United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

Guidance Note of the Secretary General: Reparations for Conflict-Related Sexual Violence

This note aims to provide policy and operational guidance for United Nations engagement in the area of reparations for victims of conflict-related sexual violence. Reparations are reflective of victims’ internationally-enshrined right to an effective remedy. This includes activities to advocate for, and/or support the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of, reparation programmes and initiatives directed at victims of conflict-related sexual violence.

Women’s Rights are Human Rights

This report argues that, until recently, women’s experiences were not adequately addressed by the human rights framework.

Access to Justice for Victims of Sexual Violence, Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

This report by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) assesses the extent to which the Government of the Sudan has lived up to its commitments with regard to combating domestic violence in Darfur. The OHCHR recommends that the Government of the Sudan take responsibility to protect against re-victimization of victims of sexual violence. Judicial and law enforcement staff, as well as local authorities, and medical and social workers should be trained so that they can work effectively and respectfully with victims of sexual violence. Judicial and

Report of the Panel on Remedies and Reparations for Victims of Sexual Violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo to the High Commissioner for Human Rights

In August 2010, the High Commissioner for Human Rights convened a panel to address the issues faced by victims of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This report documents the findings of the panel, including its assessments and recommendations with regard to the judicial mechanisms and other mechanisms necessary to provide the victims adequate access to remedies and reparations. Through interviewing victims of sexual violence in the DRC, the panel found that despite the country's efforts to address sexual violence through the

Fact Sheet No.23, Harmful Traditional Practices Affecting

This fact sheet acknowledges that although harmful traditional practices such as early marriage and early child bearing violate international human rights laws, "such practices persist because they are not questioned and take on an aura of morality in the eyes of those practicing them." It is argued that these practices persist in environments where women and female children have unequal access to education, wealth, health and employment.

The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

This Fact Sheet explores key elements of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and examines the work of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The information included constitutes a useful overview of the Covenant as the main international legal instrument addressing these rights. Information is also provided on the applicability of the Covenant within domestic law, and the proposed optional protocol which would provide a formalized complaint procedure.