IOM Colombia is training public officials on gender-based violence
against women; how to identify it, address it and provide
assistance to victims.

The three-month course is taking place in Cartagena, a coastal
city in northern Colombia, with a growing problem of gender-based
violence.  In 2009, 1,838 cases of intra-family violence
against women and children were reported, or 280 more cases than
reported in 2008.  In addition 448 cases of sexual violence
were reported, 54 more than the previous year.

Additional challenges to combating discrimination towards and
violence against women in the City include the influx of internally
displaced persons fleeing violence perpetrated by illegal armed
groups, the socio-economic vulnerability of the Afro-Colombian
community, and sex tourism.

The 80 officials taking part in the course, which were chosen
through a public competition, will attend 24 training sessions on
Fridays and Saturdays.  The subjects covered include:
international protection mechanisms; human rights; gender focused
justice; and integrated culturally aware assistance.

Marcelo Pisani, IOM Chief of Mission in Colombia says, "IOM
strives to include a gender focus in all its activities.  With
the knowledge gained through this training, the institutions in
Cartagena will be better able to assist the women victims of gender
based violence."

This initiative is part of the IOM Integrated Gender Based
Violence Programme.  The United Nations Development Fund for
Women (UNIFEM), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the
Colombian Presidential Council for the Equality of Women also
participate in this initiative. The Programme is funded by the
Spanish UNDP Fund created for achieving the Millennium Development
Goals.

For more information, please contact:

Jorge Gallo

IOM Bogota

Tel: +57 1 622-7774

E-mail: "mailto:jgallo@iom.int">jgallo@iom.int