SG and UN Special Rapporteur in talks to end violence against women

IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong has held talks with the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, Dr Dubravka Šimonović, on possible cooperation in supporting parliaments to safeguard the lives and well-being of women and girls. During the talks at IPU headquarters in Geneva, Dr Šimonović suggested there was a need to connect and harmonize various fragmented tools and standards around the world. She believed it was essential to plug gaps in the implementation of laws in some regions as well as to strengthen links between the role of her office and that of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). She and Mr Chungong discussed specific areas of potential cooperation such as including the rapporteur in relevant IPU activities, exchanging information on sexism and violence against women MPs and encouraging MPs to meet the rapporteur. Mr Chungong reminded Dr Šimonović of IPU's tireless work to stop violence against women and girls and its support for parliaments and MPs to develop and enforce targeted legislation. He cited recent IPU work including a workshop in Mauritania for female MPs and NGOs, and training and outreach efforts in Sierra Leone equipping hundreds of traditional leaders and local officials with a better understanding of their role in implementing laws against domestic and sexual violence. Mr Chungong also stressed IPU's work to stop child marriage and female genital mutilation.