United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women

This handbook is designed to help States develop and enhance their national action plans in order to effectively deal with the issue of violence against women. Based on expert advice and good practices currently existing in national action plans, this handbook examines existing human rights treaties and policies and provides a model framework on how to develop a States national action plan on violence against women. Intended to both prevent and respond to violence against women, it includes advice on implementation, guiding principles and how to effectively monitor the action

UN Security Council Resolution 1325 recognizes that armed conflict affects women and girls differently than men and boys. This resolution has resulted in some improvements, but implementation challenges remain. Four recent resolutions (1820 in 2008, 1888 and 1889 in 2009, and 1960 in 2010) attempt to address these challenges. Together with Resolution 1325, these resolutions are known as the Women, Peace, and Security resolutions (WPS). This collection of papers provides resource material to support the implementation of these resolutions.

This study examines the violence experienced by Indigenous girls, adolescents, and young women in Africa, Asia Pacific, and Latin America. It considers the structural and underlying causes and risk factors for such violence and provides an overview of the current initiatives taking place at a national level. The study focuses on the pervasiveness of violence against women and girls and how it relates to recognized human rights, such as the right to education and health. It also highlights the correlation between the high risk of violence to Indigenous women and the ongoing

This report by UN Women examines efforts to combat sexual violence during times of armed conflict and makes recommendations for peacekeepers to improve these efforts. The report notes the importance of the military in this regard, as the first responder to most crises. The report argues that sexual violence is the least condemned war crime, and that it is thus crucial that it receive increased attention. The report proposes the installation of ceasefire monitors during times of declared ceasefire, noting the prevalence of rape at those times.

This report by UN Women examines peace-building initiatives and the difficulties women face in participating in such. The document focuses on womens roles in reconciliation mechanisms for developing peace and protecting women. The document examines obstacles and solutions to womens engagement in peace-building initiatives and notes risks to physical safety, fear and gender roles encouraging male violence as disincentives to female participation. The document also notes problems in current funding mechanisms.