A/HRC/20/35
should be closed, the complete list of camps to close, and those that may be redeveloped as
new neighbourhoods, in line with the way the question is being handled in Corail.
74.
Lastly, the Independent Expert recommends that relocation strategies for displaced
persons should take into account the recommendations contained in the report submitted to
the General Assembly in 2011 by the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing (A/66/270).
B.
Gender-based violence
75.
Since the beginning of the humanitarian crisis, gender violence has been the subject
of a great deal of attention for the international community. The previous reports of the
Independent Expert have dealt extensively with this question and have included
recommendations. Several United Nations reports and national and international human
rights organizations have documented the phenomenon of domestic abuse or family
violence, the role of gangs in and around camps and the de facto impunity of those who
abuse women.
76.
During a series of discussions on gender violence, women’s organizations reported
that, compared with previous years, in 2011 violence against women and girls in the camps
had clearly declined. The Unit for Combating Violence against Women of the National
Police too reports a significant drop in complaints.
77.
The Independent Expert welcomes the fact that many of his recommendations have
been implemented and that specific programmes have been developed making it possible to
prevent or contain this phenomenon. During his discussions with United Nations agencies,
the question of how to collect statistics to document gender-based violence was raised once
again. Decisions were taken in respect of the methodology to use to keep track of the
problem and how it evolves over time and the way in which such violence is documented.
78.
While the phenomenon is apparently becoming less widespread, there are still too
many victims. The Independent Expert therefore is maintaining a number of
recommendations, while reiterating that such measures complement one another, and that it
is specifically by combining them that they will be most effective.
79.
Women’s organizations have emphasized the difficulty encountered by victims
when they wish to bring charges. In respect of the administration of justice, the Independent
Expert is thus issuing a series of recommendations. In particular, all prosecutors’ offices
and all courts of first instance should have special units to rule on violence committed
against women. During his meetings with the Minister of Justice the Independent Expert
recommended ensuring that the judicial authorities have sufficient training, in particular in
respect of the provisions and means of applying international and regional human rights
treaties. He recommends ending once and for all the practice whereby justices of the peace
can exceed their mandates by issuing decisions in criminal cases, including rape, as such
practices are conducive to impunity, weaken the criminal justice system and do not protect
the right of women to receive compensation for damages. Lastly, he recommends ensuring
that the police and justices of the peace quickly refer sex crimes to the public prosecutor,
and that the principle should be reaffirmed that transactions conducted out of court are
illegal.
80.
The Independent Expert also recommends strengthening the Unit for the Promotion
and Protection of Women’s Rights in the Office of the Ombudsman.
81.
GE.12-13208
Lastly, the Independent Expert should like once again to state that the Guidelines for
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