with MenEngageAlliance)

7. UNIFEM global initiatives Secretary-General’s UNiTE to End Violence against Women Campaign and UNIFEM’s Say NO – UNiTE to End Violence against Women Five key outcomes for national level action, with the support of UNCTs, that all countries should strive to achieve by 2015: • the adoption and enforcement of national laws; • the adoption and implementation of adequately resourced multi-sectoral national plans of action; • data collection and analysis systems; • social mobilization for primary prevention, including through national and/or local campaigns; • and systematically addressing sexual violence in conflict situations.

8. UNIFEM global initiatives Secretary-General’s UNiTE to End Violence against Women Campaign and UNIFEM’s Say NO – UNiTE to End Violence against Women • UNIFEM led coordination of first two regional components of the Campaign (Latin America and the Caribbean and Africa) • UNIFEM contributed 5 million signatures to the campaign in 2008 • Say NO – UNiTE to End Violence against Women (launching in Nov2009) aims to reach 1 million actions by March 2010

9. UNIFEM global initiatives Safe Cities Free of VAWG, 2008-2014 • Programme focused on reducing sexual harassment and sexual violence in public spaces in urban settings. • It aims to develop a model for worldwide replication and up-scaling by local authorities, building on UNIFEM’s work in Latin America. • Selection of cities to be completed in 2009 • Partnerships include UN Habitat, women’s networks and networks of local authorities

10. UNIFEM global initiatives First-ever global online programming site on Ending VAWG • Programme guidance on specific sectors, groups and interventions; • Fully searchable database of implementation tools and specialized organizations. Available in EN, ES, FR. • Wide partnership in developing the site. • Launch in early 2010 with some modules: Addressing VAW in the health sector; education sector; legislation; engaging men and boys; working with adolescents; safe cities and communities (violence in public spaces); primary prevention; developing campaigns; integrating VAWG in leading policy and funding frameworks in the context of new aid modalities; and monitoring and evaluation, including indicators.

11. UNIFEM work against VAW: Southeast Europe Aims: • To implement national commitments formulated in existing policies, laws and action plans addressing violence against women. • To harmonize national and local laws, policies and programmes with international human rights standards. • To develop capacity of gender equality advocates to effectively demand the implementation of gender equality in national laws, policies and strategies. • To address sexual violence in post-conflict situations. • To develop effective prevention approaches, including by working with men and boys and incorporate prevention and responses to VAWG in leading national development frameworks.