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Gender-based violence (GBV) is a fundamental violation of human rights. It is one of the worst manifestations of gender-based discrimination, disproportionately affecting girls and women. GBV is a global phenomenon that knows no geographical, cultural, social, economic, ethnic, or other boundaries. It occurs across all societies, and is a major obstacle to the achievement of gender equality. The purpose of this review is to examine existing approaches in policy, programming and implementation responses to school-related gender-based violence (SRGBV) in the Asia-Pacific region. It seeks to advance our knowledge and learning in this field, both in terms of what we know about the phenomenon and its impact on individuals, as well as how best to address it, including through education.

Gender-related violence in schools is a violation of human rights that also raises additional barriers to learning and can adversely affect the health of young people. In extreme cases it can even drive young people to suicide. Studies also show that violence begets violence, perpetuating a vicious cycle that can last generations.

Violence against women has been acknowledged as a major barrier to sustainable human development and a serious impediment to achieving gender equality. It imposes a tremendous economic cost to the countries in the form of absenteeism from productive work, increased health care expenditures, and taxing public services – police, courts, and social welfare. At the same time, it dehumanizes the perpetrators unleashing a cycle of violence that erodes the core of their well-being. All the countries of South Asia are committed to ending violence against women and children and are signatories to CEDAW and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Violence against women remains one of the region’s most pervasive human rights challenges. It is estimated that one in every two women in South Asia faces violence in her home1 as compared to the world average of one in three.

In many Western and Asian contexts, over half of LGBT students report having been bullied because of their same-sex attraction or because of their transgender expressions. Thailand is often perceived by both foreigners and some of its own population as very accepting of sexual and gender diversity; however some research suggests that Thai society is "tolerant but unaccepting" toward LGBT individuals. Previous studies were conducted on school bullying in Thailand, but only anecdotal evidence revealed the presence of targeted violence toward LGBT students due to their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. This study aimed to fill this gap in evidence, and to identify policy and programme implications.

Drawing upon the recommendations and guidance contained in the updated Model Strategies and Practical Measures, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and UN Women, in cooperation with Thailand Institute of Justice, have drafted the Handbook on Effective Prosecution Responses to Violence against Women and Girls with a view to assist prosecutors in their duty to uphold the rule of law, firmly protect human rights and serve their community with impartiality and fairness in cases involving violence against women and girls. The focus of this Handbook is on violence against women and girls, based on the United Nations definition i.e. "any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether in public or private life".

Human trafficking is a form of violence against women (VAW) that occurs within and across borders. It involves many different actors, including families, local brokers, international criminal networks and immigration authorities, and in many cases it leads to a form of modern day slavery for the victim. Human trafficking affects the economy, political stability, law enforcement, women's rights and public health, particularly reproductive health and sexual health. Trafficking victims are also placed at greater risk of contracting HIV/AIDS. Human trafficking also cuts across many fundamental issues, such as human rights, maintenance of peace and security, national development and family health, and efforts to stop it naturally involve many sectors of society. Parliamentarians, or, members of national parliaments, are one vital element that can play a significant role by virtue of their commitment to legislation. Laws are meritless without government support.

Access to education in a safe environment is a universal human right. However, the exercise of this right is often compromised by the presence of violence and bullying in schools, making them unsafe. Given its often gendered nature, bullying is considered a subtype of school-related gender-based violence. In particular, students who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) tend to be disproportionately bullied at schools. In many Western and Asian contexts, over half of LGBT students report having been bullied because of their same-sex attraction or because of their transgender expressions. Thailand is often perceived as very accepting of sexual/gender diversity, but in fact LGBT people are usually only tolerated, not accepted. There was previous evidence of school bullying in Thailand, but only anecdotal evidence pointed at the presence of school bullying specifically targeting students who are or are perceived to be LGBT, or on mechanisms to counter it in Thai schools.

UN Women plays a leading role in supporting improvements in global norms and standards that accelerate the realization of gender equality. We provide expert knowledge and evidence, advocate for critical issues, convene key stakeholders, and engage with UN Member States to build consensus and forge agreements on new commitments. The Annual Report documents UN Women's work to foster women's empowerment and gender equality around the world. It highlights some of the organization’s initiatives during the year and provides summary financial statements, a list of new programmes and projects, and contact information.

Selected policies on adolescent friendly health services in low and middle income countries - information from countries that responded to the Global Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health Policy Indicator Surveys (2009-10, 2011-12 and 2013-14) undertaken by Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (MCA), and Family, Women's and Children's Health (FWC).

This publication is intended to share an analytical framework for investigating plural legal systems from the gender perspective. It focuses on the broad spectrum of the legal orders, including those that are informal, not formally recognized, or not State sanctioned covering customary, indigenous, traditional and religious orders. UN Women hopes that this publication will be useful for states and non-governmental organizations working at the forefront of cases, making positive impacts on women’s lives with useful working tools; and provide guidance for the regional research and to identify contentious issues within the region.