A/HRC/23/17 E/CN.6/2013/8 36. The Trust Fund is also supporting joint programmes off United Nations country teams, thereby contributing to the synergized, coordinated and collective efforts of the United Nations system, at the country level, for the elimination of violence against women. Since 2008, the Trust Fund has received joint programme proposals from 50 country teams, and is currently supporting 13 such joint programmes, with a total investment of $12.6 million in Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, China, Ecuador, Indonesia, Mexico, Nepal, Panama, Serbia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Uruguay. The targeted programme support of the Trust Fund is serving as an important incentive for agencies of at the country level to gather the collective knowledge and experiences of the United Nations system for systematic, coordinated and comprehensive programming. Joint programmes promote a multisectoral and holistic response to violence and are focused on supporting Governments in the establishment of systems and mechanisms. 37. The Trust Fund continues its close collaboration with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and its support to the mandates of the special procedures mechanisms established by the Human Rights Council. The country offices of OHCHR are working closely with the grantees to ensure the integration of a human rights perspective at every stage of programme implementation. The Trust Fund’s annual call for proposals solicits proposals from organizations working to address gaps in the realization of recommendations made by the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences. The Trust Fund has also engaged the office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict during the development of the new special thematic window on violence against women and girls in conflict, postconflict and transitional settings, to ensure that the proposals submitted address gaps in the implementation of Security Council resolutions 1325 (2000), 1820 (2008) and 1888 (2009). The collaboration will continue throughout the implementation of the programmes supported within this focus area. By funding these programmes, the Trust Fund is also supporting the Secretary-General’s UNiTE campaign by targeting one of its five key outcomes: addressing sexual violence in conflict and postconflict situations. 38. In June 2012, the President of the General Assembly at its sixty-sixth session, Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, hosted a cultural event in the General Assembly hall with the aim of boosting support for the Trust Fund and celebrating the work of UN-Women. Through this event, the General Assembly reaffirmed its commitment to the cause of ending violence against women and the mandate of the Trust Fund to take action on behalf of the United Nations system. The increasing commitment and partnership was illustrated, subsequent to the special event, by first-time donor contributions from Africa, Latin America and Arab States. VI. Grant-making cycle 2012 39. The Trust Fund’s annual call for proposals solicits applications that focus on addressing all forms of violence against women. In ensuring that the core principles of an open, fair, transparent, competitive and merit-based process are maintained, the Trust Fund makes the call for proposals available in six languages and solicits applications in English, French and Spanish. The Trust Fund prioritizes applications that demonstrate multisectoral approaches and collaboration between various 12-64357 13