Fighting impunity: addressing sexual violence in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo
By Maarten Barends, rule of law expert for UNDP DRC, Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery

It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon. She approached me when I was about to take a picture in the centre of Goma, the old run-down town on the northern shores of Lake Kivu. A beautiful girl in her late teens, timidly holding out her hand for a few Congolese francs. Panicky glances, a timorous encounter. Her nose had been cut off, but it is the despair and incomprehension in her eyes that still haunt me. Read more...

Combating gender-based violence in Kosovo
By Nazlie Bala, Project Manager, Women’s Safety and Security Initiative, UNDP Kosovo

“I know … that in my village there are three to four families suffering from violence. Two days ago a man beat his wife. She was all black with bruises. In another family, the husband beats his wife. His brothers beat her too. About two days ago the police came for this case.”Read more...

Liberia: making headway in addressing sexual violence
By Shipra Bose, Senior Gender Adviser, UNDP Liberia

The fighting in Liberia’s civil war is long over, but violence still echoes through the nation, affecting even the youngest Liberians. Recent studies indicate that about 75 percent of women have faced some form of gender-based abuse before reaching the age of majority. An estimated 85 percent of rape survivors are under 18 years of age. Read more...

Listen Maria-Therese Keating, Deputy Resident Representative in UNDP Liberia, discusses efforts to address sexual and gender-based violence in the country (streaming audio or mp3)

Sexual violence in Somalia: Resolution 1820 and Women’s Bar Associations
By Alison Davidian, UNDP Somalia

Somalia has been in a state of war for over 18 years. In conflict and post-conflict countries such as Somalia where structures for the administration of justice have collapsed, the human rights of vulnerable groups such as women and children are even more subject to abuse. One of the major human rights violations perpetrated in Somalia is sexual violence against women. Read more...

Access to justice in Sri Lanka: Addressing the needs of the displaced
By Zoe Keeler, Assistant Resident Representative for Programme and Sharmeela Rasool, Project Manager, UNDP Sri Lanka

On 18 May 2009 the Sri Lankan government formally announced its military victory over the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and its regaining of complete territorial control over Sri Lanka. The final weeks of the conflict resulted in an estimated 200,000 people fleeing the fighting. More than 300,000 people are now displaced, mostly concentrated in the North-Central Vavuniya District, where new internally displaced camps have been established. Read more...

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In this Issue

> Fighting impunity: DRC
> Gender-Based Violence in Kosovo
> Sexual violence in Liberia
> Sexual Violence in Somalia
> Access to justice in Sri Lanka

Quick Links

Rule of Law in Conflict and Post-conflict Situations

Learn more about UNDP Rule of Law initiatives in Strengthening the Rule of Law in Conflict/Post-Conflict Situations: Global Programme 2008-2011 (pdf).

Gender and crisis

Donor proposal on Women and Girls in Crisis (pdf)