A/HRC/38/3 E/CN.6/2018/9 and the production of policy recommendations. Three reports (on women survivors, on children born as a result of rape and on a national victims ’ trust) were published, or nearing publication, in English and Tetum. For part of the year, field research concentrated on children born out of sexual violence during the Indonesian occupation. Their accounts provide valuable information both on their mothers ’ situation and the recurring cross-generational experiences of marginalization and discrimination. The words of participants shed a very poignant light on the legacy of these human rights violations: “our hearts and heads hurt, because we think too much about the things people say, then our eyes become heavy with tears so the things about the past become a heavy load to carry but we remain strong in our hearts”. These accounts are also unique in the sense that many were sharing their experiences for the very first time. An increasing number of women survivors expressed self-confidence in their ability to organize themselves and advocate for their rights. A similar process has started with the children of women survivors. 47. In Côte d’Ivoire, Children’s Life in Rural Area is working to engage entire communities, including local leaders and teachers, in the development of community based institutional mechanisms to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls and to eliminate discrimination against HIV-positive women. In the first six months of the year, the grantee reached 2,588 community members, including 50 male leaders, through its awareness-raising sessions on how to create a more secure environment for women in communities. Women whose spouses participated in the men’s awareness-raising sessions noted an improvement in how their spouses behaved towards them. 48. The project, which is due to continue until the end of 2018, has already noted progress in key areas, attributed to intense awareness-raising sessions in the localities. No cases of female genital mutilation have been reported in the village since the beginning of 2017. In 7 of the 10 communities where the project is being implemented, youth groups have formed to be on the alert for risks of female genital mutilation. Community laws are in place and community action plans were drawn up, using participatory project design with local government cooperation, to discourage and address violence against women. Since the implementation of the plans, a marked reduction in the levels of both physical and emotional violence against women have been reported. All 10 communities have developed and implemented action plans that include reparations for mental abuse and have increasingly refused to accept out-ofcourt settlements in sexual violence cases and have strengthened community-based provisions to further protect women and girls. 49. A project implemented by the Asamblea de Cooperación por la Paz in El Salvador, a country with the highest rate of femicides in the world, is working to improve institutional responses to violence against women and girls and to enhance oversight and advocacy skills among local women’s and youth organizations. In the three municipalities where the project was implemented, 359 women hav e taken part in initiatives to improve their leadership skills in relation to the exercise of the right to live free of violence. In addition, 511 women survivors of violence have received support, in line with agreed protocols. At least 130 people, includ ing members of the general public and decision makers, took part in the presentation of an audiobook on violence against women and women’s human rights. At least eight media outlets have broadcast the 24 episodes of the audiobook, reaching at least 20,000 people. Three local networks have been formed that are continuing the work of training, capacity building and engaging with State institutions to ensure effective coordination of efforts to end and address violence. 17-22602 13/16