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News 2022

•  Committee of Experts expresses its categorical repudiation and concern regarding the attempted assassination of Argentine Vice President Cristina Fernández (September 14th) Read the Communique in English or Spanish

• The Committee of Experts of the MESECVI and the Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women and Girls of the United Nations express their concern about the illegitimate use of the concept of parental alienation syndrome against women (August 12th) Read the Communique in English or Spanish

• Committee of Experts expresses rejection and concern over acts of extreme violence against women in La Libertad, Peru (July 14th) Read the Communique in English or Spanish

• Committee of Experts expresses concern about new education Bill in Peru (June 15th) Read the Communique in English or Spanish

• Committee of Experts expresses concern over the disappearances that have taken place in Nuevo León, Mexico (May 20th) Read the Communique in English or Spanish 

• Committee of Experts expresses concern over the femicides of two adolescents from the Wichi Community, Argentina (April 21st)
  Read the Communique in English or Spanish

News 2021

• Committee of Experts celebrates the release of Vannesa Rosales and calls on the Venezuelan State to guarantee her rights in criminal proceedings for her work as a defender of sexual and reproductive rights in the country (July 28th)
  Read the Communique in English or Spanish
• Committee of Experts congratulates the appointment of the Presidential Secretariat for Women (SEPREM) in Guatemala (July 9th)
  Read the Communique in English or Spanish
• Committee of Experts calls on the Colombian State to investigate immediately and effectively allegations of human rights violations against women (June 1st)
  Read the Communique in English or Spanish
• Committee of Experts expresses concern over gender-based violence against women in political life in the Province of Catamarca, Argentina (May 24th)
  Read the Communique in English or Spanish
• Committee of Experts expresses concern about the harassment suffered by Kattya González, national deputy in Paraguay (April 29th)
  Read the Communique in English or Spanish
• The Committee of Experts and the UN Special Rapporteur express their concern over the case of Colombian journalist Jineth Bedoya (March 25th)
  Read the Communique in English or Spanish
• The Committee of Experts of the MESECVI calls on the Dominican Republic to guarantee the rights of women, adolescents and girls (February 8th)
  Read the Communique in English or Spanish
• Committee of Experts condemns the femicide of an 18-month-old girl in Antioquia, Colombia (February 1st)
  Read the Communique in English or Spanish
• Committee of Experts expresses its concern over the approval of the amendment to the Constitution of the Republic of Honduras that limits, among others, the rights of women, girls, and adolescents (January 25th)
  Read the Communique in English or Spanish

 

News 2020

• Committee of Experts calls on the Guatemalan State to investigate immediately and effectively allegations of human rights violations against women in the context of a peaceful protest (December 23rd)
  Read the Communique in English or Spanish
• MESECVI closes its period of Sessions with the VIII Conference of States Party and the XVII Meeting of the Committee of Experts of the Mechanism CEVI (December 18th)
  Read the Communique in English or Spanish
• Committee of Experts expresses concern about the results of a study on violence against women in the Constitutional Court of Colombia (November 30th)
  Read the Communique in English or Spanish
• Committee of Experts expresses concern about the reduction of the budget for women's houses and especially the Houses of Indigenous and Afro-American Women (CAMIS) (November 22nd)
  Read the Communique in English or Spanish
• Committee of Experts of the Follow-up Mechanism of the Belém do Pará Convention expresses concern over cases of sexual violence and pregnancy in girls (July 8th)
  Read the Communique in English or Spanish
• Committee of Experts expresses its concern over the situation of Patricia Pamela Hermosa Gutierrez, former chief of staff and legal representative of former president Evo Morales (June 23rd)
  Read the Communique in English or Spanish
• Committee of Experts expresses its concern over political violence against Pamela Alejandra Aguirre, representative of the Andean Parliament (June 23rd)
  Read the Communique in English or Spanish
• Committee of Experts expresses its concern over acts of violence against Senator Martha Lucía Mícher in Mexico (June 10th)
  Read the Communique in English or Spanish
• Committee of Experts urges to protect and accelerate the investigation process in a case of political violence against ex-judge in Guatemala (May 14th)
  Read the Communique in English or Spanish
• Committee of Experts expresses concern for the duty of due diligence and the respect and guarantee of the fundamental rights of women and girls victims of sexual and psychological violence in Colombia in the El Shaddai case (April 15th)
  Read the Communique in English or Spanish
• Committee of Experts urges the incorporation of the gender perspective in the measures taken to mitigate COVID-19 and the strengthening of actions for the prevention and care of gender-based violence (March 18th)
  Read the Communique in English or Spanish
• Committee of Experts expresses concern about the high rates of femicides/feminicides in the region (March 8th)
  Read the Communique in English or Spanish
• Committee of Experts presents amicus curiae on the case of Guzmán Albarracín et al. V. Ecuador (March 5th)
  Read the Communique in English or Spanish
• Committee of Experts recommends the strengthening of SEPREM and other women's institutions in Guatemala (February 20th)
  Read the Communique in English or Spanish
• Comité de Expertas solicita al Estado venezolano pronunciamiento oficial sobre femicidios y mortalidad materna en Venezuela (February 19th)
  Read the Communique in English or Spanish

 

News 2019

• Committee of Experts express concern over resolution on ten-year-old female victim of sexual violence in El Salvador
  Read the Communique in English or Spanish
• Committee of Experts calls on the Chilean State to investigate immediately and effectively allegations of human rights violations against women
  Read the Communique in English or Spanish
• Committee of Experts expresses concern for women and girls affected by the Hurricane in the Bahamas
  Read the Communique inEnglish or Spanish
• Committee of Experts condemns the murder of candidate Karina García in Colombia
  Read the Communique in English or Spanish
• Committee of Experts expresses concerns over the situation of sexual exploitation of girls, adolescents and women in Marajó
  Read the Communique in English,Spanish or Portuguese
• Committee of Experts expresses concern about journalistic treatment of cases of violence against women in Chile
  Read the Communique in English or Spanish
• Committee of Experts Expresses Concern about Femicides and Attacks against Human Rights Defenders in Colombia
  Read the Communique in English or Spanish
• Committee of Experts expresses concern over the statements of the Vice President of Guatemala
  Read the Communique in English or Spanish
• Committee of Experts condemns institutional violence against an 11 year-old girl victim of rape in Argentina
  Read the Communique in English or Spanish
• Committee of Experts welcomes the Resolution to fight against gender violence and femicide in Ecuador
  Read the Communique in English or Spanish

 

News 2018

• Committee of Experts expresses its concern over the case of Arlette Contreras in Peru
  Communique in English or Spanish
• Committee of Experts celebrates the approval of the Micaela Law in Argentina
  Communique in English or Spanish
• Committee of Experts celebrates the release of Imelda Cortez in El Salvador
  Communique in English or Spanish
• Committee of Experts expresses its concern over the case of Lucía Pérez in Argentina
  Communique in English or Spanish
• Committee of Experts expresses its concern over the case of Francisca Díaz Williams in Chile
  Communique in English or Spanish
• Committee of Experts and the UN Special Rapporteur express their concern over the case of Imelda Cortez in El Salvador
  Communique in English or Spanish
• Committee of Experts and Special Rapporteurship of the IACHR express their concern over the threats against journalist Noelia Díaz Esquivel in Paraguay
  Communique in English or Spanish
• Committee of Experts encourages the Dominican Republic to approve a Comprehensive Law on violence against women in accordance with the provisions of the Belém do Pará Convention
  Communique in English or Spanish
• Committee of Experts welcomes that the Constitutional Court of Colombia recognizes and seeks to prevent institutional violence against women
  Communique in English or Spanish
• Experts from the OAS and the UN express their concern about the situation of the National Curriculum of Education and the alleged cases of corruption that would seek impunity in crimes against girls and adolescents in Peru
  Communique in English or Spanish
• Committee of Experts expresses its concern over the possible setbacks in matters of Human Rights of Women in Guatemala
  Communique in English or Spanish
• Committee of Experts welcomes that Costa Rica declares violence against women as a priority interest
  Communique in English or Spanish
• Committee of Experts welcomes the approval and budget of the multi-sectoral plan to combat violence against women in Peru
  Communique in English or Spanish
• Committee of Experts laments the dismissal of the Secretary for Women in Guatemala
  Communique in English or Spanish
• Committee of Experts laments that 201 girls have been forced to continue their pregnancies in 2017 in the province of Misiones, Argentina
  Communique in English or Spanish
• Committee of Experts laments that the Senate rejected the bill to decriminalize abortion in Argentina
  Communique in English or Spanish
• Committee of Experts condemns the attack on three women in the march for abortion rights in Chile
  Read the Communique in English or Spanish
• Committee of Experts laments the decision of the Constitutional Court regarding femicide in Guatemala
  Communique in English or Spanish
• Committee of Experts expresses its concern over the situation of violence against women in Mexico
  Communique in English or Spanish
• Committee of Experts welcomes the progress of the bill to decriminalize abortion in Argentina
  Read the Communique in English or Spanish
• Committee of Experts expresses its concern over anti-rights speeches that classify gender as an ideology
  Communique in English or Spanish
• Committee of Experts welcomes the decision of the Comptroller related to the protocol of conscientious objection in Chile
  Communique in English or Spanish
• Committee of Experts celebrates political will of Canada to be part of the Belém do Pará Convention
  Communique in English or Spanish
• Committee of Experts expressed concern about the sexual and reproductive rights of women in the Dominican Republic
  Communique in English or Spanish
• Committee of Experts expresses its concern over number of femicides and speech that foments violence against women in Costa Rica
  Communique in English or Spanish
• Committee of Experts condemns the murder of Marielle Franco in Brazil
  Communique in Portuguese, English or Spanish
• Joint call by Committee of Experts of the MESECVI, the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women and the Working Group on the issue of discrimination against women in law and in practice expressing concern over sentence that denies freedom to Teodora Vázquez in El Salvador
  Communique in English or Spanish

 

News 2017

• Sexual Violence and Child Pregnancy in the States Party to the Belém do Pará Convention
  MESECVI launches the "Hemispheric Report on Sexual Violence and Child Pregnancy in the States Party to the Belém do Pará Convention" with a view to providing information on this problem and to generating recommendations to the States Party to support them in improving the effectiveness of the measures adopted to fulfill the right of the girls to live free from violence.
  Download the full report in English or Spanish
• Meeting: Trafficking of women and girls in Latin America and the Caribbean
  On May 23rd 2017, MESECVI in collaboration with Women's Link Worldwide and other partners will organize the round-table "Trafficking of women and girls in Latin America and the Caribbean: Regional Challenges" with a view to raising awareness, through the sharing of Women’s Link Worldwide’s report “Victims of trafficking in Latin America. Between lack of protection and indifference”, of the common challenges in the tasks of identification and assistance. Download the agenda in Inglés or Spanish. Visit Eventbrite to register.
• #March8 Don’t forget GIRLS
  In the framework of International Women’s Day, the MESECVI Committee of Experts expresses its commitment to the eradication of pregnancy in girls under 14 and the promotion of the right of all girls to live free from violence.
  Download the full Communiqué in: English or Spanish

 

News 2016

• MESECVI condemns the discriminatory message behind the inflatable doll in Chile
  [December 19th 2016]
  The Committee of Experts of the MESECVI expresses its concern over the actions of representatives of Asexma in Chile, which are a violation of the right of all women to live free from violence and discrimination. This explicit reference to the reduced body of a women is a violation of article 6 of the Belém do Pará Convention, as well as a direct offense against the moral integrity of the women of Chile.
  Read the full Statement in English or Spanish
• MESECVI invites CSOs registered with OAS to participate in a Virtual Seminar on Shadow Reports
  [June 16, 2016]
  The Webinar entitled: "Preparation of Shadow Reports. CSO participation in the Third Round of the MESECVI", will be held on June 30 at 10:00 am to present information on the preparation of these reports for the Third Multilateral Evaluation Round. The seminar seeks to provide support to civil society organizations registered in the OAS who are willing to collaborate with the MESECVI in monitoring the State compliance with the Belém do Pará Convention with the ultimate aim of improving the lives of women in the region.
  More info...
• Progress is being made to eliminate political violence against women
  [May 31st, 2016]
  The Second Meeting of Experts on political violence against women began yesterday in La Paz, Bolivia, organized by the Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM), the Follow-Up Mechanism to the Belém do Pará Convention (MESECVI) of the OAS, along with ParlAmericas, with the support of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Justice of Bolivia and the Vice Ministry of Gender Equality. The aim is to discuss and validate a draft model law on political violence against women, in compliance with the agreements reached by the CIM Executive Committee.
  More info...
• Advances in condemning crimes of sexual and domestic slavery
  [March 31st, 2016]
  The MESECVI applauds the ruling of the Court of Increased Risk of Guatemala by which former military members responsible for crimes against humanity were condemned during the internal armed conflict, in the case known as "Sepur Zarco" as perpetrators of murder, enforced disappearance and sexual and domestic slavery. This is the first sentence in condemning crimes of sexual slavery in armed conflict in a country where the acts were committed. This constitutes a significant advance in the search for justice for women victims of sexual violence in armed conflict and the eradication of impunity.
• The MESECVI invites civil society organizations to participate in the Third Round
  [March 15, 2016]
  During the XII Meeting of Experts held in Lima, Peru, on October 13 and 14, 2015, it was agreed that the Third Multilateral Evaluation Round on the Implementation of the Belém do Pará Convention would start. The Round will end with the adoption of the Third Hemispheric Report on the Implementation of the Belém do Pará Convention, as well as national reports. Registered NGOs are encouraged to answer the questionnaire and send their shadow reports to the Committee of Experts.
• MESECVI condemns the murder of Berta Cáceres
  [March 3rd, 2016]
  The Committee of Experts of the Follow-up Mechanism of the Inter-American Convention on the Prevention , Punishment and Eradication of Violence against Women "Convention of Belém do Pará" (MESECVI), strongly condemns the murder of the indigenous leader, Berta Caceres, allegedly killed by two men armed and urges Honduras, as a State Party to the Convention, to strengthen measures to prevent, punish and eradicate violence against women. More...
• New Gender-Based Violence Report on the Bahamas
  [February 24, 2016]
  As part of strengthening the national effort to find effective strategies to end gender-based violence (GBV) in the Bahamas, the Bahamas' National Task Force on Gender Violence prepared a study on GBV in the Bahamas, which it delivered to the government on February 15th, 2016. Two of the recommendations of the GBV Report include setting up a Department of Family and Gender Affairs – the Bahamas currently has a Women’s Bureau. The Report also recommends establishing a GBV Authority as a statutory body made up of members from the private and public sectors members to facilitate the implementation of the GBV Strategic Plan. More...
• International Women's Day Event: Breaking Barriers to Justice: Ending Violence against Women in the Americas
  [February 8, 2016]
  The CIM and the Permanents Missions of the United States and Canada to the OAS are organizing an event in the framework of Women's International Day. The objective is to identify existing challenges to eliminate violence against women and improve access to justice from a diversity and human rights approach. Register online
  

 

News 2015

Judicial authorities from the region advance gender justice The II Hemispheric Seminar of Good Practices in Gender Justice was held in Medellin, Colombia from November 4th to 7th, 2015.The Seminar was organized by the CIM/OAS, the National Commission of Gender of the Judicial Power of Colombia, UN Women and USAID. It aimed to identify good practices in justice for the promotion and defense of women's rights with a view to contributing to the incorporation of a gender approach into judicial practice. Press advisory.

IV Latin-American Congress on Reproductive Rights MESECVI Technical Secretary participated in this event, held from November 2nd to 4th, 2015,  in Lima, Perú. The discussion focused on the links between violence against women and their reproductive rights. The Secretary presented the Declaration on Violence against Women, Girls and Adolescents and their Sexual and Reproductive Rights which recommends that States guarantee women's sexual and reproductive health and their right to life by eliminating unsafe abortion and designing laws and public policies that allow for the interruption of pregnancy. More information.

MESECVI participates in a European/Latin American conference on gender equality in Madrid The European Union/Latin American Cooperation program (Eurosocial) celebrated in Madrid, from October 19 to 22, 2015, an annual conference to present the main results made over the last 4 years of work in Latin America. The Technical Secretary of the Follow-Up Mechanism to the Belám do Pará Convention, Luz Patricia Mejia Guerrero, presented the challenges facing the region in the compliance with the Convention. More information.

A Declaration is issued and an agreement is made on eliminating violence and political harassment against women  In the framework of the VI Conference of States Party to the Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment, and Eradication of Violence against Women, (Belém do Pará Convention), Ministries for Women's Affairs and experts in gender violence of the Follow-Up Mechanism to the Belém Do Pará Convention (MESECVI) issued  a Declaration on Political Harassment and Violence Against Women on October 18th, with the aim of advancing in the full recognition and exercise of women's rights.

VI Conference of State Party to the Belém do Pará Convention On October 15th and 16th, 2015, the conference took place in Lima, Peru. Among the participants were the Ministers of Women of Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Paraguay and Peru, the President of the National Institute of Women of Mexico, the Presidential Advisor for Women's Equity of Colombia and over 200 government representatives and experts from 32 Latin American and Caribbean countries.  They all attended the meeting to evaluate the advances and challenges in terms of laws, budget proposals and services facing  governments of the region in their efforts to address gender-based violence against women. More about the VI Conference - Photo gallery.

XII Meeting of the Committee of Experts of the MESECVI Celebrated on October 13th to 14th, the XII Meeting of the Committee of Experts included a dialogue with civil society followed by presentations focused on gender-based violence prevention, social and institutional tolerance towards gender-based violence and stereotypes. The discussion also addressed the challenges in the implementation of the recommendations made by the experts of the CEVI. Photo gallery of the MIMP. The meeting included a presentation of the work of the MESECVI and a debate on the legal advances in gender-based protection, sexual violence and adolescent pregnancy. The experts agreed on developing a thematic report on this problem and making recommendations to the States Parties on girls' right to a life free from violence.

The MESECVI invites civil society organizations to participate in the XII Meeting of CEVI The XII Meeting of the Committee of Experts of the Follow Up Mechanism to the Convention to Prevent, Punish and Eradicate Violence against Women "Belém do Pará Convention" will be held from from October 13th to 14th in Perú. The event will feature a space for dialogue with civil society organizations with the aim of addressing issues in depth, such as sexual violence, adolescent pregnancy, symbolic violence and other issues of common interest. For more info, contact [email protected].

International Congress: "Vulnerabilities, Victims and Survival" The event took place from September 23rd to the 25th in Costa Rica with the aim of strengthening the analysis on vulnerabilities related to socio-economics, governance, and the law that threaten to victimize citizenship and prevent the enjoyment of human rights. Renowned authorities and experts in human rights attended the event, such as Alejandra Mora Mora, Minister of the Status of Women of Costa Rica and President of the CIM; Cecilia Sánchez Romero, Minister of Justice and Peace of Costa Rica, Luz Patricia Mejía Guerrero, Technical Secretariat of the MESECVI; among others.

XVI International Meeting "Challenges related to Statistics in the implementation of the Post-2015 Development Agenda" Aguascalientes, México Held from September 9 to 11, this meeting provided a space for reflection on how to adopt and adapt the Development Goals to the needs, priorities and capacities of countries in the region to data availability and segregation levels. It also addressed strengthening methodologies for information production and use; and the development of gender indicators related to human rights and the advancement of women and girls.

International Seminar on Good Practices of Justice Centers for Women, Oaxaca de Juárez, México Organized by the National Commission to Prevent and Eradicate Violence against Women (CONAVIM) and the USAID, through the program "Projusticia", the Seminar held from September 2nd to 3rd addressed gender equity and focused on the development of public policies designed to allow access to tools for law enforcement.

MESECVI Committee of Experts speaks out about the situation of victims of sexual violence in Colombia The Committee of Experts of the Follow Up Mechanism of the Belém do Pará Convention (MESECVI) expressed its concern over guaranteeing access to justice for all victims of sexual violence, due to a modification of Article 23 of the 1719 Law. The article guarantees access to justice for victims of violence, and establishes the implementation of the Protocol and Model of Integral Attention in Health for Victims of Sexual Violence. The Committee expressed its concern through a letter addressed to Magistrate Maria Victoria Calle Correa, President of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Colombia. More info...

Seminar "Gender and Justice" for justice officials  [June 23rd, 2015]  In Puebla, Mexico, from June 22nd to July 3rd a seminar is underway for members of high tribunals of justice of this State with the goal of providing methodological and theoretical tools to judge with a gender perspective, in accordance with the Belém do Pará Convention and the regional standards of due diligence. In addition, this event, organized by the MESECVI, seeks to provide support to the States Parties to the Convention in monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the Convention. Agenda. Photo gallery.

Violence, Health and Sexual and Reproductive Rights [June 9th, 2015] On June 19th 2015, the CIM/MESECVI and other partners will organize a debate on the relationship between violence against women and sexual and reproductive rights, with a view to promoting the guarantee and protection of women's rights and sparking an ongoing dialogue on this issue. Download the agenda in: English or Spanish

The MESECVI recommends implementing indicators to measure gender-based violence in Brussels  [June 2nd, 2015]  In the context of the VIII Conference on Feminicide-Femicide, the Dialogue on Gender between the European Union and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), held on June 1-2, the Technical Secretariat of the Follow-Up Mechanism to the Belém do Pará Convention (MESECVI), Luz Patricia Mejía Guerrero, urged States to produce indicators, qualitative and quantitative, for measuring the impact of public policies implemented to prevent, punish and eradicate violence against women, among them, femicide, based on international commitments.

The rights of girls and women [June 3rd, 2015] The MESECVI Committee of Experts expresses its concern over the human rights situation of girls and adolescents in the region. More info...

Webinar on sexual and reproductive rights [May 1st, 2015]  On April 23 the MESECVI conducted a Webinar on violence and sexual and reproductive rights which addressed the relation between violence against women and their sexual and reproductive rights. Annoucement (Spanish only). Presentation of Paula Avila-Guillen, Specialist, Center for Reproductive Rights. Presentation of Diana González Perret, CEVI Expert.

Perú- Workshop on the System of Indicators for the implementation of the Belém do Pará Convention [April 23, 2015] In collaboration with the Ministry of Women and Vulnerable Populations (MIMP) of Perú, a workshop on indicators to measure the implementation of the Belém do Pará Convention started today, organized by the MESECVI on April 23 and 24, 2015

Photo gallery

The MESECVI elaborates a Guide for the implementation of the Belém do Pará Convention [April 19th, 2015] The MESECVI has elaborated a Guide for the aplication of progress indicators designed to measure the implementation of the Convention. The objective is to consolidate the system of indicators in the States Party to the Convention and facilitate their application.

Chile- Workshop on the System of Indicators for the implementation of the Belém do Pará Convention [April 18, 2015] In collaboration with the National Service of Women (SERNAM) de Chile, a workshop on the System of Indicators for the implementation of the Belém do Pará Conventionse was organized by the MESECVI on April 15 and 16, 2015.

Photo gallery

Grenada- Workshop on the System of Indicators for the implementation of the Belém do Pará Convention The MESECVI organized this workshop on March 24 and 25 in Grenada with the aim of strengthening technical capacities for the use of this System of Indicators and its incorporation into national plans and programs designed to eradicate violence against women and girls.

Photo gallery

Webinar on the use of the Belém do Pará  [March 10, 2015] This Webinar offered by the MESECVI is intended to strengthen the work of organizations and institutions of the Americas in access to justice and gender-based violence. It also aims to promote the use of the Guide to the application of the Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence against Women (Belém do Pará Convention) Presentation of Luz Patricia Mejía, Technical Secretary of the MESECVI. Presentation of Natalia Gherardi, Executive Director of the Equipo Latinoamericano de Justicia y Género.

Guatemala - Workshop on the System of Indicators for the implementation of the Belém do Pará Convention [February 19,  2015] In collaboration with SEPREM, the MESECVI organized a workshop on the System of Indicators for the implementation of the Belém do Pará Convention on February 19 and 20, 2015.

Photo gallery

El Salvador - Workshop on the System of Indicators for the implementation of the Belém do Pará Convention [February 16, 2015] In collaboration with the Institute of for the Development of Women of El Salvador (Instituto Salvadoreño para el Desarrollo de la Mujer - ISDEMU), a workshop on the System of Indicators for the implementation of the Belém do Pará Conventionse was organized by the MESECVI on February 16 and 17, 2015. More information...

Photo gallery

The MESECVI provides technical assistance and meets with Colombian representatives of the judicial branch and NGOs during its visit to Colombia The MESECVI, led by Patricia Mejía Guerrero, its Technical Secretary, visited Bogotá, Colombia from January 26th to the 30th, 2015. On January 26th and 27th, the MESECVI conducted a workshop on the System of Indicators to measure the implementation of the Belém do Pará Convention. The objective was to strengthen the technical capacity of all the actors involved in the design and implementation of public policies designed to eradicate violence against women and girls in Colombia.

Photo gallery

 

News 2014

20 years after the adoption of the Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence against Women, Convention of Belém do Pará This meeting, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Argentina on December 4th, 2014 in Buenos Aires, aimed at analyzing the impact , achievements and challenges of 20 years since the adoption of the Belém do Pará Convention, as well as the advances made in specific areas of the regional gender agenda. Program

Seminar on Access to Justice for Women Victims of Violence This meeting, organized by the MESECVI, on December 2nd, 2014 in Argentina sought to explore the progress on gender-based violence in international systems of human rights protection; strategic international litigation and its implementation at the local level, as well as good practices in the investigation of cases related to gender. Program

Workshop on the System of Indicators for the implementation of the Belém do Pará Convention in Argentina  On December 1st in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the MESECVI organized a workshop to provide guidance to key stakeholders (Ministries for Women's Issues, Ministries of Justice, Health, Education and other relevant) and civil society organizations in the application of the Convention and the incorporation of these indicators into national plans, programs and reports on human rights and violence against women. Program

Workshop on System of Indicators to measure the implementation of the Belém do Pará Convention in Paraguay  The meeting took place on November 3rd in order to strengthen the technical capacity of all actors involved in the design and implementation of public policies designed to eradicate violence against women and girls in Paraguay. It also served to provide guidance for the implementation of the system of indicators to measure the implementation of the Belém do Pará Convention and its incorporation into plans, programs and reports on gender-based violence. It was organized by the MESECVI with the support of the Government of Canada.

The Committee of Experts of the MESECVI carries out its first technical assistance visit  Representatives of the Committee of Experts of the MESECVI (Susana Chiarotti from Argentina, Tania Camila Rosa from El Salvador and Lidia Giménez from Paraguay) visited Paraguay from November 3rd to 4th in order to support the preparation and adoption of an integrated law on violence against women. The experts met with representatives from the Government of Paraguay, civil society and national media to discuss the contents of the draft law, in light of the experiences of other countries in the region in terms of their integrated laws.

States Party hold their First Special Conference  [October 22nd 2014] From October 23rd to 24th the States Party to the Belém do Pará Convention will hold their First Special Conference in Mexico City. Among other topics, the Conference will consider the draft Second Follow-up report on the Recommendations of the Committee of Experts and the strengthening of the MESECVI. More information...

The Committee of Experts advances sexual and reproductive rights  [September 29th 2014] Durng its 11th meeeting, the Committee of Experts of the MESECVI adopted the Declaration on Violence against Women, Girls and Adolescents and their Sexual and Reproductive Rights, which seeks to advance the gurantee and protection of women's human rights on the basis of commitments adopted by the States at the international level. Download the full text of the Declaration in English.

The Committee of Experts holds its 11th Meeting  [September 8th 2014] From September 18th to 19th 2014, the Committee of Experts of the MESECVI will hold its eleventh meeting in Montevideo, Uruguay. More information...

MESECVI participates in the Conference to Prevent, Punish and Eradicate Violence against Women in Venezuela [July 14th 2014] In the context of the 20th anniversary of the Belém do Pará Convention, the Techical Secretary of the MESECVI, Luz Patricia Mejía, met with members of the Popular Ministry of Women and Gender Equality (MinMujer), the Attorney General of the Republic's office, and the Supreme Tribunal of Justice of Venezuela. During the Conference, with high-level authorities, she recognized that "Venezuela's legislation is pioneering in incorporating the integrated vision establsihed by the Convention” and explained the challenges that persist to the full implementation of the law and to data gathering on violence against women. She also shared good practices on access to justice for women victims of violence that could be replicated in the country.

Pachuca Declaration: Strengthening violence prevention [May 16th 2014] The Belém do Pará +20 Hemispheric Forum "Prevention of violence against women: Good practices and proposals for the future," organized from May 14th to 16th in Pachuca, Hidalgo, adopted the Pachuca Declaration, which reaffirms and strengthens State commitment to concrete action in public policy, education and communication for gender equality and violence prevention. Download the Declaration

Check out the Photo Gallery of the event

Chile seeks qualified candidates for its Expert to the MESECVI [April 14th 2014] The National Service for Women of Chile (SERNAM) has launched a call for applications to the position of National Expert to the Follow-up Mechanism to the Belém do Pará Convention (MESECVI). The application deadline is Friday May 9th at 18:00.

Regional strategies to address violence against women [February 20th 2014] As part of the 58th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), the CIM and the Council of Europe hosted a side-event on March 10th 2014 to look at regional advances in addressing violence against women, with a focus on the Belém do Pará and Istanbul Conventions. Download the publication "Regional tools to fight violence against women: The Belém do Pará and Istanbul Conventions" in English

10 necessary measures to end violence against women [February 18th 2014] On the Day of Women of the Americas (February 18th), the President of the CIM, María Isabel Chamorro, launches the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the Belém do Pará Convention by calling on States to guarantee women's right to live a life free of violence. Download the full text of the President's message

 

Older News

Convention translated to indigenous languages [November 25th 2013] As part of the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Convention, the National Institute of Women of Mexico (INMUJERES) has supported the translation of the Belém do Pará Convention into 13 indigenous languages in order to strengthen its visbility and application from a perspective of diversity: mam of Soconusco, maya, mazahua of the East, mexicano of Guerro, mixteco of the high West, náhuatl of Huasteca, náhuatl of the mountains northeast of Puebla, otomí of the Mezquital valley, purépecha, tarahumara of the North, tseltal, tsotsil, and zapoteco of the coastal plain.

In search of an integrated response to HIV and violence against women in Central America [July 29th 2011] In recent years, HIV infection has increased among women at an alarming rate in various regions of the world, including Central America. At the same time, rates of violence against women are worrying, to say the least. CIM has begun a project that aims to provide an integrated response to the spread of HIV among women and violence them; two different epidemics that have a lot in common. Read the full communiqué.

20 agreements adopted on the elimination of violence against women [March 28th 2011] The Third Conference of States Party to the Belém do Pará Convention, held from March 24th to 25th 2011 in La Antigua Guatemala, adopted 20 agreements to strengthen the response to violence against women in the Hemisphere. Read the full communiqué.