OHCHR | Feature stories on women and gender-based violence

Feature stories on women and gender-based violence

Breaking cycles of sexual violence linked to elections in Kenya
UN Human Rights is working with survivors, the Government and civil society to prevent the recurrence of sexual violence ahead of the upcoming 2022 polls.
27 December 2019

On International Women’s Day, Stand With Her
Generations of courageous women and feminist movements have together stood up for social change by fighting for human rights. On International Women’s Day, they are being recognised and honoured. The #IStandWithHer campaign will tell some of their stories.
7 March 2019

An entire life sentenced to death
On World Day against the Death Penalty, 10 October, we look at the gender-based biases and the intersectional discrimination that lead women to death row.
10 October 2018

Digital misogyny is personal and fixable
For women and girls, the internet can be an empowering space. It can also be dangerous, as online abuse escalates. But a group of experts and activists say the abuse can be challenged using human rights and technology.
6 July 2018

End in sight for “marry your rapist” laws
Three countries in the Middle East and North Africa- Jordan, Lebanon and Tunisia - repeal legislation that allowed rapists to avoid criminal charges if they marry their victims.
25 August 2017

Small arms: A disproportionate impact on women
Arms control is a human rights issue as small arms proliferation inhibits development and humanitarian efforts, says Dr. Anna Alvazzi del Frate, Research director of the NGO Small Arms Survey. Alvazzi says information is key to helping to prevent this violence.
25 November 2014

Ending impunity for femicide across Latin America
Investigators and prosecutors in Latin America now have a guide to assist in investigation and prosecution of femicide – the killing of women because they are women.
25 August 2014

Ending Forced Marriage Worldwide
Forced marriage is a global problem, affecting both boys and girls and cutting across countries, cultures, religions and ethnicities.
21 November 2013

Democratic Republic of the Congo: joining forces in the fight against sexual violence
Sylvie Vwiranda is a clinical psychologist who helps victims of sexual violence in the Ituri district in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
2 October 2013

Women’s rights in political transitions
A group of leading human rights advocates share their views on political transitions and women’s enjoyment of their rights in their respective countries at an event organized by the UN Human Rights Office.
7 August 2013

Seeking justice for the victims of sexual violence from the armed conflict in Kosovo*
A study commissioned by the UN Human Rights Stand-alone Office in Kosovo recommends a range of reparation measures for the victims of sexual violence committed during the armed conflict in Kosovo in the late 90’s.
19 June 2013

Fighting FGM: Girls’ right to education versus traditional practices
One county in Liberia has succeeded in stopping Female Genital Mutilation practices by ensuring girls are not being pulled out of formal studies during the school year to attend ”bush schools".
7 February 2013

A long way to go: progress in combatting violence against women in Afghanistan
The latest United Nations report on violence against women in Afghanistan describes renewed concerns that “conservative elements resistant to women’s rights are again gaining strength.”
28 December 2012

Fighting widowhood practices that enable violence against women in Togo
A traditional leader’s commitment to promoting and protecting women’s rights in his community is changing widowhood customs across Togo.
26 December 2012

Violence against women: a focus of the Papua New Guinea Human Rights Film Festival
The annual Human Rights Film Festival in Papua New Guinea focuses on violence against women as one of its themes in 2012.
14 December 2012

Impunity for violence against women is a global concern
Globally the prevalence of different manifestations of killings targeting women is increasing and a lack of accountability for such crimes remains a concern.
14 August 2012

Promoting women’s rights in conflict and post-conflict situations
Access to justice, equal participation of women in peacebuilding, economic opportunities for women in post conflict situations and violence are some of the challenges faced by women in conflict and post-conflict situations.
5 May 2012

Making “secret plans” to stop tribal fighting and end violence against women
After decades of tribal violence that engulfed the district of Kup, in the mountains of Papua New Guinea, three women mobilised their communities to stop tribal fighting.
16 January 2012

Political transitions provide opportunities to promote women’s human rights
Political transitions provide a unique opportunity to promote the human rights of women.
26 December 2011

16 days of activism: fighting against sorcery related killings
Monica Paulus, a human rights defender from Papua New Guinea, fights against sorcery related killing. “Women accused of sorcery are victims of extreme abuse and horrendous killings,” she says.
6 December 2011

16 Days of Activism: 15 years of initiatives to end violence against women
Since its creation in 1996, the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women has delivered more than USD 78 million to support 339 initiatives around the world.
30 November 2011

16 Days of Activism: breaking the silence through awareness and outreach
Awareness campaigns, advocacy and outreach activities are the key to eliminate violence against women, in particular harmful traditional practices.
28 November 2011

16 days of activism to eliminate violence against women
The 16 days of activism campaign, which runs from 25 November to 10 December, calls for the elimination of violence against women and invites everyone to take action against it.
23 November 2011

Learn more

Information Note
The information note offers more insight into this year’s theme

Statement
Violence against women is never "deserved" but simply and totally unacceptable, the UN rights chief says for International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

Stories
Feature stories on women and gender-based violence

Women’s Rights and Gender Section

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