COVID-19 and ending violence against women and girls

Date: Monday, April 6, 2020

This brief highlights emerging evidence of the impact of the recent global pandemic of COVID-19 on violence against women and girls. It makes recommendations to be considered by all sectors of society, from governments to international organizations and to civil society organizations, in order to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls, at the onset, during, and after the public health crisis, with examples of actions already taken.

Background paper: A synthesis of evidence on the collection and use of administrative data on violence against women

Date: Wednesday, February 5, 2020

To monitor progress on efforts to eliminate violence against women (VAW), quality, standardized data are needed. Administrative data can provide vital information to understand the issue, and to inform policy and programmes to present and respond to VAW. This background paper synthesizes current information on key issues and ongoing debates on the collection and use of VAW administrative data collected and managed by authorities and different types of service providers.

Transnational families, care arrangements and the state in Costa Rica and Nicaragua

Date: Thursday, December 5, 2019

This paper concerns the implications of migration within Central America for family life. Focusing on the case of Costa Rica and Nicaragua, it shows how Nicaraguan families develop strategies based on a history of informal and flexible caregiving. While these informal strategies allow families to navigate the challenges migration and family separation entail, they also contribute to continued vulnerability and reinforce the gendered burdens of caregiving within transnational families.

The effect of cash-based interventions on gender outcomes in development and humanitarian settings

Date: Tuesday, November 12, 2019

This discussion paper begins by presenting an overview of the latest research on cash transfers, gender protection, and empowerment outcomes. It continues by discussing some of the programme design features to consider when seeking to improve gender outcomes. Finally, the paper concludes with a set of research questions that can help shape future research and practice in this area.

Handbook: Addressing violence and harassment against women in the world of work

Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2019

This handbook, produced by UN Women and the ILO, provides practical guidance and examples of how to address violence and harassment against women in various work settings. The handbook includes: background on the issues, relevant international and regional policy and legal frameworks, the role of state and non-state actors, social dialogue, situations in which women are more exposed, how to respond, and entry points for prevention.

‘Love is not a passport to Sweden’: Intimate partner violence against migrant women and the proliferation of rights’ statuses

Date: Wednesday, September 12, 2018

This paper investigates how women’s right to live free from violence operates in the context of insecure immigration status. It identifies a tension between human rights and immigration control that is present in theory, policy frameworks, and migrant women’s lived experiences. It contends that this tension has led to a proliferation of rights’ statuses for migrant women who are exposed to intimate partner violence.

Female genital mutilation/cutting and violence against women and girls: Strengthening the policy linkages between different forms of violence

Date: Tuesday, February 7, 2017

This policy note explores policy and programming interlinkages between different forms of violence and considers entry points in the areas of (i) national legislation, (ii) prevention strategies, (iii) response for survivors, and (iv) data and evidence, for increased coordination and collaboration to advance the objectives of ending both female genital mutilation/cutting and other forms of violence against women and girls, in particular intimate partner violence and non-partner sexual violence.

Package of essentials for addressing violence against women

Date: Tuesday, November 29, 2016

The briefs included in this package aim to present in a friendly way the essential strategies for addressing violence against women in general, preventing violence, and providing services to survivors in particular. The last brief includes a compilation of resources developed by UN Women and partners to end violence against women and girls.

Shelters for Women and Girls who are Survivors of Violence in Ethiopia

Date: Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Commissioned by UN Women Ethiopia, this national assessment identifies and evaluates existing rehabilitation and reintegration service providers for women and girl-survivors of violence. It examines the accessibility, quality and demand for such services, identifies challenges faced and offers recommendations to the government, development partners and service providers.

Essential services package for women and girls subject to violence

Date: Thursday, December 10, 2015

The Essential services package forms part of the United Nations Joint Global Programme on Essential Services for Women and Girls Subject to Violence. This programme is a partnership by UN Women, UNFPA, WHO, UNDP and UNODC which aims to provide greater access to a coordinated set of essential and quality multi-sectoral services for all women and girls who have experienced gender-based violence. This programme is supported by the Governments of Australia and Spain.

Women living with HIV speak out against violence

Date: Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Violence against women and girls is an unacceptable violation of basic human rights. It also is so widespread that ending it must be a public health priority. An estimated one in three women is beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused by an intimate partner during her lifetime. Intimate partner violence has been shown to increase the risk of HIV infection by around 50 per cent, and violence (and the fear of violence) deters women and girls from seeking services for HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.

Working with gender-based violence survivors

Date: Sunday, January 1, 2012

The manual is a reference to build United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) frontline staff capacity to address gender-based violence. It has eight units that define concepts, approaches, and international standards for addressing gender based violence. It introduces counseling and defines the interventions for healthcare providers, educators and social workers.

Religion, culture and the politicization of honour-related violence: A critical analysis of media and policy debates in Western Europe and North America

Date: Friday, October 1, 2010

Over the past decade, the issue of honour-related violence has entered media and policy debates in immigrant-receiving countries like the Netherlands, Germany, Britain and Canada. In some of these countries, media debate has instigated policy debate. This paper analyses how media, parliaments and other State institutions, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) conceptualize honour killing and honour-related violence in order to uncover how such conceptualizations inform policy responses.

Intensification of efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women: Report of the Secretary-General (A/65/208)

Date: Monday, August 2, 2010

In resolution 63/155 on intensification of efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women, the General Assembly recognized that violence against women was rooted in unequal power relations between men and women and constituted an impediment to the ability of women to make use of their capabilities. This report contains information provided by Member States on their follow-up activities to implement this resolution.

Preventing intimate partner and sexual violence against women: Taking action and generating evidence

Date: Friday, January 1, 2010

This document aims to provide sufficient information for policymakers and planners to develop data-driven and evidence-based programmes for preventing intimate partner and sexual violence against women.

15 years of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences (1994–2009): A critical review

Date: Thursday, January 1, 2009

This review aims to take stock of the achievements of 15 years of work on the Violence against Women (VAW) mandate, which has produced an impressive collection of 14 annual reports, 32 country mission reports, 11 communication reports comprising many communications to and from governments, and several other pieces of research.

Programming to address violence against women: 8 case studies, volume no. 2

Date: Thursday, January 1, 2009

This is the second volume in a series that documents best practices in preventing and responding to violence against women. These eight case studies feature initiatives from Algeria, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, implemented by governments and other partners with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Programming to address violence against women: 10 case studies

Date: Monday, January 1, 2007

This volume documents United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)'s experience addressing many forms of violence against women. Intended primarily for development practitioners and others seeking to change attitudes and practices, it offers lessons that can help scale-up responses. Projects in Bangladesh, Colombia, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Romania, Sierra Leone and Turkey are discussed.

WHO multi-country study on women’s health and domestic violence against women

Date: Thursday, September 1, 2005

This landmark World Health Organizatin (WHO) study analyses data from interviews with over 24,000 women in countries representing diverse cultural, geographical and urban/rural settings. The study uncovers the forms and patterns of violence against women across these locations and finds that violence from intimate male partners is a major contributor to women's ill-health.