Violence against women and girls (VAW&G) is a grave violation of human rights. In addition to the severe negative impact on women's general well-being, it prevents women from fully participating in society, thus leading to negative consequences not only for the women affected but also for their families, communities and countries at large. UNODC has been undertaking various efforts to help end VAW&G in Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, and Tunisia.
In Egypt, UNODC conducted a workshop to support judges in facing judicial challenges and providing efficient responses to VAW&G. The workshop was based on the developed UNODC Manual and in the context of the Essential Services Package Programme (ESP). Part of the UN joint project "Haya" in Palestine, UNODC conducted an awareness-raising workshop on criminal justice services for women survivors of violence. The initiative brought together justice sector institutions and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Nablus District to discuss law enforcement, legal assistance and forensic medicine services to gender-based violence (GBV) survivors and identify challenges and ways of cooperation in this field. By targeting CSOs, UNODC seeks to reach out to the wider community and ensure that women and girls know that GBV is not tolerated and are aware of the criminal justice services they can benefit from and obtain justice.
For Tunisia, UNODC aimed to work on the role of forensic medicine expertise regarding Law 58 for the elimination of VAW. With more than 100 participants, the seminar helped highlight the possible obstacles to implementation and develop a set of recommendations to move forward. The Seminar coordinated with UNFPA, Nebras, INJED, Tunisian College of Forensic Medicine, and the Tunisian Association of the Forensic Medicine and Sciences. UNODC also expanded its work to Jordan with a three-day training for law enforcement officers on VAW in Amman. Efforts aim at supporting law enforcement bodies to provide fair and sensitive procedures in response to cases of VAW&G throughout the criminal justice process, while ensuring a victim-centred approach and preventing re-victimization.