Eliminating all forms of violence

The 57th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) promises to be a unique moment, contributing towards ending impunity for sexual and gender based violence. The theme of the 2013 CSW is “Elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls” and the event to be held in New York is expected to bring together women’s rights champions, researchers, activists, scholars and other stakeholders.

The CSW sessions are characterised by rich discussions and new ways of moving forward in freeing women from all forms of violence, where the most relevant issues about the status of women around the world come to the fore during debates and round tables. The United Nations commitment to the advancement of women began with the signing of the UN charter in San Francisco in 1945.

ACORD is presenting five major events at CSW57

During the CSW57 scheduled from 4th to 15th March, ACORD will be hosting five parallel events covering the main topics of elimination of violence against women, gender and the post 2015 process, and gender equality in caregiving for HIV/AIDS. The events will be panel discussions with high level speakers drawn from ACORD, United Nations, government and civil society partners:

Livelihoods programmes targeting women in Africa: burden or opportunity for caregiving in HIV affected households? – To be held on 7th March and expected to highlight issues of women and HIV and AIDS in Africa. The main highlights of the session will be as follows:

  • Tackling gender imbalances through HIV and AIDS mainstreaming in Uganda
  • Double burden of care for women living with HIV and AIDS
  • Recommendations for balancing care roles in HIV affected household livelihoods.

Challenging and Preventing Hidden War Crimes – screening of the documentary “Challenging and Healing Hidden War Crimes” filmed in Kenya and Uganda, followed by panel discussion. The film was nominated for best documentary in Kenya’s Kalasha awards 2012. Key discussion points lined up during the session include:

  • Soliciting political will and donors’ commitment
  • Influencing pro-women policy and gender budgeting
  • Addressing root causes of SGBV in a bid to address prevention and elimination

Integrating prevention and elimination of violence against women in the post-2015 processes – expected to elicit serious debates about the future of Africa, the post 2015 process has in the recent months taken over the headlines as various think tanks across the African continent converge to chart the way forward. ACORD has developed a website www.askafricanow.org specifically to build knowledge and connections around this forward-thinking concept. Key discussion points will be as follows:

  • An African narrative reflecting the voice of the grassroots, in particular women
  • Opportunities for civil society engagement
  • Building on achievements and lessons learnt from the MDGs

Francophone events with DRC and Chad case studies

Promoting positive masculinity for prevention of violence against women – a sensitive yet far-reaching angle in eliminating violence against women by trying to unravel how to nurture positive masculinity through awareness and supportive programmes that take into account these identity dynamics and help men to understand the root causes of negative masculinity and gender-based violence. Key discussion points will be as follows:

  • The social construction of masculine and feminine identities as root causes of gender inequalities and violence perpetrated against women
  • Men to men: strategy of collaboration with the men in the fight against gender-based violence
  • Influence of culture and intergenerational transmission beliefs in reports men and women leading to violence in rural areas in Chad

Restoration of power and efficiency to the justice system to prevent gender-based violence – discussions on the judicial context, its weaknesses and what can be done to strengthen and build awareness and trust for the justice system among victims of sexual and gender based violence. The key discussion points from the panelists will be as follows:

  • Putting the wheels of justice at the centre of the process of preventing crimes and violence against women and girls
  • Analysis of the quality of judicial decisions on crimes of sexual violence based on gender, based on results of studies and audits in 5 African countries 
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo case study: "Addressing the problem of access to justice by providing mobile legal clinics"

Additional resources

ACORD at last year's CSW56
Download CSW57 flier with dates, times and venues of the ACORD hosted events
Read more about ACORD's work to end impunity for sexual and gender based violence.

  • united nations
  • violence against women
  • Hidden War Crimes

    Challenging the Impunity towards sexual violence, and crimes committed during times of conflict in countries of the Great Lakes Region and finding justice, healing and restitution for the survivors. Watch video

    CSW team

    Meet the ACORD delegation attending the CSW57 in New York:

      Aminata Ndiaye Gender Thematic Manager

    Salina Sanou   Head of Policy and Advocacy
      Ousainou Ngum Executive Director
      Ellen Bajenja Health Thematic Manager
      Louis Tshiyombo Gender Expert, DRC
      Dennis Nduhura Uganda Country Director
      Clementine Ndade Responsible for Gender, Chad