Colombia: Integral strategy for the prevention and awareness of all forms of gender-based violence

More than 40% of Colombian women have suffered physical violence, and two women die every day in Colombia simply because they are women. The Joint Programme supported the Government in its efforts to eradicate gender-based violence through an integral and intersectoral strategy that developed the areas of prevention, detection, recording, awareness and promotion of a political and legal framework in agreement with international guidelines.

The programme focused on the issue of violence against women who are the most vulnerable, such as indigenous women, Afro-Colombian women, displaced women and victims of human trafficking. A priority was bringing to public attention the violence suffered in armed conflict situations. 

The main objectives of the programme were to:

1. Develop educational communication strategies aimed at reducing social tolerance of domestic violence;
2. Strengthen the capacity of institutions responsible for prevention, detection and treatment of domestic violence to fulfill their responsibilities, provide quality care to victims and ensure the restoration of their rights;
3. Systematically integrate the issue of gender-based violence in the design, implementation and monitoring of policies, plans, and national and local budgets.

Main achievements included:

• Legal and psychological-social services were set up and women’s shelters were created in programme areas.
• Officers of the relevant institutions were trained in the new legislation and in the quality of care for women victims of gender-based violence, and 88 field projects were developed.
• Authorities of the Embera Chami indigenous community prohibitted the practice of female genital mutilation. 
• Support was provided for the creation of guidelines for the National Policy for Gender Equality and the regulation of five Decrees of Law 1257 of 2008 on health, labour, justice, education and communications.
• Three reports were issued by the Office of the Ombudsman on the impact of armed conflict on women's rights.
• The programme advocated for the incorporation of gender equality issues into the National Development Plan.

Click for more detailed results from the Joint Programmes in Colombia (in Spanish).