Violence against Women & Children

In the Southern African region, violence against women is rife. The lack of services for survivors, and with that the lack of effective response by law enforcement officials, makes this issue a specific human security problem. UNODC's headquarters in Vienna has developed a Handbook for Effective Police Responses to Violence against Women, which aims to furnish law enforcement officials with information that will enable them to recognize and identify key elements in defining violence against women. The Handbook has proved essential in both assisting in the prevention of violence and in boosting the number of reported cases of violence against women.

In light of the success in other regions of the world UNODC Southern Africa has launched a project aimed at adjusting the Handbook to the needs of the Southern African region. To provide further assistance, UNODC Southern Africa is also implementing training and capacity building initiatives in six countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.

The project, which was initiated in March 2008 partners with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Southern African Police Chief's Cooperation Organization (SARPCCO), and is based on resolution 2006/29 of the Economic and Social Council entitled "Crime prevention and criminal justice responses to violence against women and girls".

This resolution, which recognizes the importance of the special needs of women and girls in the criminal justice system, coupled with several General Assembly resolutions provides the legal basis and framework of UNODC's work in the areas of violence against women and assistance to victims.

The project also builds on previous work conducted by UNODC Southern Africa, such as the establishment of three One Stop Centres in Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape and Northern Cape, all of which have been handed over to the South African Government. Each Centre has provided a range of services (legal services, counselling, medical attention, and support) to the survivors of violence (specifically women and children) and rehabilitation services, including counselling and support groups for male perpetrators as well as potential perpetrators in order to break the cycle of violence. Several One-Stop centres are currently being planned or are in the process of being set-up including in Mitchell's Plain (Western Cape), Vryburg (North West Province), and Sunnyside (Gauteng).