September 27, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia – Today marked the formal launch of the “Combating Gender-Based Violence in Mongolia” project, co-funded by the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Mongolian Government. The launch was held at the Soyombo Hall of the Best Western Tuushin Hotel, Ulaanbaatar.

Opening remarks were made by Byambatsogt S, Minister for Justice and Home Affairs and Naomi Kitahara, UNFPA Representative, followed by signing of the official project documents in the presence of representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Relations and the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation.

Gender‐based violence (GBV), particularly domestic violence (DV), remains one of the most serious and life‐threatening human rights violations in Mongolia and in the world. A 2015 assessment conducted by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights revealed that GBV, particularly DV, is prevalent and widespread. Furthermore, while concrete data on GBV prevalence is scant, indicative national data reveals an upward trend in cases of GBV. While important progress in improving the legal environment to effectively deal with GBV has been made in recent years, it is necessary to provide technical and financial support to the Mongolian government to ensure meaningful and lasting change regarding GBV.

The project then aims to achieve the following results:

1)Create knowledge about the current situation of GBV and its causes across the country through data collection ;

2)Raise public awareness and sensitize decision-makers to the issue of GBV; and

2) Improve and expand response and support mechanisms for GBV survivors.

“We are excited to partner with the government in order to seriously address the issue of GBV and to promote human rights, particularly for the nation’s women and girls, “ says UNFPA’s Naomi Kitahara. The project launch comes a month after the recent one-year anniversary of the worldwide commitment to the UN Global Sustainable Development Goals. “Mongolia’s Sustainable Development Vision and Government Action Plan 2016-2020 have strong commitments towards eliminating DV in Mongolia. Through this project, we will work together to specifically address Goal 5, which is to achieve Gender Equality, and to meet the target for eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls by 2030. It will also help achieve Goal 16 which is dedicated to the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, the provision of access to justice for all, and building effective, accountable institutions at all levels.”

About UNFPA (www.mongolia.unfpa.org) UNFPA is the UN agency delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA Mongolia currently implements the 5th Country Programme 2012-2016, closely in line with the United Nations Development Assistance Framework for Mongolia.

By: A. Esguerra