The CSW 42nd session will be held at UN Headquarters 2-13 March 1998.

At this session the Commission will monitor the implementation of the following critical areas of concern of the Beijing Platform for Action: The Girl-child, Women and Armed Conflict, Violence against Women, and Human Rights of Women as well as continue its work on an Optional Protocol to CEDAW. The Commission will also consider the emerging issue: Ageing Women and conduct a mid-term review of the UN System-wide medium term plan on women and development.

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76. Sixty-one national action plans from all regions (71 per cent), including those from States who had made commitments at the Fourth World Conference on Women (11), incorporate a section relating to measures to prevent and eliminate violence against women, including trafficking in women. However, most plans do not indicate how projected actions with regard to violence against women are to be funded, and a minority identify the amount of resources allocated for implementation. Some plans indicate that they provide overseas development assistance to developing countries for actions relating to violence against women.
77. A majority of plans (42) report on initiatives to adopt or review legislation with a view to creating a legal framework to address violence against women. Many plans (36) promise the review of sanctions to discourage violence against women and girls and to redress the harm experienced by victims. For example, the United Kingdom proposes that on conviction of a second violent offence, including rape or attempted rape, a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment should apply.
78. Many plans (28) report on the introduction of mechanisms to provide women with improved access to the legal system and to inform women of their rights. For example, Ecuador will raise awareness, especially within the Quechua community, of the Law Against Violence against Women and the Family. Indonesia plans to strengthen the role of its Legal Consultancy Agency where women and children are concerned, and to increase services and legal assistance, particularly to low-income groups.
79. A significant number of plans (34) describe shelters and other services available to women and girls subjected to violence, and indicate intentions to strengthen such services. For example, Germany intends to integrate pre-existing shelters into a national network. Bulgaria notes that it has sought financing from UNDP to establish a network of shelters.
80. Some plans, the majority from the Western European and Others region, describe measures to modify the social and cultural patterns of conduct of men and women.18 In early 1997, Sweden convened a conference on men and violence that focused on men's responsibility in relation to violence against women. Norway plans to continue to provide financial support for treatment centres that offer therapy and counselling to violent men.
81. Many plans (30) from all regions refer to campaigns designed to raise awareness about the detrimental effects of violence against women, with several suggesting that the best way to counteract violence is through such campaigns. For example, Finland stressed that although the topic of violence is taboo in Finnish society, anti-violence campaigns have had a significant impact, and it will continue such campaigns in partnership with non-governmental organizations. Sixteen plans from most regions specifically propose educational and training programmes to promote gender equality and non-violent forms of conflict resolution directed at children and adolescents.
82. Many plans (19), particularly from Latin America and the Caribbean, focus on the importance of the media in combating violence against women by eliminating presentations that encourage such violence. El Salvador noted that it has already established a national award for media that promote non-violence and gender equality. Bangladesh aims to use the media to disseminate information and research findings on the issue of trafficking in women and girls. The Philippines plans to draft and adopt guidelines on the coverage and treatment of rape and other violent crimes in order to ensure greater respect for the privacy of women victims and to stop the sensational coverage of crimes against women.
83. Plans from many regions (36) address the provision of training for relevant personnel, including those who are involved in the promotion of women's rights or the provision of assistance for victims. Some plans explicitly address the training of the judicial and legal community, while others focus on the training of law enforcement personnel or police. For example, the plans of Japan and Swaziland both note that relevant personnel must be trained to respond to victims to avoid the infliction of further psychological harm during the judicial process. Austria is in addition providing training to teachers, social workers and medical doctors.
84. Several plans describe initiatives to improve community relations with law enforcement agencies. Bangladesh, for example, has introduced cultural programmes to highlight the role of the police as a friend of the community. Bolivia plans to establish 10 women's police stations, while the Philippines will establish, in strategically placed police stations, a national police women's desk that will deal with cases of violence against women.
85. Many national action plans (34) from all regions report on the development of initiatives to study the causes and consequences of violence against women and the effectiveness of measures introduced to address such violence. For example, Israel notes that a parliamentary inquiry was appointed in 1995 to investigate cases of women murdered by their spouses or partners. Venezuela will compile statistics relating to the legal process, in particular the effect of the judicial process on women. Canada aims to support social policy research focusing on means to reduce violence against women migrants and women who are members of ethno-cultural and visible minorities. Brazil intends to encourage universities and non-governmental organizations to undertake research on violence in rural areas.
86. A few plans describe policies that allow women who have suffered or fear they will suffer gender-based persecution, including violence, to apply for refugee status or residence permits. Measures to address trafficking in women, violence against victims of traffic and violence related to prostitution are referred to in many plans (21) from all regions except Africa. Several plans report on schemes to provide legal assistance to victims of trafficking who seek legal redress. According to Poland's plan, diplomatic and consular representations should cooperate with local police, jurisdiction and organizations providing assistance to Polish victims of violence abroad. Spain is examining the possibility of introducing temporary residence permits for victims of trafficking who wish to testify in court proceedings. A number of plans describe bilateral cooperation to address trafficking in women. The United States plan reports that the United States Agency for International Development intends to initiate a project in South Asia relating to trafficking in women. Increased attention to trafficking and tourism is also being paid by the Czech Republic and Japan, while Cuba seeks to combat sex tourism by including positive images of women in tourist literature.
87. The approach of national action plans to prostitution varies; some condemn forced prostitution only, others condemn all forms of prostitution and related activities. Thus, for example, Lithuania reports that it is investigating ways of legalizing prostitution and will canvass public opinion in that regard. The Russian Federation is developing legislation aimed at reducing the scale of prostitution, while China describes its intention of banning prostitution.
88. The links between migration and the sex industry are identified in several plans from the Western European region. A number of plans make explicit mention of the phenomenon of "mail-order brides". Germany reports on measures of international outreach and education, including the production of brochures in various languages, for potential brides from countries abroad. Australia has funded the development of two videos designed to assist women in understanding their legal rights and in making informed decisions about marriage and migration.
89. Cross-sectoral approaches to the elimination of violence against women are described in several plans. For example, the Finnish plan describes the Plan for Social Welfare and Health Care, coordinating the activities of the Ministries of the Interior, Justice, Education and Social Affairs, and Health, which is designed to prevent violence against women and introduce new modalities, including with regard to treatment.
90. In terms of innovative and uncommon approaches, Bolivia plans to establish integrated legal services country-wide, emphasizing rural areas, which will promote women's rights through the promotion of intersectoral coordination and the provision of legal assistance. Israel plans to establish a facility to receive violent men. The United Kingdom plans to introduce a new civil claim (tort) which would allow victims of harassment or stalking to apply for an injunction, the breach of which would be punishable by up to five years imprisonment.