INF.-AC-VIOLENCIA-2024_ING_Final-olacef.pdf

10th Nov 2023

Consolidated Report Audit on Gender-Based Violence: State Response to the Prevention,
Punishment and Eradication of Violence against Women (2023)
OLACEFS Working Group on Gender Equality and Non-Discrimination Chair
https://olacefs.com/gtg/
Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic of Chile
Teatinos 56, Santiago de Chile +56 2 32401100 https://www.contraloria.cl/portalweb/web/cgr/
German Cooperation Impleemented by the GIZ
SCN Quadra 1 Bloco C Sala 1501 – 15º andar Ed. Brasília Trade Center, CEP: 70711-902,
Brasília-DF, Brasil +55 (61) 2101-2170 [email protected] / www.giz.de/brasil
Published by: OLACEFS Working Group on Gender Equality and Non-Discrimination
Authors: Daniela Santana Silva, Michelle Villalobos Sarmiento, Leandro Buendía Valdivia,
Mayra Johana Zambrano
Cooperation and International Relations Unit, Comptroller General of the Republic of Chile Graphic Design, Cristina Valdes Vargas; Diagramming, Cecilia Villalon Flores
Graphic Services Unit, Comptroller General of the Republic of Chile
Contacts
Latin American and Caribbean Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (OLACEFS) [email protected]
Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic of Chile
[email protected]
Legal Information
This publication is part of the work planned by the OLACEFS Working Group on Gender Equality
and Non-Discrimination (WGG). The concepts and opinions expressed in this consolidated report are
the sole responsibility of its authors and do not reflect the institutio
nal position of the Office of the
Comptroller General of the Republic, the Chair of the GTG, or OLACEFS. This publication may be
reproduced, in whole or part, provided its contents are not modified and
duly cited.
For commercial uses, including the reproduction or distribution of all a
nd part of this document,
OLACEFS’ written consent is required.
Suggested citation
OLACEFS (2023) Consolidated Report. Audit on Gender Violence: State Response State Response in
the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence against Women.

This coordinated audit is the result of the joint effort of various Supreme Audit Institutions –SAIs–
and Audit Entity –AE– members of the Latin American and Caribbean Organization of Supreme Audit
Institutions –OLACEFS–.
Individual reports can be found on the following websites:
General Audit of the Argentine Nation
agn.gov.ar
Comptroller General of the Plurinational State of Bolivia
contraloria.gob.bo
Court of Accounts of the Union of Brazil
portal.tcu.gov.br
Comptroller General of the Republic of Chile
contraloria.cl
Comptroller General of the Republic of Costa Rica
cgr.go.cr
Comptroller General of the State of the Republic of Ecuador
contraloria.gob.ec
General Comptroller of the Republic of Guatemala
contraloria.gob.gt
Superior Court of the Republic of Honduras
tsc.gob.hn
Superior Audit of the Federation of Mexico
asf.gob.mx
Comptroller General of the Republic of Paraguay
contraloria.gov.py

Office of the Comptroller of the Free and Associated State of Puerto Rico ocpr.gov.pr
Comptroller General of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
cgr.gob.ve
Honorable Court of Accounts of the Province of Buenos Aires
htc.gba.gov.ar
Court of Auditors of the State of Amazonas
tce.am.gov.br
Court of Auditors of the Municipalities of the State of Bahia
tce.ba.gov.br
Court of Auditors of the Federal District
tc.df.gov.br
Court of Auditors of the Municipality of Rio de Janeiro
tcerj.tc.br
Court of Auditors of the State of Rio Grande do Norte
tce.rn.gov.br
Court of Auditors of the State of Rio Grande do Sul
tcers.tc.br
Court of Auditors of the State of Santa Catarina
tcesc.tc.br
Court of Auditors of the State of Paraná
tce.pr.gov.br
Court of Auditors of the State of Pernambuco
tce.pe.gov.br/

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Audit on gender-based violence. State response to the prevention,
punishment and eradication of violence against women 16
I. Role of olacefs in mainstreaming the gender perspective 18
A. Methodology 22
A.1. Objective 22
A.2. Type of assessment 22
A.3. Audit questions 23
A.4. Participating entities 24
A.5. Information gathering 25
B. Training activities 29
B.1. Synchronous sessions 29
B.2. Asynchronous sessions 30
B.3. Repository 30
II. Gender-based violence and external control 31
A. The exercise of external control and
international human rights law 32
B. The phenomenon of gender-based violence 34
C. Gender-based violence in latin america and the caribbean 36
D. Obligations of states to prevent, punish and
eradicate violence against women 38
E. Differentiated impact of corruption 42
III. Audit findings and recommendations 44
A. Audited state actions, programs and/or policies 47
B. Civil society 48
C. Types of violence 50
D. Eradicating gender-based violence 53
E. Resources 54
F. Services and/or benefits 56
G. Gender-based violence during the covid-19 pandemic 58
H. Follow-up mechanism 60
VI. Response by entity 62
A. Supreme Audit Institutions 63
• Argentina 64

• Bolivia 69
• Brazil 73
• Chile 76
• Costa Rica 80
• Ecuador 84
• Guatemala 88
• Honduras 92
• Mexico 97
• Paraguay 101
• Puerto Rico 106
• Venezuela 111
B. Sub-National Entities 115
• State of Santa Catarina 116
• State of Bahia 119
• Federal District 123
• State of Amazonas 127
• Municipality of Rio de Janeiro 131
• State of Pernambuco 135
• State of Rio Grande do Norte 140
• State of Rio Grande do Sul 143
• Province of Buenos Aires 147
• TCE Parana 150
V. Glossary 153
VI. Anexos 159
A. Planning Matrix 161
B. Consolidation Questionnaire 167
C. Signing and ratification of the convention on the elimination
of all forms of discrimination against women –CEDAW– 175
D. Signing and ratification of the optional protocol to
the convention on the elimination of all forms of
discrimination against women –CEDAW– 176
E. Signing and ratification of the inter-american convention
on the prevention, punishment and eradication of
violence against women “convention of belem do pará” 176
F. National emergency numbers 177
G. Acronyms 178

10
PRESENTATION
Violence is the most serious form of discrimination, preventing the equal

enjoyment of rights and freedoms. This cultural and structural phenomenon
manifests itself in all spheres of a woman’s life, both in the public and private
sphere.
On the 60th anniversary of the Latin American and Caribbean Organisation of
Supreme Audit Institutions –OLACEFS– we present the consolidated results
of the coordinated audit on gender-based violence.
Gender equality is an issue that we have been promoting for several year
s
now in OLACEFS. In fact, this exercise is the third coordinated audit on

gender equality, which for Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) has been crucial
to ensure that state policies and strategies adhere to global commitment
s.
In particular, this coordinated audit, led by the GTG, is aligned with the
OLACEFS Policy on Gender Equality and Non-Discrimination. This Policy
stands out for the participatory process in which it was coined and for
considering a measurement system with indicators and a monitoring
mechanism unprecedented in our organisation.
Among the Policy’s recommendations are:
Mainstreaming gender and non-discrimination;
Encourage SAIs to conduct coordinated audits with a focus on gender,
inclusion and diversity;
Encourage impact-based learning activities;
Promote active SAI collaboration with civil society organisations,
particularly those focused on the promotion of gender equality, inclusion,
diversity and non-discrimination, in order to incorporate these approach
es
in the different audit stages; and,
Call on SAIs to consider auditing care programmes for women.
We are complying with all these recommendations through the exercise
that took place between 2022 and 2023, in which 23 audit institutions in
our
region participated, which shows the transversal commitment that exists
in
OLACEFS in this area.

11
In particular, in this area it is clear that Supreme Audit Institutions are allies of
international human rights law insofar as it provides the possibility to
generate
accountability. In particular, this audit was based on the Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (1979) and the
Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication
of Violence against Women (1994). As well as the 2030 Agenda and the
Sustainable Development Goals.
This report presents the consolidated results of the 12 Supreme Audit
Institutions that participated in this exercise, as well as summary shee
ts
of the 23 Entities that participated. This is the consolidation of public,
independent and objective information about States’ actions on gender-based
violence. This information is not only useful for the States to apply the audit
recommendations and improve their processes, but it is also a great inpu
t
for civil society, so that they can use this information to carry out advocacy.
This consolidated report contributes to the fight against gender-based violence
by analysing the differential impact of phenomena such as pandemics and
corruption on women, as well as the effectiveness and efficiency of state
actions to prevent, eradicate and punish gender-based violence.
In order to achieve a just, free and peaceful society, all people must feel safe,
regardless of their gender, sexual orientation or gender identity and leave no
one behind.
Comptroller General of the Republic of Chile
and Chairman of the OLACEFS Working Group
on Gender Equality and Non-Discrimination,
Mr. Jorge Bermúdez Soto

12
PREFACE
Violence against women and girls continues to be one of the most frequent

and widespread human rights violations in Latin America, the Caribbean, and
around the world. Globally, it is estimated that 736 million women –nearly one
in three– have experienced physical or sexual partner violence, non-p
artner
sexual violence, or both, at least once in their lifetime (WHO, 2021).
Since 2021, UN Women has been supporting the OLACEFS Policy on Gender
Equality and Non-Discrimination so that the member institutions of the Latin
American and Caribbean Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions are
fully committed to promoting the efficiency, accountability, effectiveness and
transparency in public administration with a gender perspective. UN Women
and OLACEFS have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate a
lasting structural change in terms of equality and gender perspective wi
thin
the Audit Institutions.
To ensure a sustainable control function, Supreme Audit Institutions of Latin
America and the Caribbean play a crucial role in sharing knowledge on best
external control practices with a gender perspective based on case studi
es in
various contexts. We are pleased that this report takes into consideration the
consolidation of twelve national reports that conducted performance audi
ts.
On a global scale, the latest UN Women gender outlook report on the progress
of the Sustainable Development Goals –SDGs– warns that there is st
ill a
long way to go to achieve gender equality and, specifically, SDG 5, which
promotes gender equality and women’s empowerment, is lagging far behind.
If everything remains the same, in Latin America and the Caribbean, only a
quarter (24.6%) of the SDGs would be achieved, less than half (48.4%)
would
be on the right trend, but insufficient to reach the target, and about a third
(27%) are in decline, according to the Sixth Report on the Regional Pr
ogress
and Challenges of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of 2023
published by ECLAC.
For the control function to be fully effective and to advance the SDG 5 targets
on gender equality, it is essential that audit entities, such as OLACEFS
as a whole, can advance in the implementation of policies with a gender
perspective.
This report marks OLACEFS’ decisive commitment in this regard to build a
transformative culture based on respect for gender diversity and equalit
y, as
well as reduce gender gaps.

13
We emphasize the need to scale up technical support and capacity building

to carry out such work, as well as support in creating control cultures
that
incorporate gender-sensitive leadership and management, decision-making
and practice. This could also leverage the resources and knowledge of
other stakeholders, such as civil society and development partners. The role
that civil society plays in gender-based violence is key for preventing
and
eradicating it.
This report represents a significant milestone to better respond to the needs
of more than half of the population to meet Sustainable Development Goal
5
of the United Nations 2030 Agenda.
UN Women will continue to support the building of democratic, egalitarian
and violence-free societies, leaving no one behind.
Wishing you a fruitful read.
UN Women Regional Director for
Latin America and the Caribbean,
Ms. Maria-Noel Vaeza

14
PREFACE
Gender-based violence refers to harmful violent acts against a person be
cause of
their gender. It is a phenomenon of everyday life that is widespread in all sectors,
a
serious violation of human rights and an obstacle to development. Women and girls
in all their diversity are disproportionately (but not exclusively) af
fected by this type
of violence. Its roots lie in unequal and oppressive power relations bet
ween genders,
harmful gender norms, and the experiences of structural discrimination and violence
that they entail. Forms of gender-based violence are diverse, ranging fr
om gender-
based sexual violence, digital violence, harmful practices such as femal
e genital
mutilation or child, early or forced marriage, to violence due to conflict and social or
structural violence.
At the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development –BMZ–
we work for just and strong societies around the world. Our Feminist Development
Policy seeks to reduce discriminatory structures for women and girls as
well as for
marginalized groups. We act according to a transformative and intersectional gender
approach so that all people can participate equally and autonomously in
social,
political and economic life.
For this reason, we are pleased with the cooperation that we have been d
eveloping
with the Latin American and Caribbean Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions
(OLACEFS) for the past decade through GIZ. With the creation of the Working Group
on Gender Equity and Non-Discrimination (GTG), the contribution of OLA
CEFS in
this regard has taken on a new and greater dimension. They highlight, as proof of
this, the OLACEFS Regional Policy on Gender Equity and Non-Discrimination, a
comprehensive training plan to mainstream the issue in the audit work of
Supreme
Audit Institutions (SAIs) and even an observatory.
Special mention should be made of the Coordinated Audit “Gender-based violence:
State response to the prevention, punishment and eradication of violence
against
women.” For the German Cooperation, the results of this audit are key
inputs for
promoting gender equity and equality and building more democratic and ju
st societies,
free of violence. We therefore congratulate OLACEFS for this regional initiative, which
is summarized in this document with the main findings and recommendations for
governments to implement more effective measures in the eradication of violence
against women and vulnerable groups, in compliance with Sustainable Deve
lopment
Goals 5 and 16.

15
It should be noted that the findings and recommendations of this audit are intrinsically
related to the prevention of corruption, as corruption can exacerbate ge
nder-based
violence by diminishing the effectiveness of law enforcement institutions and
perpetuating unequal systems of power. In this sense, the work of auditing, strategic
communication, collaboration with civil society, inter-institutional cooperation, and
SAI monitoring is extremely important as it will allow capitalizing on t
he efforts and
contributions of the audit teams of 23 OLACEFS member institutions parti
cipating in
this coordinated audit.

German Cooperation implemented by the GIZ,
Ms. Melissa Narro and Mr. Erwin Ramirez

16
Audit on Gender-Based
Violence. State response to
the prevention, punishment
and eradication of violence
against women

17

18
I. ROLE OF OLACEFS IN
MAINSTREAMING THE
GENDER PERSPECTIVE

19
The Supreme Audit Institutions of the Latin
American and Caribbean Organization of
Supreme Audit Institutions OLACEFS,
are committed to promoting the efficiency,
accountability, effectiveness and transparency
of public administration. We understand that
promoting good governance and democracy
implies respecting the principles of equality and
non-discrimination.
At the World Congress of the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions
–INTOSAI–, held in Rio de Janeiro at the end of 2022, a new strategic pla
n was
adopted that establishes guidelines for the action of INTOSAI and the Supreme Audit
Institutions that comprise it.
Thus, for the 2023-2028 period, it has been established that INT OSAI will focus on five
key priorities, which will be integrated into its operations. These include “contributing
to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” and “promoting
and supporting equality and inclusiveness within the INTOSAI community.”
1 This last
priority implies that SAIs, in this multilateral forum, have decided to promote and support
equality and inclusiveness in their own operations, in the way their mem
ber SAIs
manage themselves, and through the exchange of knowledge among SAIs abou
t their
own audits on these issues.
2
In addition, it is noted that “INTOSAI, through its work entities and Regional
Organizations, seeks to reflect the diversity and support the efforts of its member SAIs
to provide equal opportunities when participating in, contributing to and benefiting from
INTOSAI initiatives; equal opportunities for SAI staff; and effective audit of government
efforts aimed at addressing equality and inclusiveness.”
3
1 INTOSAI, Strategic Plan 2023 – 2028, page 2. Available at: https://www.intosai.org/fileadmin/downloads/
news/2022/08/310822_SP_2023-2028_INTOSAI_Strategic_Plan.pdf
2 INTOSAI, Strategic Plan 2023 – 2028, page 7. Available at: https://www.intosai.org/fileadmin/downloads/
news/2022/08/310822_SP_2023-2028_INTOSAI_Strategic_Plan.pdf
3 INTOSAI, Strategic Plan 2023 – 2028, page 7. Available at: https://www.intosai.org/fileadmin/downloads/
news/2022/08/310822_SP_2023-2028_INTOSAI_Strategic_Plan.pdf

20
Meanwhile, the Latin American and Caribbean Organization of Supreme Audit
Institutions –OLACEFS– has coined a new Strategic Plan for the 202
3-2028 period.
In this instrument, “Promoting policies with a human rights, inclusiv
e, gender equality
and non-discrimination perspective” was identified as one of the seven fundamental
factors. This factor implies that “the Regional Organization, through its comm
ittees,
commissions and working groups, supports the effort of its members to constitute
more inclusive institutions, reflecting the diversity of its members and providing equal
opportunities.”
4
Along the same lines, OLACEFS continues its commitment to Agenda 2023 and the
Sustainable Development Goals, strengthening the role of SAIs in support
ing their
respective governments in achieving them.
5
This is specified in strategic target 4, which seeks to enhance the V alue and
Benefit of SAIs for Citizens, promoting the development of instruments that allow
the strengthening of the work of SAIs in various areas, including “fo
llow-up on the
implementation of policies with a human rights, inclusive, gender equali
ty and
non-discrimination perspective.”
6
Based on the aforementioned actions and in view of the need to have a sp
ace in which
to join wills and to have a policy that contributes to promoting fairer
and more egalitarian
Audit Institutions, in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, during the
LXXI meeting of the OLACEFS Virtual Governing Board, on June 30, 2020, through
agreement 1448/06/2020, the OLACEFS Working Group on Gender Equality and
Non-Discrimination –GTG– was created, with the objective of elabor
ating a Gender
Equality and Non-Discrimination Policy (hereinafter also “the Policy
”) to serve as a basis
to be implemented in the SAIs of the region.
7
This working group
8 also has the essential mission of accompanying and monitoring the
implementation of this Policy in the interested entities so that they ad
opt the measures
and actions that are recommended in it according to the reality in which
they are
located.
4 OLACEFS, Strategic Plan 2023-2028, page 7.
5 OLACEFS, Strategic Plan 2023-2028, page 7.
6 OLACEFS, Strategic Plan 2023-2028, page 7.
7 The mandate of the GTG was extended by the LXXVI OLACEFS Governing Board by agreement 1553/05/2023,
as of July 1, 2023.
8 The GTG is composed of thirteen full-member SAIs of OLACEFS, namely: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Cuba,
Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico and Uruguay, plus
the participation of the IDI, CAAF and GIZ as observers and cooperating
agencies.

21
In December 2021, the OLACEFS adopted the Cartagena Declaration on the p
romotion
of the Human Rights-based approach to activities of control in SAIs, whi
ch recognizes
that the work of the GTG must be based on a gender equality and non-disc
rimination
Policy that promotes the Human Rights approach and benefits SAI staf f. It also
recognizes this instrument as an international good practice that allows
the exchange of
experiences on gender, inclusion and diversity.
One of the axes contemplated in the Policy is that of “Audit Function
s,” under which
OLACEFS decides to carry out this coordinated audit.

22
A. METHODOLOGY
A.1. OBJECTIVE
The objective of this coordinated audit is to evaluate the efficiency , effectiveness
and cost-effectiveness of government actions, whether plans or programs, in order
to eradicate violence against women, during the 2019-2021 period, allowi
ng the
comparison of the state response before and during the COVID-19 pandemic
.
A.2. TYPE OF ASSESSMENT
In accordance with the International Standards of Supreme Audit Institutions –ISSAI–,
specifically in the GUID 9000
9 on Cooperative Auditing among SAIs, this exercise is one
of the three types of cooperative audits recognized. Thus, coordinated audits constitute
a form of collaboration among SAIs to exercise control over issues of an
international
or regional nature that are of interest to the countries involved. In ad
dition, they are
effective tools for capacity building in participating SAIs. It is a proce
ss in which capacity
building converges with ISSAI dissemination and implementation.
10
For this work, the member SAIs specify a planning matrix with the same a
udit
questions, from which their own findings are raised to produce their final reports and
thus achieve a consolidated report.
This exercise is a performance audit, i.e., an independent, objective an
d reliable
review of whether government actions, systems, operations, programs, act
ivities or
organizations operate in accordance with the principles of economy , efficiency, and
effectiveness, and whether there are areas for improvement.
11
In this sense, as established by the Performance Auditing Principles, this audit was
carried out in accordance with the standards based on ISSAI 100: Fundame
ntal
9 GUID 900. Available online: https://www.issai.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/GUID-9000-Auditoria-Cooperativa-
entre-EFS.pdf
10 OLACEFS, Ibero-American Audit on Sustainable Development Goal 5: Gender Equality (2019), p. 18. Available
online: https://www.olacefs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/INFORME-ODS-5.pdf
11 INTOSAI, ISSAI 300 Performance Audit Principles (2019). Available online: https://www.issai.org/wp-content/
uploads/2019/08/ISSAI-300-Principios-de-la-Auditoria-de-Desempeno.pdf

23
Principles of Public-Sector Auditing 12 and ISSAI 300: Performance Audit Principles of
the International Standards of Supreme Audit Institutions.
13
A.3. AUDIT QUESTIONS
The audit exercise featured three audit questions. Namely:

Have the state actions, programs, and/or policies of
the participating states been effective in addressing the
problem of violence against women?
Have the state actions, programs and/or policies carried
out by the participating States used the allocated
resources efficiently?
Have the responses of the participating states to
address violence against women, during the pandemic,
been effective?
QUESTION 1.
QUESTION 2.
QUESTION 3.
The Audit Matrix can be found in Annex 1.
12 INTOSAI, Fundamental Principles of Public-Sector Auditing ISSAI 100 (2019). Available online: https://www.issai.
org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/ISSAI-100-Principios-Fundamentales-de-Aud
itoria-del-Sector-Publico.pdf
13 INTOSAI, ISSAI 300 Performance Audit Principles (2019). Available online: https://www.issai.org/wp-content/
uploads/2019/08/ISSAI-300-Principios-de-la-Auditoria-de-Desempeno.pdf

24
A.4. PARTICIPATING ENTITIES
The Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic of Chile, both in its capacity as
Presidency of the GTG and as coordinating SAI of this audit, issued a ca
ll to all member
SAIs of OLACEFS, as well as associate member AEs of said organization.
Thus, the following entities participated in this coordinated audit:
14
Supreme Audit Institutions: 1. General Audit Office of the Nation of Argentina
2. Office of the Comptroller General of the Plurinational State of Bolivia
3. Federal Court of Accounts (TCU-Brazil)
4. Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic of Chile
5. Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic of Costa Rica
6. Office of the Comptroller General of the State of the Republic of Ecuador
7. Court of Accounts of the Republic of El Salvador
8. Office of the Comptroller General of Accounts of the Republic of Guatemala
9. Supreme Court of Auditors of the Republic of Honduras
10. Superior Audit Office of the Federation of Mexico
11. Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic of Paraguay
12. Office of the Comptroller of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
13. Office of the Comptroller General of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
Subnational Audit Entities: I. Honorable Court of Accounts of the Province of Buenos Aires
II. Court of Auditors of the Municipality of Rio de Janeiro
14 Note that the Court of Accounts of the Republic of El Salvador and the Court of Auditors of Alagoas are not part
of this report.

25
III. Court of Auditors of the State of Amazonas
IV. Court of Auditors of the Municipalities of the State of Bahia
V. Court of Auditors of the Federal District
VI. Court of Auditors of the State of Paraná
VII. Court of Auditors of the State of Pernambuco
VIII. Court of Auditors of the State of Rio Grande do Norte
IX. Court of Auditors of the State of Rio Grande do Sul
X. Court of Auditors of the State of Santa Catarina.
It should be noted that the Federal Court of Accounts –TCU-Brazil– focused on a
knowledge production process based on the information and conclusions co
llected from
previous work.
Likewise, the Court of Accounts of the Republic of El Salvador, although it is true that it
answered the questionnaire prior to the report, did not send the final national report to
be consolidated together with the other reports sent by the participatin
g SAIs and AIs,
so it is not part of this consolidated report.
A.5. INFORMATION GATHERING
For the information-gathering process, the Office of the Comptroller General of the
Republic of Chile generated a mixed model. This methodological design allows for a
more in-depth exploration of different areas of analysis, as it is mentioned, “a more
sophisticated way of combining dissimilar method triangulation to shed l
ight on the
same type of phenomena (…) the weaknesses of one method are the stre
ngths of the
other”.
15
Thus, the Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic of Chile, both in its capacity
as Presidency of the GTG and as the coordinating SAI of this audit, led various activities
of both qualitative and quantitative nature. The application of these methodologies
resulted in a deeper understanding of the information gathered by the au
dit teams,
15 M. Arias, Methodological triangulation: its principles, scope and limitations. Arias (2000) https://www.uv.mx/mie/
files/2012/10/Triangulacionmetodologica.pdf

26
which is reflected in the audit reports prepared by each SAI, as well as in various
collective instances held within the framework of the GTG.
On May 19, 2022,
16 the launch and welcome meeting for the SAIs participating in
the Coordinated Audit on gender-based violence took place. The virtual meeting was
chaired by the GTG Presidency to present the objectives, participating m
embers, the
established planning, and the schedule for this Coordinated Audit.
Thus, following the timeline, the first technical meeting was held on July 7, 2022,
17
in a virtual format, where the GTG Presidency provided an initial overvi
ew of the
phenomenon of gender-based violence, while the technical team of the Chi
lean SAI
discussed the definition of the objective and the audit questions based on the results of
the questionnaire applied to member institutions.
Meanwhile, the second technical meeting was held on July 4, 2022,
18 where specialized
consultancy to support the coordinating team of the Chilean SAI in the m
ethodological
preparation of the Coordinated Audit was introduced. In this instance, the consultancy
addressed the fundamental principles to understand the basis of this aud
it exercise.
Also, the coordinating team of the Chilean SAI introduced a new working
strategy that
translated into a unique planning matrix to support the audit work.
Thus, in the Planning Workshop of the Coordinated Audit held on August 23,
19 24, 20
and 25,
21 2022, in Asunción, Paraguay, a participatory analysis was conducted on the
planning matrix with the aim of achieving a consensus-based and adjusted
instrument
to be applied in the reality of all member institutions. In this instanc
e, the work schedule
was established, with responsibility for compliance falling on the Coord
inating SAI.
In line with the schedule, the Citizen Participation Workshop was held between
November 2
22-23 – 3, 24 with the goal of bringing audit teams closer to the realities
16 Meeting recording available at: https://youtu.be/fea7f0Uoqt4
17 Meeting recording available at: https://youtu.be/XwED2nsOKpM
18 Meeting recording available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynufOT_5xSQ&list=PLgI9Zy-
JGcTOQ3bINY4TcpYyLcyLpu7t0&index=4
19 Workshop recording available at: https://youtu.be/OUo-DnfCIHo and https://youtu.be/xKL8fYQpW2w
20 Workshop recording available at: https://youtu.be/eQXgc_5sMBw and https://youtu.be/kb2zzhKV7bQ, https://
youtu.be/An3cVkZOz20, https://youtu.be/CnOxqg3jYEk and https://youtu.be/fmiMfMQpRuU
21 Workshop recording available at: https://youtu.be/cT6C2TbwxeU and https://youtu.be/j1HSCMtOwB0
22 Workshop recording available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hA5PqMQnJLY
23 Workshop recording available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHofMq0_CBI
24 Workshop recording available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZipw5BxtKk&t=3s

27
experienced by civil society organizations and providing them with techn
ical tools that
could be useful when collecting information for the information-gatherin
g process.
Likewise, in 2022, the last activity carried out was the Workshop on Evidence of
Findings,
25 held between December 12 and 16 of that year. This virtual event aimed to
support the teams in presenting the findings to address the questions established in the
planning matrix and, as a result, conclude the Coordinated Audit objective.
To conclude the execution stage, the Results Consolidation Workshop was held in
Santiago, Chile. Thus, on May 17,
26 18, 27 and 19, 28 2023, audit teams met in person to
learn about the main findings of the Coordinated Audit of the SAIs and AE members,
and jointly analyze the relevance of such results to be considered in th
e consolidated
report.
In order to systematize the results of the examinations carried out by e
ach of the
participating entities in a quantitative analysis, a questionnaire was m
ade available for
each audit team to submit its findings on eight aspects to the Audit coordination.
29
From the Audit Coordination, the final consolidation questionnaire was sent to the SAIs
and AIs on April 19, 2023. This questionnaire was completed prior to the sending of
the final report by the technical counterparts of the Entities, with a deadline of June 30
of the same year for its delivery. In the questionnaire, the participating Audit Entities
were asked about the following topics relevant to our Audit study: policies, programs
and actions: civil society; types of violence; eradication of violence a
gainst women; use
of resources; services and/or benefits; violence against women in the Pandemic; and
follow-up and/or accompaniment.
The questionnaire is available in Annex 2.
The deadline for submitting the questionnaire was extended until July 15
, the date
on which the coordinating team received all the questionnaires from the
SAIs and AE
members of this Coordinated Audit.
25 Workshop recording available at: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgI9Zy-JGcTOrI-a03Bdw1PjtmKQRHrhC
26 Workshop recording available at: https://youtu.be/XmpOrKckYHw
27 Workshop recording available at: https://youtu.be/KCKu_JEQyMk
28 Workshop recording available at: https://youtu.be/rGapB1azFKA
29 Policies, plans or actions, civil society, types of violence, eradication of violence against women, use of
resources, services or benefits, violence against women IN A PANDEMIC and monitoring and support
mechanism.

28
The final audit reports of the SAIs and AIs participating in this coordinated audit were
received by the coordination between July and August 2023. It should be noted that the
SAIs of Bolivia, Paraguay and Puerto Rico, as well as the subnational AE of Paraná, did
not send the final reports of their national audits, so this report was prepared based on
the preliminary reports delivered by these entities.

29
B. TRAINING ACTIVITIES
Coordinated audits within OLACEFS are characterized by having a capacity
-building
component. The Capacity Building Committee –CCC– of OLACEFS, based on
best practices from the INTOSAI Development Initiative –IDI– and the Manual for
Cooperative Audit Programs among INTOSAI’s SAIs, recognizes Coordinated Audits as
an opportunity for learning, professional development, and institutional
development.
30
The OLACEFS Coordinated Audit Manual establishes that the training process must
include both face-to-face and virtual modalities. Ideally, training should target all
individuals involved to ensure uniform knowledge among participants.
Following this manual’s guidelines, in addition to the face-to-face workshops on
planning and consolidation of results organized by the coordinating SAI,
synchronous
and asynchronous training instances were organized. In this way, the audit teams were
given tools to keep up to date on the methodology and to deepen their kn
owledge on
the specific subjects covered in this examination.
B.1. SYNCHRONOUS SESSIONS
Two days of synchronous training were held through webinars. The first of them
addressed “The phenomenon of gender-based violence,”
31 held on July 26, 2022, and
aimed at the reflection, awareness-raising and training of the participating teams of the
Coordinated Audit, as well as the staff of the OLACEFS SAIs and stakeholders, on the
phenomenon of gender-based violence.
The second webinar was titled “International Standards and Government
Obligations
Regarding Gender-Based Violence”
32 and was held on August 8, 2022. Its objective was
to train audit teams from a rights-based perspective on why these issues
are important
to audit and how international standards and commitments influence these matters.
30 OLACEFS 2020 Coordinated Audit Manual, https://olacefs.com/ccc/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/12/05.1_
Manual-de-Auditorias-Coordinadas-de-la-OLACEFS_2020.pdf
31 Webinar available at: https://youtu.be/oh3OecvLvUs
32 Webinar available at: https://youtu.be/ElByFfjRaAw

30
B.2. ASYNCHRONOUS SESSIONS
All auditors from the teams participating in this audit exercise complet
ed asynchronous
training through OLACEFS offerings. These included courses such as “Introduction to
Gender Equality and Non-Discrimination,” “Communication of Audit Results,” and the
Massive Open Online Course – MOOC– “The Sustainable Development Goals – SDGs–
and Supreme Audit Institutions – SAIs–.”
33
B.3. REPOSITORY
During the Planning Workshop held in August 2022 in Asunción, Paraguay, the launch
of the Coordinated Audit Repository on Gender-Based Violence was announced. In
October of that same year, all participants were given access to this repository, which
made online courses such as “Introduction to Gender Equality and Non-
Discrimination,”
“Communication of Audit Products,” and the MOOC “The SDGs and SAIs” available.
Webinar recordings and materials from planning, evidence findings, and consolidation
workshops were also provided.
33 MOOC available in Spanish, English and Portuguese at: https://contas.tcu.gov.br/ead/mod/page/view.
php?id=32179

II. GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AND
EXTERNAL
CONTROL

32
A. THE EXERCISE OF
EXTERNAL CONTROL AND
INTERNATIONAL HUMAN
RIGHTS LAW
This report is a consolidation of national reports
in which 12 Supreme Audit Institutions in
Latin America and the Caribbean conducted
performance audits.
OLACEFS has used Coordinated Audits as an “opportunity for learning, professional
development, and institutional development,”
34 starting with the selection of a priority
topic for the organization, such as those related to gender equality.
The Member Institutions of the Latin American and Caribbean Organization of Supreme
Audit Institutions are committed to promoting the efficiency, accountability, effectiveness
and transparency of public administration. We understand that promoting good
governance and democracy implies respecting and promoting the principles
of equality
and non-discrimination.
Accountability and the effectiveness of state measures are crucial for preventing
human rights violations and achieving sustainable development. The United Nations
Officer for the High Commissioner for Human Rights – OHCHR– has stated that “we
need governance systems in which all those responsible, whether public o
r private,
must be accountable and subject to laws that are enacted publicly, enforced fairly, and
independently adjudicated in accordance with international human rights
norms.”
35
International Human Rights Law establishes obligations that states must
respect. By
becoming parties to a treaty, states assume obligations and duties under international
34 MOOC available in English, Spanish and Portuguese at: https://contas.tcu.gov.br/ead/mod/page/view.
php?id=32179
35 OHCHR, Strengthening the rule of law and accountability for human rights violations. Available at: https://
www.ohchr.org/en/about-us/what-we-do/our-roadmap/strengthening-rule-law-and-accou
ntability-human-rights-
violations

33
law to respect, protect, and fulfill human rights. This entails a commitment to adopting
laws and public policies consistent with international treaties.
According to the OHCHR, “all countries face challenges in complying w
ith these
norms.”
36 This implies that the reality within the OLACEFS region is diverse, and
there are disparities in the enjoyment of rights, especially for those w
ho are victims of
discrimination.
The exercise of external control is useful for governments because
Supreme Audit Institutions, when carrying out an objective and autonomous
assessment, following a specific methodology, are able to identify gaps in
the implementation of international human rights treaties.
This coordinated audit on gender-based violence was inspired by three in
ternational
instruments: the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against
Women –CEDAW– of 1979,
37 the Inter-American Convention on the Prevention,
Punishment and Eradication of Violence against Women (Belem do Pará Convention)
of 1994,
38 and the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development, 39 which includes the
Sustainable Development Goals –SDGs– of 2015. The status of ratification and entry
into force of these instruments are found in Annexes 3, 4 and 5.
36 OHCHR, Strengthening the rule of law and accountability for human rights violations. Available at: https://
www.ohchr.org/en/about-us/what-we-do/our-roadmap/strengthening-rule-law-and-accou
ntability-human-rights-
violations
37 United Nations General Assembly, Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,
A/RES/34/180 of December 18,1979. Available at: https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/cedaw_SP.pdf
38 Organization of American States, Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of
Violence against Women, September 6, 1994. Available at: https://www.oas.org/juridico/espanish/tratados/a-61.
html
39 United Nations General Assembly, Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for the Sustainable Development
A/RES/70/1 of 21 October 2015 https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N15/291/93/PDF/N1529193.
pdf?OpenElement

34
B. THE PHENOMENON OF
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE
The right of women, girls, and adolescents to
live a life free from violence is a fundamental
principle of international human rights law.
40
Within this legal framework, women and girls
are considered vulnerable groups, which means
that there are practices condoned or tolerated
by public authorities that have the effect of
denying them the enjoyment of certain rights
and resources that would normally be accessible
to others.
41
We understand gender-based violence – GBV– as “any harmful act directed against
individuals or groups of individuals based on unequal power relations re
lated to their
gender, gender identity or expression, or sexual orientation.”
42

40 IACHR, Violence and Discrimination against Women, Girls and Adolescents: Good practices and challenges in
Latin America and the Caribbean (2019), p. 9.
41 I/A Court H.R., Case of Velásquez Rodríguez v. Honduras, fund, July 29, 1988, para. 68.
42 L. Rios, M. Mendoza, What is gender-based violence? Let’s call violence by its name. Available online: https://
blogs.iadb.org/igualdad/es/llamemos-a-la-violencia-por-su-nombre/

35
It is a broad term that goes beyond violence against women and considers
victimization
and violence directed at people with non-binary gender identities and ex
pressions.
Furthermore, using the term “gender-based violence” extends the sc
ope of the
phenomenon to all victims and survivors with an intersectional approach,
taking into
account how violence interacts with the complex and multiple identity st
ructures of
society, such as ethnicity, race, social class, age, religion, disability, migratory status,
and others.
However, this report focuses on how the phenomenon of violence impacts the live
s of
women and girls, as they constitute the majority of victims and/or survi
vors.

36
C. GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE
IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE
CARIBBEAN
Gender-based violence is a global problem that
affects millions of women, undermining their
dignity, freedom, and autonomy.
This violence continues to be a “pervasive and devastating” proble
m. 43 According to
data from the World Health Organization, nearly 736 million women (one in three)
experience physical or sexual violence inflicted by an intimate partner or sexual assaults
by others, and these figures have remained stable over the past decade.
44
The Director-General of the WHO stated, “Violence against women is endemic in all
countries and cultures. It is harmful to millions of women and their fam
ilies and has
been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
45
The most extreme expression of gender-based violence is femicide, a phen
omenon that
exposes the structural roots of inequality and discrimination faced by w
omen and girls
in our region. Due to its historical and structural roots, patriarchal,
discriminatory, and
violent cultural patterns based on privilege prove to be one of the most
complex issues
to address.
46

43 WHO, Violence against women is pervasive and devastating: one in three women suffers from it (2021). Available
at: https://www.who.int/en/news/item/09-03-2021-devastatingly-pervasive-1-in-3-women-gl
obally-experience-
violence
44 WHO, Violence against women is pervasive and devastating: one in three women suffers from it (2021). Available
at: https://www.who.int/en/news/item/09-03-2021-devastatingly-pervasive-1-in-3-women-gl
obally-experience-
violence
45 WHO, Violence against women is pervasive and devastating: one in three women suffers from it (2021). Available
at: https://www.who.int/en/news/item/09-03-2021-devastatingly-pervasive-1-in-3-women-gl
obally-experience-
violence
46 ECLAC, Bulletin No. 1. Femicidal violence in numbers – Latin America and the Caribbean. Ending violence
against women and girls and femicide: a key challenge for the constructi
on of the care society (2022).

37
Gender-based violence against women and girls takes place systematically
and
persistently in the region; it knows no borders, affects women and girls of all ages and
occurs in all spaces from the domestic sphere to public spaces.
47
In Latin America and the Caribbean, in 2021, at least 4,473 women were victims of

femicide in 29 countries and territories in the region, according to the latest official data
reported by countries to the Gender Equality Observatory of Latin America and the
Caribbean –GEO– of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
–ECLAC –. This represents at least 12 violent deaths of women due to their gender
every day in the region.
In Latin America and the Caribbean, the strength of feminist and women’s movements
has been a continuous driving force in the fight against violence towards women and
girls,
48 who have played a significant role in collecting data and building information on
gender-based violence in the region. Civil society, as well as SAIs, exercise control over
governments.
47 ECLAC, Bulletin No. 1. Femicidal violence in numbers – Latin America and the Caribbean. Ending violence
against women and girls and femicide: a key challenge for the constructi
on of the care society (2022).
48 ECLAC, Bulletin No. 1. Femicidal violence in numbers – Latin America and the Caribbean. Ending violence
against women and girls and femicide: a key challenge for the constructi
on of the care society (2022).

38
D. OBLIGATIONS OF STATES
TO PREVENT, PUNISH AND
ERADICATE VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN
The Committee on the Elimination of
Discrimination against Women –CEDAW
Committee– is the body responsible for
overseeing the implementation of CEDAW.
49 As
part of its mandate, it provides recommendations
on any issues affecting women to which, in its
view, States parties should pay more attention.
Thus, in its general recommendation No. 28, 50 the CEDAW Committee seeks to clarify
the scope and meaning of article 2 of the CEDAW
51 which establishes means for States
parties to implement the substantive provisions of the Convention at the
national level.
49 Learn more at: https://www.ohchr.org/en/treaty-bodies/cedaw
50 Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, General Recommendation No. 28 on Article 2 of
the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women CEDAW/C/GC/28, 16 December
2010.
51 States Parties condemn discrimination against women in all its forms, agree to pursue by all appropriate means
and without delay a policy of eliminating discrimination against women a
nd, to this end, undertake:
a) To embody the principle of the equality of men and women in their nationa
l constitutions or other appropriate legislation if not yet incorporated therein and to ensure, through law a
nd other appropriate means, the
practical realization of this principle;
b) To adopt appropriate legislative and other measures, including sanctions
where appropriate, prohibiting all discrimination against women;
c) To establish legal protection of the rights of women on an equal basis wi
th men and to ensure through competent national tribunals and other public institutions the effective protection of women against any act
of discrimination;
d) To refrain from engaging in any act or practice of discrimination against
women and to ensure that public authorities and institutions shall act in conformity with this obligatio
n;
e) To take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against wome
n by any person, organization or enterprise;
f) To take all appropriate measures, including legislation, to modify or abo
lish existing laws, regulations, customs and practices which constitute discrimination against women;
g) To repeal all national criminal provisions that constitute discrimination
against women.

39
This general recommendation, in particular with respect to the accountab
ility of States
parties for the fulfillment of their obligations under Article 2 “is embodied in the acts or
omissions of all branches of government.”
52
It also emphasizes that “in any process of devolution of powers, Stat
es parties must
ensure that the competent authorities have the necessary financial, human, and
other resources to effectively and fully fulfill the State party’s obligations under the
Convention. Governments of States parties must retain the authority to d
emand full
compliance with the Convention and establish permanent coordination and
follow-
up mechanisms to ensure that the Convention is respected and applied wit
hout
discrimination to all women within their jurisdiction.”
53
Furthermore, the CEDAW Committee states that “the effective implementation of the
Convention requires that a State party be accountable to its citizens an
d other members
of the community at the national and international levels. To make this accountability
function effectively, appropriate mechanisms and institutions must be created.”
54
Meanwhile, at the American level, the implementation of the Belém do Pará Convention
,
which aims to prevent, punish, and eradicate violence against women, is
monitored
by the Follow-Up Mechanism the Belém do Pará Convention – MESECVI–. It is a
methodology for systematic and ongoing multilateral evaluation, based on
a forum for
exchange and technical cooperation among the States Parties to the Conve
ntion and a
committee of experts.
55
Regarding the rules of the Convention of Belem do Pará, it is necessa
ry to highlight
article 7 which establishes:
52 Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, General Recommendation No. 28 on Article 2 of
the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women CEDAW/C/GC/28, paragraph
39, 16 December 2010.
53 Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, General Recommendation No. 28 on Article 2 of
the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women CEDAW/C/GC/28, paragraph
39, 16 December 2010.
54 Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, General Recommendation No. 28 on Article 2 of
the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women CEDAW/C/GC/28, paragraph
40, 16 December 2010.
55 https://www.oas.org/es/mesecvi/nosotros.asp

40
“The States Parties condemn all forms of violence against women and a
gree to pursue,
by all appropriate means and without delay, policies to prevent, punish and eradicate
such violence and undertake to:
a. Refrain from engaging in any act or practice of violence against women a
nd
ensure that their authorities, officials, personnel, agents, and institutions
act in conformity with this obligation;
b. Apply due diligence to prevent, investigate and impose penalties for
violence against women;
c. Include in their domestic legislation criminal, civil, administrative an
d
any other type of provisions that may be needed to prevent, punish and
eradicate violence against women and to adopt appropriate administrative

measures where necessary;
d. Adopt legal measures to require the perpetrator to refrain from harassin
g,
intimidating or threatening the woman or using any method that harms or
endangers her life or integrity, or damages her property;
e. Take all appropriate measures, including legislative measures, to amend
or repeal existing laws and regulations or to modify legal or customary
practices that sustain the persistence and tolerance of violence against

women;
f. Establish fair and effective legal procedures for women who have been
subjected to violence which include, among others, protective measures,
a timely hearing and effective access to such procedures;
g. Establish the necessary legal and administrative mechanisms to ensure
that women subjected to violence have effective access to restitution,
reparations or other just and effective remedies; and
h. Adopt such legislative or other measures as may be necessary to enforce
this Convention.”

41
“What is indicated by the CEDAW Committee, as well as what is indicated in Belém do
Pará, aligns with the United Nations General Assembly’s adoption of the 2030 Agenda
for Sustainable Development. This agenda signifies that to “transform our world,” we
need to achieve 17 Goals and 169 targets. Among these goals, some are particularly
relevant to this audit work:
Target 5.2: “Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and gir
ls in
the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual exploitation
and other types of exploitation.”
Target 16.1: “Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related d
eath
rates everywhere.”
Target 16.5: “Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their
forms.”

42
E. DIFFERENTIATED IMPACT OF
CORRUPTION
Corruption disproportionately affects
vulnerable populations and harms people living
in poverty the hardest, especially women, who
represent a larger proportion in the world
56 .
One of the most significant aspects of the
differentiated impact of corruption occurs
particularly in the context of gender-based
violence.
Gender violence is a problem of alarming proportions around the world, a
nd women
are the main victims
57. Corruption undermines women’s ability to access justice, obtain
support and protection, increases inequalities in the distribution of re
sources and limits
access to essential services.
Thus, this scourge has a significant impact on compliance with gender policies,
minimizing efforts to promote gender equality and empower women. To effectively
address this problem, it is essential to prevent corruption in public se
ctor institutions and
promote gender equality in different sectors of the population.
56 EUROSOCIAL, Women and corruption: strategies to address the differentiated impacts of corruption in Latin
America (2019) Available only in Spanish: https://eurosocial.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/OK-5-Mujer-y-
corrupcion-EUROSOCIAL.pdf
57 OCDE, Breaking the Cycle of Gender-based Violence: Translating Evidence into Action for Victim/Survivor-
centred Governance, (2023) OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/b133e75c-en

43

44
III. AUDIT
FINDINGS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS

45

46
In a recent report, the Organization for
Economic Co-operation and Development
–OECD– stated that to assess the
effectiveness of state frameworks on
gender-based violence across the state,
countries should develop and implement
evaluation, measurement and accountability
mechanismss.
58
Most countries rely on internal review within the government to assess a
nd improve the
effectiveness of GBV prevention and response measures.
The OECD highlights the value of feedback from the community, as well
as from Supreme Audit Institutions to ensure that measures adopted by
States meet the needs of victims and survivors of this phenomenon.
59
This report presents the consolidated findings of the national reports
60 in eight sections,
namely: (i) Policies, plans or actions; (ii) civil society; (iii)
types of violence; (iv)
eradication of violence against women; (v) use of resources, (vi) services or benefits;
(vii) violence against women during the COVID-19 pandemic; and, (viii
) follow-up and
accompaniment mechanism. In addition, the OLACEFS Working Group on Gender
Equality and Non-Discrimination, based on these findings and considering the areas
of improvement identified and/or recommendations made by the audit teams as well
as the best international practices, formulates recommendations for each
one of these
sections.
58 OECD, Breaking the Cycle of Gender-based Violence: Translating Evidence into Action for Victim/Survivor-
centred Governance, (2023) OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/b133e75c-en. Available in English
only.
59 OECD, Breaking the Cycle of Gender-based Violence: Translating Evidence into Action for Victim/Survivor-
centred Governance, (2023) OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/b133e75c-en. Available in English
only; own translation. Pages 70 and 71.
60 This section consolidates the reports of the SAIs of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala,
Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, Puerto Rico and Venezuela.

47
A. AUDITED STATE ACTIONS,
PROGRAMS AND/OR POLICIES
Auditing government actions, programs and policies in the context of int
ernational
obligations on gender-based violence is of critical importance. These audits are
essential to ensure the accountability of governments in relation to the
ir commitment
to preventing and addressing gender-based violence. Through rigorous evaluation,
gaps, inefficiencies and areas for improvement can be identified in existing policies and
programs, enabling governments to adapt and strengthen their approaches.
In addition,
these audits provide a solid basis for follow-up and reporting at the in
ternational level,
which fosters transparency and accountability in the implementation of i
nternational
obligations in the fight against gender-based violence.
61
This audit examined various actions, programs, and policies that audited
governments have undertaken to fulfill their international obligations
regarding gender-based violence. For example, 10 SAIs indicated that
there is consistency between legal regulations and the objectives of the
audited government actions, programs, and policies, while 2 of them
indicated partial consistency. It is noteworthy that SAIs audited between
one and five programs and/or policies in their national exercises, making it
challenging to draw conclusions about the scope of these programs.
Based on the importance of audits to analyze the effectiveness, efficiency and cost-
effectiveness of government actions, programs and policies in relation to
international
obligations on gender-based violence, we present the following recommend
ations For
Supreme Audit Institutions:
1. Evaluate normative consistency and objectives: The Supreme Audit
Institutions must carry out a comprehensive review of the consistency
between legal regulations and the objectives of government actions,
programs and policies related to gender-based violence. This evaluation
ensures that policies are properly aligned with international obligation
s
and that the objectives are consistent with the goals of preventing and
eradicating gender-based violence.
61 UN Women. Gender Auditing and Monitoring (n.d.) Available at: https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/audit-
and-monitoring

48
2. Analyze results and effectiveness: Audits should include an analysis of
the results and effectiveness of government actions, programs and policies
in reducing gender-based violence. This involves examining whether the
intended objectives are being achieved, whether measurable results are
being obtained and whether positive impacts are being generated in the
prevention and assistance of gender-based violence.
3. Measure the efficiency in the allocation of resources: The Supreme
Audit Institutions must evaluate the efficiency of resource allocation in
relation to actions and programs on gender-based violence. This includes
examining how funds are distributed, whether they are used efficiently and
whether results are maximized with the available budget.
4. Conduct cost-benefit analyses: In order to assess the cost-effectiveness
of policies and programs, audits must include cost-benefit analyses. This
will make it possible to determine whether the invested resources are
generating adequate value in terms of reducing gender-based violence
and improving the quality of life of victims.
These recommendations will help SAIs conduct more comprehensive and effective
audits in relation to international obligations on gender-based violence
, thereby
contributing to better accountability and improved government policies i
n this area.
B. CIVIL SOCIETY
The role played by civil society in relation to gender-based violence is
fundamental.
Civil society plays a crucial role in awareness-raising, reporting, prom
oting policies and
laws that address gender-based violence, and providing support to victim
s. Through
non-governmental organizations, feminist movements and other community i
nitiatives,
civil society works tirelessly to change attitudes and social norms, pro
vide shelter and
assistance to victims, and pressure governments to take effective action. Their work
extends to education, prevention and promotion of gender equality, thus contributing
to the construction of a more just and safe society for all people, rega
rdless of their
gender.
62
62 United Nations Gender-based violence (n.d.). Available at: https://www.un.org/es/sections/issues-depth/gender-
based-violence/index.html

49
The audit on gender-based violence, as discussed in the methodological s
ection of this
report, highlighted, at all stages, the relevant role played by civil so
ciety in overseeing
state actions. Following international auditing standards, and given the
nature of
performance audit, the participation of Civil Society Organizations –
CSOs– was
included in the review.
Thus, of the 12 participating countries, 8 indicated that there are formal
coordination mechanisms between the State and CSOs to combat violence
against women; 2 mentioned that formalization is partial and 2 indicated
that there is no such formal coordination mechanism.
Now, when inquiring about whether the opinions and/or suggestions of CSOs a
re
considered to design programs or actions around gender-based violence, o
nly 4 SAIs
indicated that they did, while 6 indicated that their governments did so
partially. As for
whether the opinion of CSOs is considered to improve such programs or ac
tions, only 3
SAIs indicated yes, while 7 said that it was carried out partially.
Despite these numbers, CSOs from 10 of the governments examined are part
of the
implementation or execution of actions and/or programs in relation to vi
olence against
women. This finding reveals their role and the possible impact they may have.
Based on the information provided in the national audit reports and the
importance
of civil society participation in gender-based violence audits, here are
four
recommendations for Supreme Audit Institutions and governments to consider civil
society organizations in these processes:
1. Establish formal coordination mechanisms: The Supreme Audit
Institutions and governments should work on creating formal coordination
mechanisms between the state and civil society organizations to address
gender-based violence. These mechanisms will enable more effective
collaboration and the incorporation of the experience and perspectives o
f
civil society into policies and programs.
2. Include CSOs in program and action design: The opinions and
suggestions of civil society organizations must be considered from the
beginning in the design of programs and actions related to gender-based
violence. This will ensure that policies are better tailored to the real needs
of affected people.

50
3. Consider CSO feedback for continuous improvement: The Supreme
Audit Institutions should encourage governments to take into account
feedback from civil society organizations for the continuous improvement

of programs and actions related to gender-based violence. This will ensure
that policies are effective and adapt to changes in circumstances and
needs.
4. Include CSOs in implementation and execution: Promoting the active
participation of civil society organizations in the implementation and
execution of actions and programs in relation to gender-based violence i
s
essential. This not only leverages their experience and knowledge but also
strengthens their ability to influence the effectiveness of these measures.
C. TYPES OF VIOLENCE
Analyzing the different types of gender-based violence is relevant since it allows a
deep understanding of a complex phenomenon that affects societies around the world.
Various types of violence, such as physical, sexual, psychological, econo
mic, and
symbolic violence, can interconnect and manifest in varied ways. Analyzing each of
these aspects is essential to developing effective prevention and assistance policies
and strategies. In addition, this approach allows for addressing the nee
ds of victims
more precisely and providing them with adequate support.
63
Regarding the types of violence and the audit exercise carried out within
the framework of OLACEFS, we can argue that the 12 countries consider
that the types covered by the actions, programs and/or policies are in line
with the Belém do Pará Convention.
The Belém do Pará Convention recognizes several types of violence
against women in
its text. These types of violence include, but are not limited to:
Physical violence: Any action that causes physical harm or suffering to a
woman.
Sexual violence: Any unwanted or forced sexual act, including sexual
harassment and rape.
63 United Nations Gender-based violence (n.d.). Available at: https://www.un.org/es/sections/issues-depth/gender-
based-violence/index.html

51
Psychological violence: Behaviors that cause emotional harm,
degradation, or that threaten to cause harm to a woman’s self-esteem and
mental health.
Economic and patrimonial violence: The restriction of access to
economic and patrimonial resources, as well as the control or denial of
economic rights to a woman.
Symbolic violence: Any act, message, pattern, or representation that
reinforces harmful gender stereotypes and perpetuates discrimination and
violence against women.
The Belém do Pará Convention seeks to prevent, punish and eradicat
e these types of
violence, and establishes specific obligations for States parties regarding the protection
of women’s rights and the promotion of gender equality.
64
Regarding the types of violence that are addressed by the States examined,
12 SAIs mention that family or domestic violence is addressed by the
audited policies, actions and/or programs. While only three SAIs indicate
that obstetric violence is addressed, three SAIs indicate that workplace
violence is contemplated, two for media violence and one for institutional
violence. Finally, six SAIs mention that other types of violence are not
mentioned in the list above.
64 The Belém do Pará Convention establishes the types of violence against women and their obligations in various
articles. The following are the relevant ones:
Article 2: Defines violence against women, including the types of violence mentioned in my previous
response.
Article 3: Establishes the obligation of States parties to adopt legal and other appropriate measures to
prevent, punish and eradicate violence against women.
Article 4: Requires States Parties to amend or abolish existing laws and regulations that perpetuate violence
against women.
Article 6: Addresses the adoption of public policies and programs to prevent and punish violence against
women.
Article 7: Establishes the need to establish support and assistance services for victims of violence, including
judicial protection measures.
Article 8: Emphasizes the training of professionals and officials of the judicial, police and health system in the
prevention and care of violence against women.
Article 9: Deals with the promotion of education and awareness-raising in relation to violence against women.
Article 11: Addresses the role of the media in preventing violence and promoting a positive image of women.

52
Based on the importance of analyzing different types of gender-based violence in the
audit work, we present four recommendations for SAIs to consider when ca
rrying out
audits in this area:
1. Expand the scope of the audit: Audits must address a wide range of
types of gender-based violence, including physical, sexual, psychological,
economic, symbolic violence and other specific types that may exist. This
ensures that the complexity of the problem is understood and that effective
policies and strategies are developed to address each form of violence.
2. Assess consistency with international standards: Audits should
assess whether government policies and programs are consistent with
international standards, such as the Belém do Pará Convention. This
ensures that states comply with their international obligations in preve
nting
and eradicating gender-based violence.
3. Examine the availability of services and support: Audits should
include an analysis of the availability and accessibility of support ser
vices
for victims of different types of gender-based violence. This is critical to
ensuring that victims receive adequate support and necessary assistance.
4. Promote awareness and education: The Supreme Audit Institutions can
recommend the promotion of awareness and education on the different
types of gender-based violence in order to prevent and raise awareness
in society. This can include awareness campaigns, and training and
educational programs that address the different manifestations of gender-
based violence.
These recommendations will allow Supreme Audit Institutions to carry out more
complete and effective audits in the field of gender-based violence, contributing to the
prevention and eradication of this serious social problem.

53
D. ERADICATING GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE
The eradication of gender-based violence is critically important in the
context of
the Sustainable Development Goals, in particular SDG 5.2,
65 which focuses on the
elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls. Gender-bas
ed violence not
only violates women’s fundamental rights but also undermines progress in key areas
such as gender equality, health, education, and economic empowerment. By addressing
this issue, we are not only improving the lives of women and girls but a
lso contributing
to the achievement of sustainable and equitable development in all spher
es of society.
The eradication of gender-based violence is essential to building a more
just and secure
world, where all people, regardless of gender, can live a life free of fear and violence.
The review carried out within the framework of this coordinated audit has
shown that five of the governments analyzed have measured compliance
with target 5.2 of the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development, while
seven SAIs have not. There are relevant gaps related to achieving the
eradication of violence against women and girls and it is a latent probl
em
in our region.
Thus, we present recommendations for Supreme Audit Institutions and governments to
evaluate the compliance with SDGs:
1. Intersectionality audits of 2030 Agenda targets: SAIs should conduct
audits assessing how target 5.2 addressing the eradication of gender-
based violence is intertwined with other 2030 Agenda targets, particularly
those related to gender equality, education, health and justice. This will
help to understand how progress or setbacks on one target can affect the
achievement of other targets, and enable more informed decision-making.
2. Measuring progress: Governments are encouraged to measure progress
in meeting target 5.2 and gender equality in general. This involves
assessing progress towards the eradication of gender-based violence
and the promotion of women’s rights. SAIs can audit the effectiveness of
these measurements and point out any deficiencies in data collection and

analysis.
65 Sustainable Development Goals SDG 5: Gender equality. Available at: https://www.un.org
sustainabledevelopment/es/gender-equality/

54
3. Evaluation of policies and programs: Audit the implementation of
policies and programs aimed at addressing gender-based violence, and
evaluate their effectiveness. This includes verifying whether adequate
resources are being allocated and whether concrete measures are being
taken to prevent and punish gender-based violence.
4. Combating corruption: Corruption can undermine efforts to address
gender-based violence. It is recommended to audit transparency and
integrity in the implementation of policies and programs related to gend
er
equality and eradication of violence. This will ensure that resources are
used effectively and are not diverted due to corrupt practices.
These recommendations will enable Supreme Audit Institutions to more fully analyze the
intersectionality of target 5.2 with other targets of the 2030 Agenda, including the fight
against corruption, and contribute to the achievement of more equitable
and secure
sustainable development for all people.
E. RESOURCES
The proper use of public resources in the fight against gender-based violence is an
essential element to achieve an effective and sustainable impact. Gender-responsive
budgeting becomes critical as it ensures that adequate resources are all
ocated
to programs and policies that address the underlying causes of gender-ba
sed
violence and provide support services to victims. A gender approach to budgeting
involves considering how policies and programs differentially affect women and men,
and ensuring that resources are allocated equitably and fairly to addres
s gender
inequalities.
66 In addition, this approach makes it possible to monitor and evaluate th
e
effectiveness of investments in the prevention and assistance of gender-ba
sed violence,
which, in turn, contributes to more effective accountability.
In the case of audited state policies, programs and/or actions, seven SA
Is
mention that they had an allocated budget for the years 2019, 2020 and
2021. On the other hand, two SAIs mention that there was an allocated
budget, but only in some of the years consulted. Finally, three SAIs indicate
that only some of the policies, programs and/or actions had a budget.
66 UN Women, gender-responsive budgeting (n.d.). Available at: https://lac.unwomen.org/es/presuppuestos-con-
enfoque-de-genero

55
It is important to add that in only two countries are the resources exec
uted from
the audited state policies, programs and actions distributed by physical, financial,
technological and human resources.
After analyzing whether the resources allocated to the audited state pol
icies, programs
and/or actions were sufficient to meet the objectives of the program, only two SAIs
indicated that they were. The rest of the SAIs that participated in this exercise indicated
that they were partially sufficient (six SAIs), while four SAIs were unable to assess the
sufficiency of the resources allocated.
For governments to improve their processes and for Supreme Audit Institutions to play
an effective role in auditing the resources allocated to plans, programs and
actions that
prevent and fight against gender-based violence, we recommend:
1. Gender approach to auditing: Supreme Audit Institutions must adopt a
gender approach in their audits, ensuring that they assess how policies
and programs differentially affect people of different genders. This involves
considering gender equality in resource allocation and assessing whether

gender inequalities are being effectively addressed. The audit should
highlight any inequalities in the distribution of resources and recommen
d
adjustments to achieve a more equitable allocation.
2. Holistic audits: Audits should not be limited to assessing the adequacy
of allocated resources, but should take a holistic approach that examine
s
the overall impact of policies and programs in the prevention and fight
against gender-based violence. This involves assessing the effectiveness
of investments and their contribution to the eradication of gender-based

violence, not just the amount of resources allocated.
3. Gender-responsive budgeting: Governments are recommended to
incorporate gender-responsive budgeting in the allocation of resources
for the prevention and fight against gender-based violence. This involves
considering the specific needs of women and girls, as well as ensuring t
hat
resources are distributed equitably and fairly. Audits should assess the
effective implementation of these budgets.
4. Assessment of the adequacy of resources: Audits should assess
whether the resources allocated are sufficient to achieve the objectives
of programs and policies in the prevention and fight against gender-base
d
violence. If weaknesses are identified, Supreme Audit Institutions should
recommend the allocation of additional resources needed to achieve these

objectives effectively.

56
These recommendations will enable SAIs to play a more effective role in overseeing the
resources allocated to the fight against gender-based violence, thus contributing to the
improvement of policies and programs in this area.
F. SERVICES AND/OR BENEFITS
Programs, actions and policies aimed at eradicating gender-based violenc
e
must contemplate a wide range of services and benefits to address this problem
comprehensively. This includes the provision of victim support services such as safe
shelters, psychological counseling, legal assistance, and specialized me
dical care.
They should also promote education and awareness of gender-based violenc
e, both
in the community and in educational institutions. In addition, it is ess
ential that the
underlying causes of gender-based violence, such as gender inequalities,
discrimination
and harmful stereotypes, are addressed. These programs and policies should include
prevention, awareness-raising and training measures to change the cultur
al norms that
perpetuate gender-based violence. Ultimately, these efforts should contribute to building
a more just, equal and secure society for all people, regardless of gend
er.
67
Regarding the services and benefits that audited state policies, programs
and actions must deliver, 11 countries mentioned that they have clear
definitions. Of these, six have defined deadlines, four carry out a partial
definition of deadlines and two do not define deadlines.
Regarding these deadlines, only three countries claim that they are
met, while four report that they partially met, an SAI indicates that the
deadlines are not met and two have not been able to determine whether
the established deadlines are met or not.
It is recommended that SAIs take into account the following when auditin
g the services
and benefits included in plans, programs and actions to prevent and combat gender-
based violence:
1. Meeting deadlines to avoid false expectations: Programs and policies
must have clear and realistic deadlines for the delivery of services and

67 United Nations Gender-based violence. (n.d.). Available at: https://www.un.org/es/sections/issues-depth/gender-
based-violence/index.html

57
benefits to victims of gender-based violence. Supreme Audit Institutions
must ensure that the established deadlines are met, otherwise, false
expectations may be created in the survivors. Audits should assess
whether deadlines are being met and whether adjustments need to be
made to ensure timely and effective service.
2. Clear and comprehensive definitions of services and benefits:
Policies and programs should have clear and comprehensive definitions
of the services and benefits to be provided to victims of gender-based
violence. Supreme Audit Institutions should audit whether these definitions
are comprehensive and include a wide range of services that address the
needs of victims comprehensively.
3. Evaluation of the effectiveness of services: Audits should evaluate the
effectiveness of services and benefits provided to victims. This involves
checking if the services meet their objectives, if they are accessible,
and if
they are being used by victims. In addition, it should be analyzed wheth
er
the services contribute to the recovery and empowerment of victims.
4. Focus on prevention and education: In addition to assessing service
delivery, audits should verify whether programs include effective
prevention, awareness-raising and education measures to change cultural
norms and prevent gender-based violence. This is essential to address the
underlying causes of violence and promote a safer society for all people
.
These recommendations will help Supreme Audit Institutions play an effective role in
overseeing the services and benefits included in plans and programs to combat gender-
based violence, thus ensuring a more appropriate and timely response to
the needs of
victims.
G. GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE DURING
THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

The COVID-19 disease pandemic hit Latin America and the Caribbean in a context of
low economic growth and increasing poverty and inequalities.
68
68 The prolongation of the health crisis and its impact on health, the economy and social development, (2021).
ECLAC Publishing, https://repositorio.cepal.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/5d7d5402-188b-4
d6a-8d0c-
49eec0709554/content

58
This phenomenon has posed unique and significant challenges in the context of gender-
based violence. During periods of lockdown and social distancing, women
and girls
have faced an increased risk of gender-based and domestic violence.
69
The social and economic tensions arising from the pandemic, such as the
inability to
leave the house, the loss of social interactions, the constant presence
of sons and
daughters after the closure of schools, the loss of employment, and heal
th stress, have
increased the incidence of violence.
70
Restrictions on freedom of movement have given aggressors greater contro
l over
women and girls during mandatory lockdowns. Those who have experienced intimate
partner violence have had difficulty escaping their homes or calling hotlines in the
presence of their abusers.
The pandemic has increased physical barriers to accessing key government
services,
including shelters, medical services, child protection, police assistanc
e, and legal
advice. Despite these challenges, the COVID-19 crisis has provided an op
portunity for
governments to more effectively address gender-based violence in emergencies in the
future, including increased assistance and the adoption of regulatory in
struments and
policies to prevent and combat gender-based violence.
71
According to the information obtained in the audit reports within the
framework of this coordinated exercise, violence against women increased
during the pandemic in eight countries, while it decreased in only two.
Regarding the actions taken by the State, it is observed that 11 have
reinforced existing measures, 11 have created new measures to address
the problem and one has not carried out additional actions during the
pandemic.
72
69 OECD, Breaking the Cycle of Gender-based Violence: Translating Evidence into Action for Victim/Survivor-
centred Governance, (2023) OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/b133e75c-en Page 19. Available in
English only. Own translation.
70 OECD, Breaking the Cycle of Gender-based Violence: Translating Evidence into Action for Victim/Survivor-
centred Governance, (2023) OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/b133e75c-en Page 19. Available in
English only. Own translation
71 OECD, Breaking the Cycle of Gender-based Violence: Translating Evidence into Action for Victim/Survivor-
centred Governance, (2023) OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/b133e75c-en Page 19. Available in
English only. Own translation
72 These categories are not exclusive.

59
When looking at whether the actions taken by governments to reinforce
their response or whether the new measures succeeded in getting
the abused women closer to seeking assistance, only six of the twelve
countries mention that the reinforced actions or new measures succeeded
in getting the abused women closer to seeking assistance. In five countries
this cannot be assessed.
Regarding mechanisms, all evaluated countries made remote assistance
mechanisms for victims of violence available to citizens or strengthened
them.
However, when analyzing whether the reinforced actions or new measures
adopted met their objectives, six countries mention that it cannot be
assessed, while only two indicated that they had met their objectives.
Below are the recommendations to SAIs to audit the programs, plans and a
ctions
adopted amid the COVID-19 pandemic to prevent and combat gender-based vi
olence:
1. Evaluation of the effectiveness of measures taken: Supreme Audit
Institutions should evaluate the effectiveness of measures taken by
governments to address gender-based violence during the pandemic. This
involves verifying whether the reinforced actions or the new measures
achieved their goal of bringing women victims of violence closer to seek
ing
assistance. The audit should examine whether these measures actually
contributed to reducing violence and providing support to survivors.
2. Analysis of resource investment: Audits must analyze the investment
of resources in the measures taken to prevent and combat gender-based
violence during the pandemic. This includes assessing whether funds
were allocated efficiently and whether they were used effectively to ensure
access to support and assistance services. In addition, attention should

be paid to possible financial irregularities or cases of corruption in t
he
management of these resources.
3. Monitoring of remote and digital response: Given the increase in
the use of technology during the pandemic, audits should evaluate the
effectiveness of remote mechanisms of assistance for victims of violence.
This includes verifying if these tools were accessible and effective for
victims and if they were properly implemented. In addition, it should be

assessed whether measures were taken to ensure the safety of victims
using these digital media.

60
4. Focus on long-term prevention: In addition to assessing measures
taken during the pandemic, Supreme Audit Institutions should recommend
a focus on long-term prevention of gender-based violence. This involves
urging governments to develop comprehensive strategies that address the
underlying causes of violence, such as gender inequalities and harmful
stereotypes. Long-term prevention is essential to building a safer and
more equitable society for all people, regardless of gender.
H. FOLLOW-UP MECHANISM
Follow-up and monitoring mechanisms of the measures taken to prevent and
combat
gender-based violence play a critical role in the accountability and con
tinuous
improvement of policies and programs. These mechanisms make it possible to assess
whether government actions are having the desired impact, identify gaps
and areas for
improvement, and ensure that commitments in the fight against gender-based violence
are met. In addition, they provide robust data and evidence that support
informed
decision-making and efficient resource allocation. In the context of the COVID-19
pandemic, where gender-based violence has worsened, these mechanisms are

essential to ensure an effective response and the protection of victims.
In this area, as a result of this audit, we see that 11 countries mention that
there are mechanisms for monitoring and follow-up of policies, programs
and/or actions on gender-based violence. Of those 11, 10 have a defined
goal. Despite this, only two of the countries affirm that the monitoring
and follow-up mechanisms made available to governments in this area
achieved their objective.
Thus, we can recommend to the SAIs that, at this point, they carry out t
he following: 1. Evaluación de la eficiencia de los mecanismos: L1. Evaluation of
the efficiency of the mechanisms: SAIs should evaluate the efficiency of
existing monitoring and follow-up mechanisms. This involves checking
whether these mechanisms are meeting their objective effectively and
whether they are providing useful information for decision-making. Assess
whether resources are being allocated efficiently in the implementation of
these mechanisms and whether results are being maximized.

61
2. Transparency and accountability analysis: Audits should pay attention to
transparency and accountability in monitoring and follow-up mechanisms.
It is essential to ensure that these mechanisms are transparent in their

operation and in the dissemination of results. In addition, it should be

checked whether measures have been put in place to ensure accountability

in case of irregularities or misappropriation of funds, including invest
igating
possible cases of corruption.
3. Recommendations for the improvement of mechanisms: SAIs should
issue specific recommendations to improve monitoring and follow-up
mechanisms. This may include suggestions to strengthen data collection,
improve coordination among stakeholders, or implement more effective
technologies and tools. Recommendations should aim to optimize the
efficiency and effectiveness of these mechanisms.
4. Focus on victim protection: In the audit of monitoring and follow-up
mechanisms, it is important to focus on how these systems protect victim
s
of gender-based violence. This includes checking whether safeguards have
been put in place to protect the privacy and safety of victims and wheth
er
measures have been taken to ensure that they can access support services

safely and confidentially. In addition, it should be assessed whether the
mechanisms take into account intersectionality and the specific needs of
victims, such as those belonging to marginalized or vulnerable groups.

VI. RESPONSE
BY ENTITY

A. SUPREME AUDIT INSTITUTIONS
GENERAL AUDIT OF THE ARGENTINE NATION
COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF
THEPLURINATIONAL STATE OF BOLIVIA
COURT OF ACCOUNTS OF THE UNION
OF BRAZIL
COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE REPUBLIC
OF CHILE
COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE REPUBLIC
OF COSTA RICA
COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE STATE OF
THE REPUBLIC OF ECUADOR
GENERAL COMPTROLLER OF THE REPUBLIC
OF GUATEMALA
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE REPUBLIC
OF HONDURAS
SUPERIOR AUDIT OF THE FEDERATION
OF MEXICO
COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE REPUBLIC
OF PARAGUAY
OFFICE OF THE COMPTROLLER OF THE FREE
AND ASSOCIATED STATE OF PUERTO RICO
COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE BOLIVARIAN
REPUBLIC OF VENEZUELA

64
ARGENTINA
Argentine legislation contemplates more than 22 regulations on
gender and diversity, including its regulatory decrees. The main national
regulation in this matter is the 2009 Law 26,485 on comprehensive
protection to prevent, punish and eradicate violence against women
in the areas in which they develop their interpersonal relationships, of.
Also highlighted is Law 26,791 on femicide, which modifies the Criminal
Code and criminalizes the aggravated homicide of women.
During the audited period, two National Action Plans were in force:
2017-2019 National Action Plan –NAP– for the Prevention, Assistance and
Eradication of Violence against Women.
2020-2022 National Action Plan –NAP– against Gender-Based Violence.
As a result of the audit, it is highlighted that it is not possible to e
valuate the
achievement of the objectives of the plans according to what was planned
. Although
both established objectives, deadlines, indicators and means of verifica
tion, no
parameters were defined to measure progress in achieving each of the goa
ls. In
addition, there are no baselines to compare these advances. On the other
hand,
it is observed that a report on the results of the 2017-2019 NAP was not made.
However, from the 2020-2022 NAP, the information is gathered in the 2020 and 2021
Management Reports of the Ministry of Women, Gender and Diversity –MMGyD, for
its Spanish acronym–.
In particular, the 2020-2022 NAP incorporated a diversity perspective and included
LGBTI+ people as susceptible to experiencing situations of gender-based
violence,
reflecting the regulatory and social advances in the field.
Regarding compliance, the audited programs do not have baselines and no
management indicators were defined, which makes it difficult to evaluate the degree
of compliance with their objectives.
VI. A. SUPREME AUDIT INSTITUTIONS

65
In Argentina, the MMGyD is empowered and legally obliged
to convene and constitute an Advisory Council composed
of representatives of specialized civil society and academic
organizations.
In relation to the 2020-2022 NAP, its preparation effectively
emerged from a consultative process, in line with the
recommendations of the UN Women “Manual of National
Action Plans on Violence against Women.”
There was no evidence that participatory and/or consultative
processes have been carried out for the design of the
2017-2019 NAP. Likewise, it was not verified that the policies
contained in the Plan have provided for the participation of
CSOs in its implementation.
CIVIL SOCIETY
The Argentine State has consistently received and even
expanded the principles, types and modes of violence against
women contemplated in both the Belém do Pará Convention
and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination Against Women –CEDAW– in Law 26,485 on
Comprehensive Protection to Prevent, Punish and Eradicate
Violence against Women. The types of violence considered,
in addition to those provided for in the Convention, are
economic and patrimonial, symbolic and political; while the
modalities introduced are: domestic, institutional, labor,
against reproductive, obstetric, and media freedom, in the
public and public-political space.
TYPES OF
VIOLENCE
VI. A. SUPREME AUDIT INSTITUTIONS

66
The 2021 Budget is the first National Budget with a Gender
and Diversity Perspective –PPGyD– in Argentina, which
preceded the 2019 Budget with a gender perspective labeling
– PPG– for spending.
There has been a significant increase in the resources
allocated to policies against gender-based violence since the
creation of the MMGyD, which shows its hierarchical position
as a State policy.
The budget allocated to policies against gender-based
violence increased between 2019 and 2021 from $130.1
million pesos (in 2019) to $5,430.4 million pesos (in 2021);
the current credit increased from $39.5 million pesos
to $16,362.7 million pesos (in 2019); and the accrued
expenditure increased from $17.1 million pesos to $15,889.5
million pesos (in 2021).
USE OF
RESOURCES
Within the framework of the adoption of the SDGs, the
Argentine Nation prioritized target 5.2, initially adopting the
formulation established by the UN. In 2021, the target was
adapted as follows: Eliminate all forms of violence against
all women, LGBTI+ and girls in the public and private
spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other forms of
exploitation. The defined indicator to measure its progress is
5.2.1* Number of direct femicides that occurred during the
period of one year throughout the national territory.
Thus, there was a decrease in the number of direct femicides
that occurred in the country during the audited period (252
femicides in 2019, 251 in 2020 and 231 in 2021). However,
the gap that exists between the baseline and the intermediate
and final target cannot be established since the goals consist
of reducing the values of the indicator with respect to the
baseline, without quantifying the magnitude.
The indicators associated with SDG target 5.2 adopted by
Argentina are insufficient to measure progress towards the
elimination of all forms of violence against women, LGBTI+
and girls, since they only contemplate the instance of
femicide.
ERADICATING
VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN
VI. A. SUPREME AUDIT INSTITUTIONS

67
During the validity of the social isolation measures due to
the COVID-19 pandemic, the MMGyD reinforced actions and
implemented new measures to assist people in situations of
gender-based violence.
Among the measures that were reinforced during the
pandemic, we can mention Line 144, which was arranged as
an indispensable service for the community, with permanent
coverage, and reinforcement of specialized personnel. Other
assistance channels such as an email and contact line through
WhatsApp were also launched. Other measures include the
implementation of comprehensive support programs:
• Line 144 has a Comprehensive Accompaniment Area,
composed of professionals from social work, advocacy
and psychology. Its function is to provide continuity to the
intervention that begins with the first communication of the
person in a situation of gender-based violence or of a family
member or contact that requires accompaniment, advice
and information, if necessary.
• Program for Urgent Support and Immediate Comprehensive
Assistance in Cases of Extreme Gender-Based Violence
• Support and Accompaniment Program for People at Risk
due to Gender-based Violence (Accompaniment in the
2020-2022 NAP was identified as one of the main actions
to be developed, assisting people during the pandemic from
the 24 Jurisdictions of the country and having an accrued
expenditure of $13,527 million pesos in the audited period.
Also noteworthy:
• Coordination with union and university organizations that
made hotels and other places of accommodation available
to the MMGyD so that they could be used by people in
extreme situations of gender-based violence who had to
leave their homes during the quarantine.
• Exception from compliance with Preventive and Mandatory
Social Isolation –ASPO, for its Spanish acronym– when
women or LGBTI+, alone or with their children, leave their
homes for the purpose of making the relevant criminal
complaints regarding acts of violence or seeking help,
assistance or protection due to the situation of violence
they are going through.
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The MMGyD carried out different actions to accompany
people in situations of violence during the emergency
caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Programs involving
comprehensive support were launched: Line 144; Program for
Urgent Support and Immediate Comprehensive Assistance
in Cases of Extreme Gender-based Violence; Support and
Accompaniment Program for People at Risk for Gender-based
Violence (Accompany). It should be noted that, although the
Ministry of Women, Genders, and Diversity –MMGyD, for its
Spanish acronym– prepared management reports revealing
information on their execution, no analyses were carried out
to assess the impact of these programs during the pandemic.
FOLLOW-UP
AND/OR
ACCOMPANIMENT
• Coordination with the Judicial branch to guarantee access
to complaint instances during quarantine.
• An agreement was signed with Aerolíneas Argentinas to
facilitate the interregional transfer of people who are in a
situation of gender-based violence and their dependents, if
any.
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69
BOLIVIA
The Office of the Comptroller General of the Plurinational State of
Bolivia evaluated the strategic actions for the eradication of violence
against women in the 2019-2021 efforts, through the Ministry of
Justice and Institutional Transparency.
Since the enactment of Law No. 348 “Comprehensive Law to Guarantee Women a
Life Free of Violence” on March 9, 2013, Bolivia has implemented policies, plans an
d
actions related to combating violence against women, including the follo
wing:
Comprehensive Public Policy for a Dignified Life for Bolivian Women
2017-2022.
Action Plan “Against femicides and sexist violence”.
Actions to strengthen the pathways to assistance for women victims of
violence.
Multi-sectoral Plan for Advancing Depatriarchalization and Women’s Right to
Live Well.
During the 2019 to 2021 efforts, the optimal level of effectiveness was achieved
(greater than or equal to 70%), according to the indicator described i
n the Overall
Objective of the Audit (Issue pronouncement on the effectiveness of government
strategic actions on the eradication of violence against women), since
the degree of
effectiveness reached was 83.65%, i.e., it was effective.
Thus, it is established that government actions to address the problem o
f violence
against women reached the degree of effectiveness of 77.78%, in the State of Bolivia,
in the 2019 to 2021 efforts.
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70
The Ministry of Justice and Institutional Transparency, through
the General Directorate for the Prevention and Elimination
of All Forms of Gender-based and Generational Violence,
as a coordination mechanism with civil organizations, holds
meetings and workshops with women who have overcome
their situation of violence or those who wish to commit to
addressing issues of strengthening, actions and capacities
of the same; being spaces for dialogue and openness to
establish the joint work on coordinated actions of defined
themes, in favor of women’s rights and prevention of
gender-based violence.
However, there is an insufficiency in the coordination actions
between the State and social organizations to combat
violence against women, consider their opinions, suggestions
and proposals in the formulation of policies, programs, and
projects and carry out joint actions to combat the problem.
The Inter-American Convention to on the Prevention,
Punishmnet and Eradication of Violence against Women,
Belém do Pará,” ratified by the Bolivian State with Law No.
1599 of October 11, 1994, defines that violence against
women should be understood as any action or conduct, based
on their gender, that causes death, damage or physical,
sexual or psychological suffering, both in the public and
private spheres.
The types of violence covered by state policies, plans and
strategic actions are in accordance with those defined in the
Inter-American Belém do Pará Convention to prevent, punish
and eradicate violence against women.
CIVIL SOCIETY
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In the audited period, the Bolivian State, through the Inter-
institutional Committee on the Goals of the PDES and
Sustainable Development –CIMPDS– and the Social and
Economic Policy Analysis Unit, evaluated compliance with
target 5.2 of the Sustainable Development Goal “Gender
equality and empowerment of women” –SDG5– .
For indicator 5.2.1 of Goal 5.2 of SDG5, the required data
such as the type of violence or age has been considered,
concluding that in the last 12 months of every 100 women
married or in free union – prior to the Survey on the Prevalence
and Characteristics of Violence against Women –EPCVcM, for
its Spanish acronym– 44 of them have lived or are living in
situations of violence in their relationship.
As for indicator 5.2.2, the information generated by the
EPCVcM only provides data on “women aged 15 years or
older who have experienced sexual gender-based violence
in the social sphere in the last twelve months,” with 21.4%
of women in situations of violence. However, the EPCVcM
generated information on “women aged 15 years or older
who have experienced some type of violence in the social,
educational and labor spheres throughout their lives,” with
42.9%, 64.7% and 61.3%, respectively, which are considered
by the Social and Economic Policy Analysis Unit –UDAPE, for
its Spanish acronym–, to measure compliance with Target 5.2,
indicator 5.2.2.
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Although there is information on the budget allocation that
was executed in the years 2019 to 2021, there is no exclusive
budgetary information on violence against women.
It is established that the resources executed in strategic
actions to address the problem of violence against women
reached the degree of effectiveness of 73.17% in the
Plurinational State of Bolivia in the years 2019 to 2021.
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RESOURCES
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72 In the years 2019 and 2020, the Plurinational Service for
Women and Depatriarchalization –SEPMUD, for its Spanish
acronym– did not establish the follow-up, monitoring, and
evaluation of the application of regulations and public
policies as a strategic action within the scope of its functions.
Consequently, the impact of SEPMUD’s actions on the
eradication of violence against women remains unknown, as
reported in SEPMUD-UMEPP-INF-Z-9-2023.
Thus, the absence of monitoring and evaluation of the
implementation of public regulations and policies to eradicate
violence against women is evident given the high rates of
violence in the country.
FOLLOW-UP
AND/OR
ACCOMPANIMENT
The indicator was established regarding measures taken by
the State during the pandemic period related to the issue of
violence against women, due to the measures that had to be
carried out by the State during the pandemic.
It is established that the responses of the Plurinational State
of Bolivia to address violence against women, during the
pandemic, reached the degree of effectiveness of 100%, in
fiscal years 2019 to 2021.
To obtain this result, this analysis was based on the fulfillment
of the actions carried out, namely: reinforced existing
measures, new measures adopted, strengthening of remote
assistance channels, and the existence of a follow-up and/or
accompaniment mechanism.
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BRAZIL
Regarding federal actions to combat violence against women in Brazil,
it was noted that, due to the complex nature of the problem, addressing
it would require initiatives across virtually the entire spectrum of state
activities.
Eleven (11) initiatives were carried out between the Ministry of Women, Family and
Human Rights; Ministry of Justice and Public Security; National Council
of Justice;
National Council of the Public Ministry; and, the Federal Senate, to pre
vent, punish,
and eradicate gender-based violence. Of these eleven initiatives, the Women’s Care
Center, known as Call-180, of the Ministry of Women, Family and Human Rights,
was evaluated.
Based on the audit team’s report, it is verified that the Women’s Care Center fulfills
its intended objectives and has qualified personnel to provide the expec
ted services.
Although there is no legal definition, a publication of the
Ministry of Human Rights and Citizenship –MMFDH– defines
the Network to Combat Violence against Women as the
action articulated between governmental, non-governmental,
and community institutions/services to develop effective
prevention strategies and policies that ensure the
empowerment and autonomy of women, their human rights,
the accountability of aggressors and providing qualified
assistance to women in situations of violence.
Although existing legislation in Brazil that establishes the
governance structure, plans, policies, and programs to
combat violence against women mentions the importance
of coordination and integration among actors involved
in combating violence against women and envisions the
participation of civil society in the National Plan to Combat
Femicide, there is no mention of mechanisms for integration
between the state and civil society organizations to combat
violence against women. In other words, no described
mechanism is formalized at the national level, both in design
and in the monitoring and improvement of programs or actions
related to combating violence against women.
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The Inter-American Convention on the Prevention,
Punishment, and Eradication of Violence against Women,
the Belém do Pará Convention, was ratified by Brazil on
November 27, 1995. Brazil committed to include in its internal
legislation criminal, civil, and administrative regulations to
prevent, punish, and eradicate violence against women. This
opened space for new possibilities of protection and legal
protection for women.
Along these lines, in 2006, the Maria da Penha Law introduced
mechanisms into the Brazilian legal system to curb domestic
and family violence against women.
Therefore, it is concluded that the plans and programs
implemented in Brazil to combat violence against women
in all its forms are in accordance with the Inter-American
Convention on the Prevention, Punishment, and Eradication
of Violence against Women –the “Belém do Pará Convention,”
with a primary focus on domestic violence and femicide.
Regarding the commitment to eradicate violence against
women, it was determined that there are gaps in achieving
the eradication of violence.
Furthermore, due to the limitations of the work, it was not
possible to assess the gaps that Brazil needs to address to
fulfill its commitment to eradicate VAW.
As for the specific actions identified to meet the objectives of
SDG target 5.1, all federal actions are part of this evaluation.
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Only two of the eleven initiatives in this audit examination have
allocated budgets for the years 2019 to 2021: the Women’s
Care Center (Call 180) and the Brazilian Women’s House
action. Regarding the Digital Portal, although there was a
budget forecast to implement the program, these resources
were not executed as the program was not implemented. The
budgets of the actions reported below are not distributed by
physical, financial, technological, and human resources.
It was not possible to assess whether the resources allocated
to the audited policies, programs, and/or actions made it
possible to achieve the objectives of the program.
USE OF
RESOURCES
It was not possible to assess whether the mechanisms for
follow-up and/or support of women in situations of violence
were implemented during the pandemic, whether those
mechanisms had defined objectives, whether they achieved
those objectives, as well as their strengths and weaknesses.
FOLLOW-UP AND
ACCOMPANIMENT
According to the 2020 CEDAW Accountability Report, in
relation to the measures implemented to address violence
against women in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic,
Brazil, through the elaboration of the Contingency Plan
for Domestic Violence Against Women in the Context of
COVID-19, both reinforced existing measures and contributed
new ones to address the problem.
However, it was not possible to assess whether the
reinforcement of actions or the new measures promoted the
seeking of assistance by women who suffered violence, as
well as whether the reinforced actions or the new measures
adopted by the State during the pandemic achieved their
objectives.
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76
CHILE
The actions, instructions and guidelines aimed at preventing,
addressing and eradicating violence against women are provided by
the Undersecretariat for Women and Gender Equality, the National
Service for Women and Gender Equity, the Undersecretariat for
Foreign Affairs, the Undersecretariat for Social Evaluation, the
Undersecretariat for Crime Prevention, the Carabineros de Chile, the
Police Investigations Department and the National Statistics Institute
were analyzed. The analysis considered the following programs:
Program for the Prevention of Violence against Women of the National
Service for Women and Gender Equity –SERNAMEG, for its Spanish
acronym–.
SERNAMEG’s Program for Assistance, Protection and Reparation in
Violence against Women.
The Victim Support Program of the Undersecretariat of Crime Prevention.
The study found ineffectiveness in the implementation of the National Plan of Action
for Violence against Women 2021-2030, and the Fourth National Plan for Equality
between Women and Men 2018-2030 (Undersecretariat for Women and Gender
Equality).
The 2021-2030 National Plan against Violence toward Women
states that there must be a technical committee composed of
the counterparts of the Intersectoral Circuit of Femicides, CIF.
This committee must design and implement an Observatory
on gender-based violence with members of civil society. It
also indicates that MMYEG campaigns on violence against
women should be disseminated with the collaboration of civil
society and members of the Civil Society Council –COSOC,
for its Spanish acronym–.
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77
In this sense, the ineffectiveness of the mechanisms of
coordination with civil society to consider the opinions and
experiences of these organizations was detected.
It was reported that civil society participation mechanisms
have not been implemented in the formulation, execution and/
or evaluation of two of the government programs analyzed in
this audit: a) “Prevention of violence against women;” and, b)
“Care, protection and reparation for violence against women.”
CIVIL SOCIETY
The State of Chile considers in its public policies, programs
and regulations the three types of violence included in The
Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment,
and Eradication of Violence against Women, Belém do
Pará of 1994 (physical, sexual and psychological violence)
since it has the Program of assistance, protection and
reparation for violence against women and the Prevention
Program for violence against women, which are implemented
by the National Service for Women and Gender Equity
– SERNAMEG–. In addition, the Undersecretariat for Crime
Prevention –SPD, for its Spanish acronym– developed the
Victim Support Program.
TYPES OF
VIOLENCE
Regarding target 5.2 of the SDGs, outdated and lack of
information is detected in indicators related to target 5.2 of the
SDGs. Crucial weaknesses in the fulfillment of the programs
and lack of coordination between the different public agencies
were evident.
As reported by the National Statistics Institute –INE–, based
on the Survey on Violence against Women in the Field of
Domestic Violence and Other Spaces –ENVIF-VCM, for its
Spanish acronym–, the SPD reports indicators to the Sub-
Commission on Gender Statistics, where they make a set
of gender indicators on different topics available to citizens.
This subcommission has published a series of indicators
related to gender-based violence that, in general, are updated
periodically.
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78
In relation to target 5.2 and its indicators 5.2.1 and 5.2.2,
it was verified that the source used to report indicators
according to the public information on the website –Chile
agenda 2023– corresponds to the 2012 survey, without these
indicators having been updated as of the date of the audit,
even though the last survey was applied in 2020.
The above implies that the country does not have up-to-date,
quality information with an appropriate level of disaggregation
regarding the data required to measure the progress of the
indicators associated with the aforementioned target 5.2 of
the SDGs.
During the period of the audit, the resources necessary for the
execution and follow-up of the audited state policies, programs
and/or actions have not been identified in all the public bodies
audited and, consequently, not all have an allocated budget
for this purpose during the audit review period.
In addition, there is an identified lack of diagnosis of the
resources of the audited entities that are part of the CIF
(Carabineros de Chile, Police Investigations, Undersecretary
for Women and Gender Equality, SERNAMEG, Undersecretary
for Crime Prevention). The foregoing was obtained from
applying a survey to the CIF member agencies, where it
is concluded that most of the entities have not carried out
diagnoses of necessary resources or those executed.
This situation warns about the likelihood that the State of
Chile does not have sufficient resources in a timely manner
to achieve the objectives defined in the policies, programs or
plans linked to eradicating violence against women.
USE OF
RESOURCES
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79
The absence of evaluation and follow-up of compliance
with the Coronavirus contingency plan was detected in the
Institutional Contingency Plan.
The Undersecretariat for Women and Gender Equity reports
that the measures of the aforementioned plan sought to
provide continuity of assistance in the Women’s Centers,
Centers for Assistance and Reparation for Women Victims of
Sexual Violence and Shelters, whether it be actions of remote
assistance shifts, telephone contact when it was not possible
to attend in person, application of care and assistance
protocols for users and staff, as well as measures to operate
and implement measures to prevent infections, among others.
In this sense, the following were identified as shortcomings
of the initiative:
• Lack of follow-up actions carried out on women victims of
violence.
• Absence of records of such actions in the People
Management System –SGP, for its Spanish acronym–.
• Failure to comply with the number of follow-up actions
to be carried out according to the type of output of each
assistance device.
• Lack of documentary records – in physical folders – related
to follow-ups recorded in the SGP system.
FOLLOW-UP
AND/OR
ACCOMPANIMENT
In relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Institutional
Contingency Plan was approved in the context of the health
emergency, giving continuity to the operation of the different
devices of the SERNAMEG APR program, strengthening the
Guidance and information forum and promoting dissemination
actions and instruments.
It concluded on the ineffectiveness of the “COVID-19
Mask” initiative implemented during the COVID-19 health
contingency, given that various control weaknesses were
verified, such as delay in the contact of the victim of violence,
non-compliance in the collection of data of women victims
of violence by the collaborating pharmacies and lack of
accreditation of adherence to the initiative by them.
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80
COSTA RICA
The actions of the Costa Rican public institutions were audited, in
relation to the following three aspects.
The establishment of favorable conditions for the prevention, assistance

and reparation of violence against women.
The application of the Inter-institutional Protocol for Comprehensive Ca
re
for Victims of Sexual Rape in the first 72 hours of the Event, a document
prepared and implemented under the initiative and leadership of the
Judicial Branch.
The application of the Comprehensive Assistance Model for human
trafficking victims survivors, as well as the coordination actions of the
National Coalition Against the Smuggling of Migrants and Trafficking in
Persons –CONATT–.
In this context, Costa Rica has a robust regulatory framework for addres
sing the
problem of Violence against WOMEN –VAW –. Rated with a score of 1 point.
A robust regulatory framework is available, characterized by the followin
g:
It adheres to the international conventions signed by the country.
It addresses the types of violence set out in the Belém Do Pará Co
nvention.
It has made significant progress in classifying femicide.
Creation of a National System for the Attention and Prevention of Violence
against Women and Family Violence.
It has a specific national policy to address the problem called “Nati
onal
Policy for the attention and prevention of violence against women of all

ages Costa Rica 2017-2032 –PLANOVI, for its Spanish acronym–”.
Public institutions have a total of 31 action protocols, according to a
report
provided by the National Institute for Women –INAMU, for its Spanish
acronym–.
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81
Regarding the Costa Rica 2017-2032 National Policy for the assistance an
d
prevention of violence –PLANOVI– against women of all ages, it was detected that
the actions of require improvements in coordination to favor decision-ma
king.
Regarding the actions of assistance for cases of rape and women victims
of human
trafficking, it was determined that the actions for the assistance of rape –
detected in
the first 72 hours of the event– have limitations to determine their
effectiveness, while
the cases of women victims of human trafficking show partial effectiveness. In both
cases, the main limitation is the documentation of actions to verify the
achievement
of objectives and the timely decision-making for the execution of assist
ance, for
which in the case of rape victims detected in the first 72 hours, the report proposes
actions so that there is greater involvement by the Executive Branch.
Regarding the 2020-2030 National Policy against Human Trafficking, it is determined
that the Policy achieves the objective for which it was created since it achieves the
restitution of women victims of human trafficking; however, there is a gap between the
number of cases that are administratively accredited as victims of human
trafficking
in relation to the judgments of this crime, only 5% of the cases accredi
ted from 2019
to 2021 have a judgment with this crime.
There are formal mechanisms for communication and
engagement with civil society; however, there is an opportunity
to improve communication channels with these organizations.
In this sense, the conditions of the linkage with civil society
are evaluated by this audit as moderately favorable, with a
score of 0.7.
CIVIL SOCIETY
Costa Rica’s regulatory framework for addressing the problem
of violence against women is robust, adheres to international
conventions, addresses the types of violence established in
the Belém Do Pará Convention, and has made progress in
criminalizing femicide.
The National Policy for the Attention and Prevention of
Violence against Women is aligned with the Belém do Pará
Convention in aspects such as the recognition of the types
of violence.
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82
According to the analysis carried out, it was determined
that, in general, the conditions in the country are moderately
favorable to achieve a comprehensive approach to the
problems associated with VAW, leading to the eradication of
this type of violence.
An example of this is Law No. 9095, which created the National
Coalition against the Smuggling of Migrants and Trafficking
in Persons –CONATT–. This Coalition addresses human
trafficking, which is one of the types of violence identified in
SDG target 5.2. To this end, the 2030 National Policy against
Trafficking in Persons –PNTP, for its Spanish acronym– is
available, which provides guidelines for the prevention and
fight against the crimes of trafficking in persons, smuggling of
migrants, and other related activities.
Thus, it is indicated that there is a robust regulatory framework
characterized by adherence to the international conventions
signed by the country, which addresses the types of violence
established in the Belém do Pará Convention.
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A multi-annual estimate of the resources required to meet
the goals and objectives of the PLANOVI Policy is lacking. In
addition, in the evaluated period, resources were redeployed
that impacted the reprogramming or elimination of actions
by virtue of the assistance of the national emergency due
to COVID-19. Instead, each institution does the exercise of
annually estimating what it requires to meet the goals of the
Policy as part of its annual operational planning. In this sense,
the conditions of use of resources are evaluated by this audit
as moderately favorable, with a score of 0.7.
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83
Currently, there is a lack of knowledge of the effects and
impacts produced by public policy actions in the search for
the eradication of VAW. Thus, with the current PLANOVI being
the fourth national effort, an evaluation has not been carried
out to determine the contribution of its actions. In this way,
the contributions and possible institutional gaps to achieve
progress in the eradication of VAW by 2030, according to the
sustainable development goals (target 5.2), are unknown.
Regarding actions of assistance for victims of trafficking,
there are weaknesses in the coordination and oversight of
public policy actions that are due to the lack of information
systems and the application of tools that support monitoring
by CONATT. It should be noted that the PNTP is accompanied
by a Strategic Plan that has a matrix; however, this tool has
not yet been used to monitor actions and lacks a mechanism
to quantify progress in achieving Public Policy.
FOLLOW-UP
AND/OR AND
ACCOMPANIMENT
According to the actions that were reinforced and the new
measures adopted by the State in favor of eradicating VAW
during the pandemic period, the strategy of networks that are
the local spaces where the policy is implemented through the
creation of guidelines for Networks of Care and Prevention of
VAW and the dissemination, in social networks, of information
aimed at women, the assistance was also extended to the
telephone, thanks to international cooperation through whose
support 22 cell phones were loaned with their lines in order to
offer this assistance remotely. After the pandemic, in-person
assistance was resumed, virtual assistance was reinforced
and information, guidance and referrals were provided through
INAMU’s social networks.
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84
ECUADOR
The Ecuadorian State has taken actions to prevent, eradicate and punish
violence against women, including the issuance of the Comprehensive
Organic Law to Prevent and Eradicate Violence against Women
–LOIPEVM, for its Spanish acronym– enacted in 2018, and its general
regulations, as well as the creation of the Ministry of Women and
Human Rights, formerly the Secretariat for Human Rights.
In 2018 and 2021, reforms were made to the Comprehensive Organic Crimina
l Code,
which recognizes psychological and sexual violence against women as form
s of
violence.
Through the Council of the Judicial Branch, there is information on the legal processes
reported by victims of gender-based violence in accordance with the prov
isions of
the Comprehensive Organic Criminal Code, information that serves as a ba
sis for
decision-making in issuing public policies.
The current Secretary of Human Rights, Ministry of Women
and Human Rights, determined Institutional Strategic
Objectives and indicators related to the number of coordination
mechanisms carried out in inter-institutional roundtables,
workshops, and coordination spaces, with the participation of
civil society organizations, private sector, social organizations
and academia that have allowed the participation of these
organizations and their involvement in the prevention and
fight to end violence against women.
CIVIL SOCIETY
7 types of violence against women are recognized: physical,
psychological, sexual, economic and patrimonial, symbolic,
political, and obstetric gynecology, which are regulated by
the Comprehensive Organic Law to Prevent and Eradicate
Violence against Women –LOIPEVM– and sanctioned by the
Comprehensive Organic Criminal Code.
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85
Within the development plans, aligned with SDG 5, of the
Ecuadorian State to eradicate violence against women,
the 2017-2021 National Development Plan “All One Life”
stands out, within which Policy 1.10 was defined as related
to “Eradicating all forms of discrimination and violence for
economic, social, cultural, religious, ethnic, age, disability
and human mobility reasons, with emphasis on gender-based
violence and its different manifestations;” and, as Targets
“Reducing the femicide rate from 0.85 to 0.82 per 100,000
women by 2021. Likewise, the 2021-2025 Opportunity
Creation Plan sought to create new job opportunities in
decent conditions, to promote labor inclusion, and to improve
contractual modalities, with emphasis on reducing equality
gaps and assistance to priority groups, young people, women
and LGBTI+ people. The 2020-2030 National Plan to Prevent
and Eradicate Violence against Women, whose goals, targets
and policies were prepared by the Ministry of Human Rights,
Undersecretariat for the Prevention and Eradication of
Violence against Women, Children and Adolescents, contains
the coordination and planning of prevention, protection,
assistance and reparation actions, in order for public policy to
be effective, with legal and psychological advice and shelters,
where the Public Defender’s Office provides free counseling
and sponsorship services in cases of domestic violence.
However, the strategic objectives to eradicate gender-based
violence developed by the Secretariat for Human Rights are
incomplete, because there is no baseline to assess their
management compliance and effectiveness.
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86
In 2019, the II “National Survey of Family Relations and
Gender-based Violence against Women” was carried out to
promote the production and strengthening of information on
gender and priority groups through the design, development
and implementation of plans and projects in statistical matters
to guarantee compliance with the National Development
Agenda, the Sectorial and Territorial Agendas, and
international development plans. The Secretariat of Human
Rights, now the Ministry of Women and Human Rights, on
April 9, 2018, the Specific Agreement on Transfer of Public
Resources with the Institute of Statistics and Censuses
– INEC, for its Spanish acronym– and on March 14, 2019,
the modifying addendum for the realization of the National
Survey on Family Relationships and Gender Violence against
Women –ENVIGMU, for its Spanish acronym– with a budget
of 876,862.09 USD. As planned, the survey was carried
out between June and August 2019, aimed at women aged
15 years and older. It involved processes that allowed the
identification of the types of violence existing in the country,
including the assessment of gynecological-obstetric violence
for the first time.
Furthermore, the entities that make up the National
Comprehensive System for the Prevention and Eradication
of Violence against Women, from 2019 to 2022, concerning
the allocated budget for the eradication, prevention, and
punishment of gender-based violence, have partially used the
Classifier of Expenditure Orientation in Equality Policies, as it
lacks updated and complete information about the resources
allocated for activities related to gender-based violence.
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The Organic Integral Law for the Prevention and Eradication of
Violence against Women –LOIPEVM– established the National
Comprehensive System for the Prevention and Eradication of
Violence against Women. This entity is composed of 22 public
sector organizations related to health, education, justice,
security, and employment, among others, to prevent and
eradicate violence against women by designing, formulating,
implementing, supervising, monitoring, and evaluating
standards, policies, programs, mechanisms, and actions at all
levels of government in a coordinated and articulated manner.
Its leadership falls under the body responsible for Justice and
Human Rights and Cults, which is now the Ministry of Women
and Human Rights.
FOLLOW-UP
AND/OR
ACCOMPANIMENT
The Ecuadorian State during the COVID-19 health emergency
implemented what was described in the Comprehensive
Organic Law that determines the Early Warning System,
which is a mechanism that prevents femicide, through the
analysis of information through the activation of protection
and assistance services
Additionally, a Protocol for the assistance of gender-
based violence victims under the teleworking modality was
developed by the Secretariat of Human Rights, in order to
provide guidance and technical inputs for the specialized
teams of the Comprehensive Protection Services –SPI, for its
Spanish acronym– to provide a comprehensive response to
victims of gender-based violence.
Similarly, a communication and assistance protocol for gender
and domestic violence cases during the health emergency
was established to define the procedure for communication
and handling of gender and domestic violence cases.
It’s worth noting that the country is implementing the Unique
Violence Registry –RUV, for its Spanish acronym– to have
complete, updated, and consolidated information about
data related to violence against women. This information is
generated by the entities that make up the registry to facilitate
rapid decision-making at the government level.
VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN
IN A PANDEMIC
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GUATEMALA
In Guatemala, the Ministry of the Interior is the governing body of
the National Policy for the Prevention of Violence and Crime, Citizen
Security and Peaceful Coexistence of the country. The policy designed
by the Ministry is made up of five priority strategic axes, including the
prevention of violence against women. During the 2019-2021 period,
46,850 people were trained on issues of citizen security and violence
prevention.
During the years 2020 and 2021, the Secretariat against Sexual Violence, Exploitation
and Trafficking in Persons of Guatemala, which is the leading institution in the
advice
and implementation of measures against sexual violence, exploitation and
trafficking
in persons, implemented the National Plan for the Prevention of Sexual V
iolence,
Exploitation and Trafficking in Persons crimes, executed at the national level by the
Directorate of Monitoring and Statistics. In the 2019-2021 period, 280,0
66 people
were trained in the prevention of sexual violence, exploitation and huma
n trafficking.
CIVIL SOCIETY
The Ministry of the Interior in Guatemala established mechanisms
for collaboration with civil society regarding the design and
implementation of policies, programs, and actions related
to addressing violence against women. These actions were
carried out through the Departmental Governorships, Municipal
Women’s Directorates, involving community leaders, and
budgetary support provided to the non-profit Civil Association
“Guatemalan Women’s Group –GGM, for its Spanish acronym–.”
The Secretariat against Sexual Violence, Exploitation, and
Human Trafficking established the Interinstitutional Commission
against Trafficking in Persons –CIT Networks, for its Spanish
acronym–, Networks for Sexual Violence, Exploitation, and
Trafficking in Persons –VET Networks, for its Spanish acronym–,
Departmental Commission for the Prevention of Sexual
Violence, Exploitation, and Trafficking in Persons –CODEVET,
for its Spanish acronym– and the Thematic Committee for the
Prevention of Sexual Violence, Exploitation and Trafficking in
Persons of the Social Development Cabinet.
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In its policies, the Ministry of the Interior of Guatemala
covered physical, sexual and psychological violence, which
are established by the Belém do Pará Convention, through the
2014-2034 National Policy for the Prevention of Violence and
Crime, Citizen Security and Peaceful Coexistence.
Likewise, the Secretariat against Sexual Violence, Exploitation
and Trafficking in Persons covered the treatment of types
of sexual violence in accordance with its powers as a state
advisor.
TYPES OF
VIOLENCE
The Ministry of the Interior highlights the need to strengthen
inter-institutional commitment and effective compliance for
the implementation and execution of plans, programs and
projects linked to the prevention of violence against women.
Guatemala, through the Secretariat against Sexual Violence,
Exploitation and Trafficking in Persons, highlights that the
gaps in eradicating violence against women are the high level
of impunity in the country, access to justice, lack of assistance,
protection and reparation services for survivors and primary
prevention, awareness and advocacy.
ERADICATING
VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN
The Ministry of the Interior, through the Unit for the Community
Prevention of Violence, allocates resources to achieve the
objectives of the Strategic Axis for the Prevention of Violence
against Women, which have not been sufficient for the design
and implementation of management indicators that allow
measuring progress, limitations, as well as the monitoring of
the resources allocated.
The Secretariat against Sexual Violence, Exploitation and
Trafficking in Persons allocates resources to carry out
awareness-raising, information, training and support actions
for the Departmental Networks against VET crimes.
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In Guatemala, the Ministry of the Interior implemented
measures to identify and assist women experiencing violence
during the COVID-19 pandemic. These measures included the
use of informational materials such as the “Violentometer,”
which helps identify emotionally or physically abusive partner
relationships. A plan for preventing violence against women
in departments bordering Mexico, called “The powers of
prevention,” was created along with campaigns such as “Break
the Silence” and “Quarantine without Violence.” The National
Civil Police, through its call center, received nearly 25,000
calls related to violence against women during the audited
period, which allowed for the implementation of actions and
campaigns through the Ministry of the Interior departments.
The Secretariat against Sexual Violence, Exploitation, and
Human Trafficking implemented measures to identify and
assist women experiencing violence during the pandemic. It
instructed the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance
to implement security measures within hospitals and medical
facilities to consider differentiated spaces for the needs of
each population group. The Secretariat provided services and
assistance at the specialized temporary shelter for female
migrants who are victims of sexual violence, exploitation, and
human trafficking.
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IN A PANDEMIC
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The Ministry of the Interior adopted follow-up and
accompaniment mechanisms through Executive Unit 213 for
Community Violence Prevention, providing virtual and face-
to-face psychological assistance through the Program for the
Prevention and Eradication of Domestic Violence –PROPEVI,
for its Spanish acronym–; however, it was determined that
the communication mechanisms were not effective due to the
lack of advertising campaigns for the prevention of violence
against women in the Mayan, Xinca and Garifuna languages.
Likewise, it was verified that the Secretariat against Sexual
Violence, Exploitation and Trafficking in Persons, effectively
adopted mechanisms to follow up and accompany women
in situations of violence in a timely manner, in addition,
it managed workshops and training for strengthening the
competencies of the multi-disciplinary staff that provides
specialized assistance in the Specialized Temporary Shelter
for migrant women victims of sexual violence, exploitation and
trafficking in persons, within the context of COVID-19. It also
coordinated workshops with the International Committee of
the Red Cross of Guatemala and with Universidad Galileo,
through which the shelter staff strengthened their knowledge
in issues of Biological Risk and Biosafety at work, and also,
on the recommendations of the Human Rights Ombudsman
Office, an epidemiological nexus card was implemented for
COVID-19 prevention, at the reception and admission of the
sheltered persons.
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HONDURAS
The legal, regulatory and structural actions existing in the Honduran
system in terms of prevention, assistance and punishment, aimed at
eradicating all forms of discrimination against women, were analyzed,
verifying the due application of the National Women’s Policy in order to
establish the effectiveness and efficiency of the actions implemented
.
During the audited period, the actions of the Presidential Program Ciudad Mujer
were specifically considered, in its role as Executive Body of the National Women’s
Policy, and at the same time, elevated to the rank of National Policy.
Honduras has developed and implemented policies, programs, plans and/or
actions
with the aim of providing protection and guaranteeing the right of women
, girls and
adolescents to peace and a life free of violence; however, despite all the efforts made,
it became evident that these actions have not been effective, as problems persist in
the application of the Law, nor is there a system for monitoring the entities involved
in the prevention and application of justice. There is also little or no sensitivity on
the part of legislators, operators and justice providers and a lack of i
nvestigation
and impunity surrounding most of the cases that perpetuate male violence
in that
country. The country has not ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention on
the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women –CEDAW–, which allows
women to denounce acts of discrimination carried out or tolerated by the
State,
causing the loss of the enjoyment of access to human rights of women in situations
of violence.
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Civil Society in Honduras is made up of organizations
representing sectors of the vulnerable population, including
women’s networks and organizations, small and medium-
sized enterprises, human rights organizations, peasant
and workers’ organizations, LGBTQ+ community and non-
governmental organizations. However, these have functioned
only partially, due to budgetary restrictions, and there is no
correct application of current regulations.
There are mechanisms of articulation between the State of
Honduras and the Civil Society, in the design and execution
of policies, programs and/or actions to face violence against
women, through the creation of local commissions and
committees, even so, the mechanisms that are formalized are
those convened by the Government and those convened by
the Civil Society are not yet formalized.
CIVIL SOCIETY
The State of Honduras has based the appropriate regulations,
institutional instruments and procedures to provide
comprehensive assistance to women in situations of violence,
in accordance with the commitments acquired in the The
Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment,
and Eradication of Violence against Women ”Belém Do Pará
Convention.”
In Honduras, the most recurrent or most reported types of
violence before the National Police and the Courts of First
Instance, and which constitute one of the first causes of
morbidity in women of reproductive age, are: domestic
violence, domestic violence, femicide, acts of lust, rape,
commercial sexual exploitation, harassment and rape, the
latter as the most reported act of violence against women.
These crimes are defined in the Honduran Criminal Code.
TYPES OF
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The review included the knowledge and analysis of the existing
regulatory and structural framework in Honduras in the
following dimensions: prevention, protection, and punishment,
for the eradication of violence against women and its linkage
with government plans and the 2030 National Agenda for
the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals
– SDGs–, specifically SDG 5, and target 5.2.
It was evidenced that there is a link or consonance between
the fulfillment of this and National Government Plans since
the internal regulations identified instruments –policies,
strategies, programs and institutions that regulate each of
the eight (8) factors contained in SDG 5; which constitutes
a substantive basis for its implementation in the national
context since, in some targets of the SDGs, it is urged to be
incorporated into these Plans.
In order to address violence against women, the State of
Honduras has implemented, among others, the National
Women’s Policy: I National Equal Opportunities Plan
(2002-2007) and II Honduran Gender Equality and Equity
Plan (2010-2022); the Presidential Program Ciudad Mujer;
the National Solidarity Credit Program for Rural Women
– CREDIMUJER, for its Spanish acronym–; the Municipal
Women’s Office –OMM, for its Spanish acronym– and the
Strategy for Gender Equality and Equity of the Ministry of
Education.
ERADICATING
VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN
The financial resources were used “efficiently” by the Ciudad
Mujer Presidential Program, at the same time, they were
“effective” in meeting the goals and objectives established
in the Annual Operational Plans for fiscal years 2019,
2020 and 2021. The National Directorate of the Ciudad
Mujer Program reports that in relation to the services and
care provided by each of its modules, it was found that the
different institutions providing services, which are part of the
Interinstitutional Framework Agreement for the qualification,
operation, regulation and sustainability of the Ciudad Mujer
Program, are not accountable for the services provided in
terms of the operating expenses of the modules, including the
material resources and the assigned personnel, which must
be recorded in a differentiated manner in their Budget and
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Annual Operating Plan, and must be sent periodically to the
National Directorate of the Program.
For the execution of resources allocated to national programs
to prevent violence against women, failed bidding processes,
and reduction and freezing of funds were detected, among
others. It was evidenced that the relationship between the
Ciudad Mujer Program and the Secretariat of Women’s Affairs
– SEMUJER, for its Spanish acronym–, which is currently
the governing body of public gender policies, does not have
an open channel for access to information, nor guidelines
for coordination and articulation between the two, limiting
faithful compliance with the National Women’s Policy; it is
worth mentioning that the Program is an entity attached to
the Secretariat of Women’s Affairs according to PCM-05-2022;
article 3.
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RESOURCES
In Honduras, during the time of confinement due to the
COVID-19 Pandemic, a Legislative Decree was issued,
ordering to provide “face-to-face assistance” to women in
situations of violence, through the Module of Attention and
Protection of Women’s Rights –MAPRODEM, for its Spanish
acronym–, a module belonging to the Presidential Program
Ciudad Mujer.
However, it was evidenced that the Module of Attention and
Protection of Women’s Rights of the Presidential Program
Ciudad Mujer, was not operating in person during the period of
the National Emergency due to the COVID-19 Pandemic; even
though through provisions of the Government of the Republic
it was ordered that the assistance centers for women who
suffer violence should remain open. For this reason, in the
critical period of the Pandemic, there were no accompanying
mechanisms or face-to-face follow-up for assistance in
violence against women.
It was verified that the Digital Platform CONECTA, created
as an online assistance mechanism, has some drawbacks in
terms of its use; therefore, it is established that there was
a lack of assistance from the representatives of the Ciudad
Mujer Program and the Secretariat of Women’s Affairs when
addressing the provisions of Legislative Decree No. 99-2020.
VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN
IN A PANDEMIC
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During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Honduran government
decreed special measures for the dissemination, prevention,
and assistance of violence against women and actions to
ensure gender equality. These measures included granting
exceptions to restrictions on the free movement of people
contained in the Executive Decrees suspending guarantees
issued during the pandemic. These exceptions applied to
anyone who could be accredited as a defender of women’s
rights, including members of shelters and organizations
providing attention and accompaniment for cases of violence
against women, as stated in Article No. 5. Furthermore, the
government instructed that attention centers for women
experiencing violence, authorized by the National Institute
for Women –INAM, for its Spanish acronym– at the national
level, including the Violence Module of “Ciudad Mujer”
– MAPRODEM–, should remain open and in operation
throughout the national emergency to ensure psychological
and legal assistance.
However, it was observed that during the pandemic, only the
Sexual and Reproductive Health Module operated in person,
while the other five modules operated virtually due to orders
from the officials representing these institutions. There was
also a lack of evidence supporting when the heads of these
institutions communicated the suspension or resumption of in-
person activities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
FOLLOW-UP
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MEXICO
From 2019 to 2021, Mexico had four programs to address violence
against women:
1. 2021-2024Comprehensive Program;
2. Budget Program E015 “Promoting the attention and prevention of violen
ce
against women;”
3. Budgetary program S155 “Support Program for the Instances of Women in
the Federal Entities;” and
4. Budgetary program U012 “Support Program for Specialized Shelters for
Women Victims of Gender-based violence, and their children.”
Regarding compliance, it is necessary to develop an effectiveness evaluation at
the end of the term of the Comprehensive Program. The National Commission to
Prevent and Eradicate Violence against Women, a public institution that is in charge
of developing and coordinating the public policy on women’s access to a life free of
violence, did not have the effectiveness evaluation of the 2014-2018 Comprehensive
Program for the period due to the lack of budget; however, it began efforts in 2022 in
coordination with the National Institute for Women to develop research questions to
guide the preparation of the effectiveness evaluation of the Comprehensive Program
for the 2021-2024 period.
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In 2019, the “Methodology for the preparation of the
Comprehensive Program” was created, in which citizen
participation was established in working groups to present
the diagnosis of the problem of violence against women in
order to promote the right of citizens to form instances of
participation and consultation in matters of women’s access
to a life free of violence.
Citizen participation in Mexico did not have a figure that
formally participates in all the processes of design and
implementation of the policy because it was only integrated
into some processes opened by the National Commission to
public opinion, so it was identified as an area for improvement
for the National Commission to promote the formalization
of citizen participation in the normative and operational
framework of the policy.
CIVIL SOCIETY
The Mexican State covers all types of violence against women
defined in the Belém do Pará Convention, since the General
Law on Women’s Access to a Life Free of Violence –General
Law– established the types of psychological, physical,
patrimonial, economic and sexual violence; and defined the
modalities of family, work, teacher, community, institutional,
political, digital, media and femicide violence. In the General
Law, obstetric violence was not established as a form of
violence against women.
TYPES OF
VIOLENCE
For the adoption of the SDGs, the Mexican State qualified the
services provided by the shelters and the Justice Centers for
Women as an essential activity, as well as those of any other
institution or instance of attention and prevention of violence
against women.
According to the indicators on violence modalities of the
Integrated System of Statistics on Violence against Women,
from 2016 to 2021, obstetric violence registered a decrease in
ERADICATING
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prevalence, going from 33.4% to 31.4%; workplace violence
increased from 26.6% to 27.9%; family or domestic violence
went from 10.3% to 11.4%, and media violence was not
measured in 2016 but in 2021 13.0% was recorded.
The commission reported, among the main achievements in
the fulfillment of target 5.2 of the SDGs, the implementation
of a strategy for free accommodation in hotels for women and
girls who are victims of violence in 13 cities of 11 Federal
Entities in partnership with the Spotlight Initiative, the private
initiative, the National Institute of Women, the National
Institute of Social Development, the Justice Centers for
Women, the Women’s Institutions in the Federal Entities and
the commission.
ERADICATING
VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN
From 2019 to 2021, $113,934,447.10 was spent on the
policy of access of women to a life free of violence, through
the Budget Programs E015 “Promote the assistance and
prevention of violence against women,” S155 “Support
Program for Women’s Institutions in the Federal Entities,” and
U012 “Support Program for Specialized Shelters for Women
Victims of Gender-based violence, and their children,” on
average, $37,978,149 dollars was spent annually to address
this problem, of which the resources spent on subsidies was
89.8% in 2019, 94.1% in 2020, and 93.8% in 2021.
The amount of resources to prevent, address and eradicate
violence against women was identified, with which the
objectives of the policy in this area are partially met. The
proportion of monetary resources allocated to physical,
financial and technological resources was not identified, so it
was not possible to verify their distribution.
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During the health emergency generated by COVID-19, the
follow-up and accompaniment mechanisms for women in
situations of violence implemented were: 1) 911 emergency
calls; 2) Justice Centers for Women; 3) Support Program for
Women’s Institutions in the Federal Entities; 4) Specialized
Shelters for Women Victims of Gender-based violence, and
their children, and 5) the implementation of new measures to
reinforce these mechanisms.
The National Commission pointed out that it did not have
evidence of instructions, public policies or extraordinary
actions that have been directed to the Women’s Justice
Centers in the context of the pandemic. The problem of
violence against women increased during the pandemic as
911 calls related to incidents against women from 2019 to
2021 registered a 4.4% percentage variation, increasing from
1,206,890 calls to 1,260,337 calls.
VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN
IN A PANDEMIC
In the Mexican State, the three budgetary programs, E015
“Promote assistance and prevention of violence against
women,” S155 “Support Program for Women’s Institutions in the
Federal Entities,” and U012 “Support Program for Specialized
Shelters for Women Victims of Gender-based violence, and
their children,” which were aimed at the assistance and
prevention of violence against women, continued to operate
during the COVID-19 health emergency.
No instruments were identified to measure whether the follow-
up and accompaniment mechanisms were sufficient and
timely since there was no follow-up or measurement of the
recurrence of violence in the Women’s Justice Centers, so the
effectiveness of the services provided to women in situations
of violence is unknown.
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PARAGUAY
In the Republic of Paraguay, the Ministry of Women is the governing
body of public policies for equality between men and women at the
national level.
It was evidenced that Socio-educational Programs were developed with Men
for
healthy and fair relationships in the family with the Let’s Talk on Time Campaign and
Dating without Violence – a call to block violence against women, among others.
However, no evaluations were carried out to measure the effectiveness of actions
and/or measures for the prevention, assistance and eradication of violen
ce against
women for follow-up and/or adjustments in policies, plans and programs c
ontributing
to the mitigation of violence against women. Additionally, there were no country-
level evaluations or representative measurements by the Ministry of Women to
demonstrate the reduction of gender gaps.
The Ministry of Women did not evaluate the management of the Ciudad Mujer
Center of Villa Elisa and Ciudad Mujer Mobile, planned for the year 2021; despite
the importance of its strategic line of action: “Development and strengthening of new
institutional management methodologies,” in order to address, optimize and improve
the primary, follow-up and accompaniment services provided to women and girls who
are victims of violence.
The Ministry of Women did not promote the participation
of Civil Society in the design and execution of policies,
programs and/or plans promoted to combat violence against
women, in breach of the provisions of Law No. 5777/16 “On
the Comprehensive Protection of Women, Against All Forms
of Violence.”
Since July 2019, the Ministry of Women has only worked with
2 Civil Society Organizations –CSOs–: the Coordinator for the
Rights of Children and Adolescents –CDIA, for its Spanish
acronym– and the Association of Technology, Education,
Development, Research and Communication –TEDIC, for
its Spanish acronym–, without complying with the current
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regulations regarding the number of CSOs, which should have
been involved in the design and implementation of policies,
programs and/or plans to combat violence against women.
The General Directorate of the Gender Observatory of the
Ministry of Popular Power for Women and Gender Equality
– MINMUJER, for its Spanish acronym– also failed to
conduct studies and research on violence against women in
coordination with public institutions and non-governmental
organizations in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 in breach of
current legislation.
Regarding the commitment assumed by the State of Paraguay
to comply with the Sustainable Development Goals, in
particular target 5.2, it was evidenced that the Ministry of
Women did not have the document or administrative act of
designation as responsible party and custodian of SDG 5 of
the 2030 Agenda, in the audited period.
The Ministry of Women did not proceed with the formation of
the SDG 5 “Gender Equality” Sub-Committee Promotion Team
for the fulfillment of the international commitments adopted by
Paraguay in the framework of the 2030 Agenda, in fiscal years
2019, 2020 and 2021.
ERADICATING
VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN
The Ministry of Women, for the execution of plans, programs
and activities in fiscal years 2019, 2020 and 2021, had
resources allocated in accordance with Budget Laws No.
6258/19, No. 6469/20 and No. 6672/21 for gender issues;
however, deficiencies were in the planning, programming and
execution of budgets were detected:
The Ministry of Women did not meet the established goal of
200 committees assisted for Subprogram 2 “Public Policy
Guidelines for Gender Equity” in fiscal year 2019, with a total
of 173 Committees, which represented an 87% execution of
what was initially planned.
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The lack of efficiency in the planning, programming and
execution of the budget assigned to Activity 2 “Promotion
and Control of Policies with an Equality Perspective” and
Activity 3 “Prevention of Violence against Women and Human
Trafficking” was reported for fiscal years 2020 and 2021,
considering that a low budget was assigned to Activity 2,
which represented 0.48% in 2020 and 0.23% in 2021 of the
total amount budgeted and for Activity 3, it represented 0.42%
in 2020 and 0.33% in 2021 of the total amount budgeted; in
addition, in fiscal year 2021, it had a low budget execution,
i.e., the Ministry of Women did not execute everything that
was planned.
The Ministry of Women did not meet the goal established for
the fiscal year 2021 of 225 actions for Activity 3: “Prevention
of Violence against Women and Human Trafficking,” carrying
out only 196 actions in relation to what was initially planned,
executing 75.83% of the allocated budget.
The goals established for Activity 5: “Comprehensive Care
for Women for Empowerment,” in fiscal years 2020 and 2021,
were not met, also presenting a low budget execution of 26%
and 34% respectively.
As verified in the Institutional Operational Plan –POI, for
its Spanish acronym– corresponding to fiscal years 2020
and 2021, for Activity 5: “Comprehensive Care for Women’s
Empowerment,” the goal of 58,061 services for the year 2020
was established; however, as evidenced in the 2020 Monthly
Physical/Financial Progress Report, 24,946 services were
performed, with a budget execution of
1,562,684,105,
which represented 26% of the assigned Budget, which was
6,010,995,219. Regarding the year 2021, the goal of 69,519
services was established; however, as evidenced in the 2021
Report, a total of 24,495 services were carried out with a
budget execution of
2,000,559,528, which represented
34% of the execution of the assigned Budget, which was
5,824,043,778.
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In Paraguay, as reinforced actions for the pandemic, new
measures were adopted, elaborated and implemented
in different protocols that allowed assistance, protection
and counseling, taking into account strict health control in
compliance with the measures dictated by the Ministry of
Public Health and Social Welfare:
• Protocol for the prevention, assistance and follow-up of
women victims/survivors of violence and women affected by
human trafficking of the Ministry of Women in the face of the
emergency due to the coronavirus (COVID-19). Resolution
No. 162/20.
• Action protocol for the entry of women with their children and
dependents who enter the shelters of the Ministry of Women
in the face of the coronavirus emergency (COVID-19).
Resolution No. 163/20.
• Protocol for admission and face-to-face assistance for
users of the Women’s Support Service –SEDAMUR, for its
Spanish acronym– during the health emergency situation
(COVID-19).
• Protocol for the assistance of women in situations of violence
and women affected by human trafficking, who comply with
mandatory quarantine in shelters of the Ministry of Women
in the event of a health emergency (COVID-19).
The WhatsApp line was implemented, as well as communication
campaigns, such as the public-private partnership called the
“Tapabocas 37 Campaign” as a strategy that gave women new
ways to escape the circle of violence.
Notwithstanding all of the above, there was a considerable
increase in cases of violence against women and girls
registered through the 137 SOS Line, with an increase of
3,057 calls, which represented 63% over the previous year,
and also registered 7,578 services, which represented an
increase of 85% (compared to 2019); in addition, the increase
in cases was sustained during 2020.
VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN
IN A PANDEMIC
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105
FOLLOW-UP AND
MONITORING
Weaknesses were found in the mechanisms of the Women’s
Support Service for Victims of Violence, attended for the first
time and in cases of follow-up, during fiscal years 2019, 2020
and 2021.
From the verifications carried out from the records of the
Women’s Support Service –SEDAMUR–, deficiencies were
evidenced in the recording of data for first-time cases and
follow-ups in the audited periods.
Furthermore, there was a lack of evidence of coordination and
collaboration between the Ministry of Women and other public
institutions to provide appropriate, efficient, and effective
services to victims of violence. Additionally, the Ministry did
not have a specific protocol for conducting follow-ups and
visits to women victims of violence to ensure the continuity
of services.
In this regard, At the close of the 2021 fiscal year, the
Ministry of Women did not have a Unified and Standardized
System for Recording Violence against Women to compile
data from public institutions related to services for victims
of violence against women and girls and human trafficking,
thus failing to comply with the provisions of Law No. 5777/16
“Comprehensive Protection for Women Against All Forms of
Violence.”
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106
PUERTO RICO
The scope and progress of the Women`s Advocate Office –OPM, for
its Spanish acronym– and the existing governance in the institutions
responsible for implementing public policies related to Target 5.2. of
the Sustainable Development Goals, in order to eradicate violence
against women, were evaluated.
Law 20-2001, Law on the Women’s Advocate Office – OPM Law–, establishes that
it is the public policy of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to guarantee
the full
development and respect of women’s human rights and the exercise and enjoyment
of their fundamental freedoms. It is also provided that the Attorney General’s Office
will have as a priority the achievement of affirmative actions by public and private
organizations to guarantee gender equity in those areas in which oppress
ion,
discrimination and marginalization persist, such as violence against women in
its different manifestations, lower pay for equal work, sexual harassment in th
e
workplace and educational institutions, the feminization of poverty, sexism and
sexual stereotypes in education and the media, the promotion and exploit
ation of
women as sexual objects, the particular discrimination of women by race
and age
and the absence of a comprehensive perspective to address economic development,
self-management, health, and other rights of women, among others.
There is consistency between the legal regulations and the objectives of
the actions,
programs and state policies audited since the objectives of the public p
olicy of the
Government of Puerto Rico are framed in the regulations. Likewise, we highlight
that there is vast legislation that strengthens and expands the various
efforts of
the Government for the eradication of violence against women. In additio
n, the
responsibilities of each entity or actor are clearly defined within the
legislative and
regulatory framework.
However, among the greatest challenges is the implementation of all initiatives

and legislation approved by the Government given the lack of financial a
nd human
resources to implement them and the auditing or measurement of their effectiveness.
OPM Law covers the issues of violence against women and promotes prevention
and
education on this issue. However, despite the public policy and the actions that the
Government has established, there is no evidence of a decrease in cases
of violence
against women.
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107
The existing coordination mechanisms between the
Government and civil society organizations aimed at
combating violence against women are formalized so that it
is the organizations that offer direct services to victims, such
as subsidy through state and federal funds, food, training,
education, advocacy and coordination of services to victims,
among others.
The symbiotic relationship that exists, in which the Government
has ceded part of its role to the organizations, means that
the State does not have first-hand knowledge of the needs
of the victims. This affects the allocation of resources to
organizations and limits their ability to deliver services to
victims.
Civil society organizations have an important role in the
implementation or execution of actions and programs in
relation to violence against women as they are the ones that
offer direct services to victims. This indicates that one of the
main challenges is the Government’s control of the resources
allocated to the organizations.
CIVIL SOCIETY
The types of violence covered by the Government’s actions,
programs and policies are contained in 87 items of legislation,
which, in turn, are aligned with the types of violence defined
in the Belém do Pará Convention. For the period of the audit,
in Puerto Rico, there was a disparity in the collection and
categorization of statistical data maintained by the different
agencies on incidents of violence against women. Despite this
disparity, the data reflect that the type of recurrent violence in
the country is domestic violence.
Given this situation, the Statistics Institute of Puerto Rico has
been using the triangulation method to collect the data since
2022, which gives it greater reliability, credibility and validity.
With this, systems are being established that integrate the
agencies concerned to address these discrepancies.
The Puerto Rico Statistics Institute Act promotes changes in
the collection and analysis systems of the information that is
TYPES OF
VIOLENCE
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108
While it is true that the Government has not explicitly adopted
the SDGs, there are gaps in eradicating violence against
women in accordance with Target 5.2 of the SDGs, and these
are mainly framed in the lack of education on gender equity,
the lack of integration between the agencies that must provide
services to victims, and religious or moral conservatism, which
permeates various sectors of society, perpetuates gender
inequalities, and prevents education on the subject.
The Government has not established indicators to measure
compliance with Target 5.2 of the SDGs.
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VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN
generated so that they are complete, reliable, and quickly and
universally accessible. In this way, data is standardized and
made visible for the development of strategies and measures
for the prevention and eradication of violence against women.
In turn, this contributes to the process of properly allocating
and distributing human and financial resources.
TYPES OF
VIOLENCE
USE OF
RESOURCES
Regarding the resources allocated to the policies, programs
and actions in the Government audited for this report, we
can point out that the OPM has an allocated budget, as well
as the other government entities that have an impact on
actions to eradicate violence against women. Even so, the
executed resources are not distributed by physical, financial,
technological and human resources. It was not possible to
assess whether the resources allocated were sufficient to
meet the objectives of the program.
Section 2 of Law 58-2020 provides that, as of July 1, 2021,
each Government agency, body, subdivision and public
corporation will have the obligation to identify a specific item
in its budget for compliance with the public policy against
violence toward women that includes prevention, guidance,
protection and safety programs for women.
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109
The problem of violence against women in Puerto Rico
increased during the pandemic period. For this reason, the
Government created new measures to address the problem,
reinforced existing measures and provided remote assistance
channels for victims. Despite this, it was not possible to assess
whether the new measures adopted and those that were
reinforced by the Government during the pandemic managed
to get the abused women closer to seeking assistance. It was
also not possible to assess whether such measures met their
objectives.
The Government created specialized chambers to address
gender-based violence issues and mechanized the process of
registering protection orders, which was reinforced with the use
of virtual courtrooms in courts and the availability to request
online services or assistance. In addition, as a result of state
of emergency declarations made by the governors in office
through their respective executive orders, intergovernmental
protocols were established to address domestic violence
incidents: the Alerta ROSA – PINK Alert, in English– was
created and implemented, which establishes a mechanism to
alert citizens to cases of women aged 18 years or older who
may be understood to be missing or kidnapped; mandated
by law that victims be accompanied by a prosecutor and a
legal advocate in any hearing to determine probable cause
for arrest for any of the offenses of Law 54-1989, Domestic
Abuse Prevention and Intervention Act; the Protection Order
Operations Center of the Gender-based violence Unit of the
Puerto Rico Police was created and established to centralize
and structure the processing of protection orders to provide
information to the entire public safety component, and ensure
that assistance, psychosocial support and a security response
are provided to every victim with a protective order.
VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN
IN A PANDEMIC
VI. A. SUPREME AUDIT INSTITUTIONS

110
FOLLOW-UP
AND/OR
ACCOMPANIMENT
During the pandemic, there were mechanisms to follow
up and accompany women in situations of violence. OPM
continued to subsidize civil society organizations so that they
could continue to provide their services. In addition, it was
established that the woman who requests a domestic violence
protection order has the right to be accompanied by a legal
advocate of the OPM to provide support and accompaniment
in civil and criminal proceedings, help her understand the form
to request a protection order and accompany them to court
hearings. On the other hand, the Department of Justice was
provided with the necessary technological equipment to be
able to hold the hearings virtually.
Although these mechanisms have indeed defined objectives
related to the legal regulations that seek to eradicate violence
against women, they could not be fully evaluated. The
certification of legal advocates is a process carried out by the
OPM. This process is limited, as only one academy is held per
year with no more than 25 people and takes approximately
five months.
VI. A. SUPREME AUDIT INSTITUTIONS

111
VENEZUELA
In Venezuela, the Ministry of Popular Power for Women and Gender
Equality –MINMUJER– and its affiliated entity, the National Institute
for Women; the Public Prosecutors Office; the Public Defense;
the Ombudsman’s Office, and the Supreme Court of Justice were
considered for the evaluation of the policies, programs and/or actions
executed.
The National Institute for Women –INAMUJER, for its Spanish– was created by the
provision of the Law on Equal Opportunities for Women. In the audited period, it
executed the program for the eradication of violence against women, a project called
“Execution of actions for the Territorialization of Public Policies aimed at women
with a human rights and gender feminism approach” in which comprehens
ive legal
support and guidance was provided to women victims of gender-based viole
nce
or other violation of their rights and the comprehensive support and pre
vention of
violence against women through different technical-methodological strategies for
addressing gender-based violence.
In the audit report, there is no evidence of follow-up mechanisms for the implementation
of public policies and programs for the eradication of violence against
women in the
audited period 2019-2021.
CIVIL SOCIETY
In Venezuela, there is no evidence of a formal and constituted
linkage between the participation of Civil Society in the
defense and eradication of violence against women.
However, the National Institute for Women –INAMUJER– ,
in 2021, in order to carry out actions for the implementation
of programs aimed at eradicating violence against women,
issued a Project called “Promotion of women’s Right to a
Life Free of Violence; prevention and assistance for violence
against women with special consideration of this issue in the
context of the measures adopted as a result of the COVID-19
Pandemic.”
In addition, through the didactic strategies for the awareness
and dissemination of the prevention of violence against
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112
The State of Venezuela has based its commitments on the
Organic Law on Women’s Right to a Life Free of Violence
– LODMVLV-2021, for its Spanish acronym– reformed in 2021
and the international treaties signed by the Republic such as
CEDAW and the “Belém du Pará Convention.”
The Public Prosecutor’s Office, as an integral body of the
Citizen Power, through the Directorate for the Defense
of Women, in matters of gender-based violence, has the
Comprehensive Assistance Service for Victims of Gender-
Based Violence Crimes, which provides specialized assistance
with prosecutors knowledgeable in the matter, who receive
complaints for the alleged crimes contemplated in the Organic
Law on the Right of Women to a Life Free of Violence and
proceed to issue the relevant protective measures.
TYPES OF
VIOLENCE
In the Republic of Venezuela, the existence of policies with
a gender perspective is verified in bodies and entities with
competence and the evaluation of the activities, tasks,
programs and/or actions implemented in line with what is
described in the 2030 Agenda and sustainable development
goal number 5.
During 2019, the National Women’s Institute carried out 241
activities that promote actions for the defense of women’s
rights and incorporation into public policy for empowerment,
active and protagonist participation with a gender perspective,
ERADICATING
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AGAINST WOMEN
CIVIL SOCIETY
women, INAMUJER proposed inter-institutional coordination,
public space, and the implementation of 15 didactic
awareness-raising strategies aimed at the general population
in the different social organizations, schools, high schools,
universities, communities, communal councils and the Local
Supply and Production Committees –CLAP, for its Spanish
acronym–.
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113
aimed at organized and unorganized women, the community in
general, and users who attend the Center for Comprehensive
Care and Education for Women –CAFIM, for its Spanish
acronym– and regional offices, benefiting 14,061 people,
including 10,614 women.
The National Institute for Women, in the audited period
(2020), implemented the program for the eradication of
violence against women, a project called “Territorialization
of Public Policies aimed at protecting women’s right to a life
free of violence,” in which advice, assistance and judicial
representation of women victims of violence was provided;
activation of the highest popular body of gender justice,
comprehensive care and prevention of violence against
women through various technical-methodological strategies
for addressing gender-based violence.
In Venezuela, compliance with the objectives of gender
equality and greater involvement of women in economic
and social affairs was only partially achieved because the
Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela faced
great challenges, including the fact that resources were only
partially available as a result of the economic blockade.
Regarding the resources allocated to carry out the actions
related to the Defense of Women, there were only personnel
and operating expenses, i.e., salaries, wages and other
remuneration in the different ombudsman offices and the
assistance of complaints from the ombudsman offices at the
national level, during fiscal years 2019, 2020 and 2021.
USE OF
RESOURCES
ERADICATING
VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN
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114
In Venezuela, in order to meet the objectives proposed by
the Public Prosecutor’s Office’s Directorate for the Defense of
Women, a curriculum matrix was developed for specialization
in the Defense of Women at the National Prosecutors’ School.
The technical and criminal investigation skills of prosecutors
and professionals for the Defense of Women were also
strengthened. The number of regional Prosecutor’s Offices
with exclusive competence for crimes of violence against
women was increased; technical roundtables were also
set up with feminist organizations and movements in order
to coordinate actions for the prevention of violence against
women.
In order to achieve uninterrupted management for the
protection of the victims of punishable acts, given their
situation of vulnerability, as well as to continue with the
investigations of the initiated cases, during the times of
confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a modality of
guard duty roles was established for the officials that make
up the prosecutor’s offices and victim assistance units, such
as the Comprehensive Assistance Service for Victims of
Gender-Based Violence Crimes, attached to the Directorate
for the Defense of Women. In this way, it was ensured that the
prolongation of such a health and social event would have a
lesser impact on the institution’s objectives.
VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN
IN A PANDEMIC
In Venezuela, the National Executive Branch established,
as a policy objective, the fulfillment of the major historical
goals, which are consolidated in the Economic and Social
Development Plan (Homeland Plan 2019-2025), being that,
in point 2.2.1.2., it was established to incorporate the gender
equality perspective in public policies, which guarantee
the rights of women and promote non-discrimination and
protection of socially binding groups. This historical goal
includes seven specific objectives, such as deepening the
promotion and social protection of women’s rights in situations
of vulnerability, eradicating all forms of sexual and gender-
based violence, ensuring mechanisms for the prevention and
detection of cases of violence or vulnerability, strengthening
the legal framework against gender-based sexual violence,
ensuring the protection of vulnerable groups, and enhancing,
expanding, developing, and sustaining the Plan for the
Prevention of Early Pregnancy in Adolescents.
FOLLOW-UP
AND/OR
ACCOMPANIMENT
VI. A. SUPREME AUDIT INSTITUTIONS

B. SUB-NATIONAL ENTITIES
COURT OF AUDITORS OF THE
STATE OF SANTA CATARINA
COURT OF AUDITORS OF THE
MUNICIPALITIES OF THE STATE OF BAHIA
COURT OF AUDITORS OF THE
FEDERAL DISTRICT
COURT OF AUDITORS OF THE
STATE OF AMAZONAS
COURT OF AUDITORS OF THE
MUNICIPALITY OF RIO DE JANEIRO
COURT OF AUDITORS OF THE
STATE OF PERNAMBUCO
COURT OF AUDITORS OF THE
STATE OF RIO GRANDE DO NORTE
COURT OF AUDITORS OF THE
STATE OF RIO GRANDE DO SUL
HONORABLE COURT OF ACCOUNTS OF THE PROVINCE OF BUENOS AIRES
COURT OF AUDITORS OF THE
STATE OF PARANÁ

116
STATE OF SANTA CATARINA
It is worth noting that the Santa Catarina Court of Justice, through
the Coordination of Women in Situations of Domestic and Family
Violence of the Santa Catarina Court of Justice –CEVID/TJ/SC, for its
Portuguese acronym–, established in compliance with Resolution 128,
dated March 17, 2011, of the National Council of Justice, promotes
institutional and public policies independently through alliances
with other organizations to address violence against women and to
effectively enforce the provisions of the Maria da Penha Law and other
related rules on the subject.
The Public Ministry of Santa Catarina formalized on October 19, 2021, th
e creation
of the Special Center for Assistance to Victims of Crime –NEAVIT, for its Portuguese
acronym–, which includes domestic and family violence and reinforces
the work
developed through the group to fight domestic and family violence agains
t women.
This initiative paves the way for a coordinated effort to defend and protect the rights
of women in situations of violence.
However, the State of Santa Catarina does not have a Women’s Public Policy Plan.
The existing actions, programs and policies related to violence against
women are
fragmented, with numerous laws observed, most of which are not implement
ed and
there is no organization to coordinate their implementation and follow-u
p.
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117
There is little or no participation of civil society in the
development of public policies for women. Once the State
Council for Women’s Rights has been created, which
is composed of 12 governmental members and 12 non-
governmental members, civil society is not invited to
participate in the planning of public policies.
CIVIL SOCIETY
The types of violence typified in the State of Santa Catarina
are aligned with the Belém do Pará Convention. TIPOS DE
VIOLENCIA
During the coordinated audit, deficiencies were found in the
prevention of violence against women in state public schools,
for example, which should aim to reduce prejudices and
customs and all kinds of practices that are going to be made
on the premise of women’s inferiority to change the culture
of school-age youth to build a generation of non-aggressive
adults.
ERADICATING
VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN
With economic resources available from the National Public
Security Fund, it is expected that the State of Santa Catarina
will use the current legislation to implement the necessary
equipment to face violence against women in the State,
including the provision of exclusive police stations and
psychological staff for women.
USE OF
RESOURCES
VI. B. SUB-NATIONAL ENTITIES

118
In the State of Santa Catarina, it is necessary to develop and
implement, together with the Secretariat of Assistance to the
Social State, Women and Family, and the State Council on
Women’s Rights, the State Plan of Public Policies for Women,
outlining objectives, targets, specific budget instruments,
and follow-up and evaluation, in order to promote gender
equality and economic and financial autonomy, addressing
the institutional strengthening of social participation for the
universality of policies, eliminating all forms of violence
against women.
FOLLOW-UP
AND/OR
ACCOMPANIMENT
In the State of Santa Catarina, to address violence against
women, several actions aim to identify, monitor and support
women victims of violence during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Although the restrictions derived from the pandemic no
longer apply, in 2020, the Red-Light Campaign was created
as a result of a working group created to develop a study
and emergency actions aimed at helping victims of violence.
The campaign is an alternative and safe tool for complaint
reporting and addressing gender-based violence to involve
society in helping women silently report a situation of violence
they are experiencing.
VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN
IN A PANDEMIC
VI. B. SUB-NATIONAL ENTITIES

119
STATE OF BAHIA
The constitution of the State of Bahia, in article 281, Chapter XIX,
which deals with the specific rights of women, provides that “It is the
responsibility of the State to establish a policy to combat and prevent
violence against women…”
State Law 12,212/2011 created the Secretariat of Policies for Women of Bahia
– SPM-BA, for its Portuguese acronym–, with the aim of “Planning and coord
inating
the execution of public service policies for women, including those aime
d at their
socio-productive inclusion”.
The absence of an updated Bahia State Policy Plan for Women was noted. Regarding
the presentation of the State Plan to combat violence against women, in
force in
the 2019-2022 period, the SPM-BA reported the use of the previous State Plan
(2013-2015).
The Confrontation Network presented the 2020-2023 Programs of the Multi-
annual
Plan –P PA , for its Portuguese acronym–. From the analysis, it was observed tha
t
seven of the eight Programs listed presented Indicators, Commitments, Targets and/
or Initiatives related to the fight to end violence against women. Howev
er, despite
the notorious importance of the 2020-2023 PPA, it has weaknesses in the theoretical
model adopted. For this reason, there is a deficiency in the technical m
odel of the
Programs related to the fight to end violence against women.
Having consulted the existence of formal mechanisms
for coordination with civil society for the formulation and
execution of policies, plans and programs (commitments,
targets and initiatives) of the 2020-2023 Multi-annual Plan
– P PA –, to combat violence against women, SPM-BA did not
present evidence that accredits the formalized existence of
mechanisms other than the State Conference on Policies for
Women.
For this reason, the mechanisms are deficient for coordination
with civil society for the design and execution of policies,
programs and/or actions associated with the fight to end
violence against women.
CIVIL SOCIETY
VI. B. SUB-NATIONAL ENTITIES

120
State actions and programs, in general, do not specify the
types of violence against women provided for in the Belém
do Pará Convention, taking a broad approach to the issue
of violence, although the specialized network of assistance
to women in the state of Bahia focuses more on domestic
and family violence (which includes physical, sexual,
psychological, moral and patrimonial violence), due to Federal
Law No. 11,340, of 08/07/2006 (Maria da Penha Law).
TYPES OF
VIOLENCE
In 2018, the TCE Bahia conducted an operational audit to
assess the state’s governance structure to implement the
SDGs. As the low institutionalization and, consequently, the
deficiency in state planning to comply with the guidelines
and targets related to the implementation of the SDGs is
still evident, it was recommended, among others, to create
a state commission that coordinates the activities related to
the implementation of the SDGs, thus preparing a diagnosis
of the situation of the state of Bahia related to each of the 17
SDGs and making the elements related to the monitoring and
evaluation of the 2030 Agenda explicit in the 2020-2023 P PA .
However, it was evident that the deliberations issued by the
Court were not implemented, therefore, it concludes a low
institutionalization of the 2030 Agenda in the State to achieve
target 5.2 of the SDGs.
ERADICATING
VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN
The analysis that covered the 2019 to 2022 period on
the budgetary resources allocated in the 2016-2019 and
2020-2023 P PA programs of the Executive Branch and the
Justice System, with actions aimed at confronting violence
against women, verified the availability of resources for the
development of the programs. Looking at FY 2019, there was
a reduction in budget allocation in five of the six budgetary
actions related to addressing violence against women.
Within the framework of the 2020-2023 P PA , in the years 2020
to 2022, there was a reduction in the budget allocation in ten
USE OF
RESOURCES
VI. B. SUB-NATIONAL ENTITIES

121
(76.9%) of the 13 Budgetary Actions related to the fight to
end violence against women, in at least one of the exercises.
It is essential to emphasize that the Budgetary Actions
promoted by the Secretariat of Justice, Human Rights and
Social Development –SJDHDS, for its Portuguese acronym–,
the Public Prosecutors Office and the Secretariat of Health
of the State of Bahia –SESAB– cover several areas, sharing
the budget with segments such as children and adolescents,
the LGBTQ+ community and women in general, not being
restricted exclusively to women victims of violence in their
respective actions.
USE OF
RESOURCES
During the COVID-19 emergency, some actions of the
Secretariat of Public Security were reinforced, such as the
expansion of the list of crimes subject to registration through
the Digital Delegate.
Meanwhile, new actions of the Executive Branch were also
adopted with the
Publication of State Law No. 14,278, which requires
condominiums to report to the competent authorities the
occurrence of cases of domestic and family violence against
women, children, adolescents or the elderly, in condominium
units or common areas. In addition, in the area of Public
Security, measures were instituted to combat and prevent
domestic and family violence against women through planned
ordinances. The Judicial Branch also requested the extension
of urgent protection measures for an indefinite period.
VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN
IN A PANDEMIC
VI. B. SUB-NATIONAL ENTITIES

122
From the information presented by the actors of the Network
of Confrontations in relation to the identified situations of
women in situations of violence and the respective referrals,
the absence of information that weakens the controls
regarding the disclosure of compliance and effectiveness of
the mechanisms established for the identification, as well as
the continuity of the flow of services in the corresponding
teams, was noted.
Mechanisms (systems, manual spreadsheets, procedures,
responsible parties, periodicity, etc.) and annual reports used
by the State of Bahia for the follow-up of women in situations of
violence, especially during the pandemic, were not presented.
It follows from the foregoing that there is a lack of systematized
management data for the monitoring and follow-up of women
victims of violence to evaluate the effectiveness and efficacy
of the coping actions developed.
FOLLOW-UP
AND/OR
ACCOMPANIMENT
VI. B. SUB-NATIONAL ENTITIES

123
FEDERAL DISTRICT
The Federal District advanced its audit to the Secretariat of State
for Women, and subsidiarily to the Secretariat of Public Security,
the Public Defender’s Office, the Civil Police and the Military Police,
with the participation of the Secretariat of Social Development, the
Secretariat of Health, the Secretariat of Education, the Secretariat of
Justice and Citizenship and the Military Fire Department, all bodies of
the Federal District.
Despite a broad regulatory framework and policies, programs and actions,
limitations
and deficiencies were identified in the execution of these by the bodies
of the Federal
District, whose actions are still not sufficiently structured and prepared to face
gender-based violence. The Maria da Penha Law stands out, which is responsible
for introducing mechanisms to curb domestic and family violence against
women, in
addition to establishing general guidelines for the coordination between the federal
entities to combat violence against women, including modifications to the criminal
code. Also at the Federal District level, we highlight regulations, policies,
programs
and public initiatives.
In the Federal District, the participation of civil society
is broad; through public hearings, the aforementioned
“2020-2023 Second District Plan for Women’s Policy” was
worked on considering the 17 sustainable development goals.
The Secretariat of State for Women, has been developing
strategic research with the Universidad de Brasilia in relation
to the issue of prevention of violence against women, has
established alliances with the transfer of public resources with
various entities of the third sector, a project of all of them;
international technical cooperation project of gender equity
and zero violence against women and girls in the Federal
District; program to empower “education of women leaders”
with capacity, follow-up and monitoring of 1200 women to act
as community leaders, etc.
CIVIL SOCIETY
VI. B. SUB-NATIONAL ENTITIES

124
The audit found that the policies, programs and actions
carried out cover all forms of violence against women listed
in the Belém do Pará Convention, even advancing on other
fronts such as, for example, the fight against political and
institutional violence (scope of work).
Particularly noteworthy is the establishment of a specific
district body in charge of the formulation, coordination and
articulation of public policies for the promotion of women,
including the elimination of all forms of discrimination and
violence against women: the State Secretariat for Women of
the Federal District in 2019.
TYPES OF
VIOLENCE
The Secretariat for Women reported that, in general, it does
not have data related to the demands for services, i.e., the
number of women, victims or not of violence, who seek and
did not receive assistance, such as those who seek courses
at the Brazilian Women’s House (Casa da Mujer Brasileira,
an institution in Brazil focused on comprehensive, specialized
and humanized assistance for women).
The data are not systematized to allow timely improvement of
assistance and planning of actions. For example, the police,
Civil Police and Military Police have segregated systems and
databases where data is not shared so that calls and referrals
made by one of the organizations are not compatible with the
other.
Therefore, the data available on the websites refer only to the
incidents recorded by the Civil Police, representing a limitation
in terms of the data available in relation to violence against
women, which generally only captures cases reported to civil
police and included in their database but does not provide
comprehensive information for planning and managing actions
to combat this crime.
On the other hand, structures and initiatives were identified
that have stood out in a relevant and positive way in the fight
against gender-based violence, but need to be expanded
and/or better structured, such as the studies of the Technical
ERADICATING
VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN
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125
Chamber for the Monitoring of Homicides and Femicides of
the State Secretariat of Public Security and Social Peace
of the Federal District –CTMHF-SSP/DF, for its Portuguese
acronym–; Specialized Centers for Attention of Women of
the State Secretariat of Public Security and Social Peace
– CEAMs-SEMDH, for its Portuguese acronym–; Centers
for the Attention of Family and Domestic Violence of the
State Secretariat of Public Security and Social Peace
– NAFADVs-SEMDH–; Integrated Centers for the Care of
Women of the Federal District Civil Police –NUIAMs-PCDF,
for its Portuguese acronym–; and Police for the Prevention
of Domestic Violence of the Federal District Military Police
– PROVID-PMDF, for its Portuguese acronym–.
Along these lines, it was found that the Technical Chamber for
the Follow-up of Homicides and Femicides –CTMHF, of the
Ministry of Public Security, monitors these types of crimes from
the registration of the incident until the final and unappealable
Judicial Decision (presently possible, despite the limitations
in terms of the systematization of data given the “reduced”
number of occurrences in relation to other types of crime–,
thus providing qualified data that allow a much more accurate
diagnosis of the reality in the Federal District regarding the
incidence of these crimes, as well as adequate planning of
actions to combat it.
Likewise, in the 04 (four) Specialized Centers for the Care
of Women –CEAM– existing in the Federal District, reception
services and psychological, social, pedagogical and legal
assistance are available for women in situations of violence,
contributing to their empowerment and the rescue of their
lives and citizenship, in addition to preventing, interrupting
and overcoming violations of their rights. It cares for women
who are victims of all kinds of violence.
ERADICATING
VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN
The audit carried out by the Court of Auditors of the Federal
District reports that there is poor budgetary execution of the
resources allocated to the Secretariat for Women.
First, the lack of data and systems that allow the registration,
adequate treatment and extraction of qualified information
USE OF
RESOURCES
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126
The analysis of two available statistical data and the interviews
conducted with managers of two organizations involved in
the fight against gender-based violence allow us to conclude
that there was no significant increase or reduction in cases
of violence during the Pandemic period. Existing information
indicates that the innovative and reinforcing measures
adopted in the Federal District will achieve similar results.
VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN
IN A PANDEMIC
In the Federal District, actions have been implemented to
ensure the follow-up and surveillance of women victims of
domestic violence such as, for example, through the follow-up
of aggressors and victims (use of electronic anklets in order
to ensure compliance with protection measures); services
provided by the PROVID of the Military Police; assistance
to victims and aggressors by entities of the Secretariat
of Women –CEAM and Center for Assistance to Families
and Perpetrators of Domestic Violence– –NAFAVD, for its
Portuguese acronym–; services and training carried out at the
Brazilian Women’s House, etc. However, it was necessary to
expand these services.
FOLLOW-UP
AND/OR
ACCOMPANIMENT
prevents a real dimension of the reality of gender-based
violence in the Federal District.
It should be noted, for example, that there have been
difficulties and limitations that prevent the expansion and
optimization of PROVID’s activities. In this regard, there is
a need for a budget allocation for the construction of the
program’s unit structures (rooms to house assigned personnel
and administrative planning activities) currently developed in
provisional and inadequate spaces provided by each military
police unit.
USE OF
RESOURCES
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127
STATE OF AMAZONAS
The scope of the audit was the Nova Rede Mulher project, carried out
by the State Secretariat for Justice, Human Rights and Citizenship
–SEJUSC, for its Portuguese acronym–, which in turn was implemented
through a contract with the Amazon Agency for Economic, Social
and Environmental Development –AADESAM, for its Portuguese
acronym–.
The State Policy on Policies for Women (2013) existed in the State of Amazonas.
The Plan was in accordance with the National Women’s Policy and provided for
the involvement of Secretariats, municipal governments and Municipal Cou
ncils for
Women’s Rights, in the 2013-2015 period. There is currently no plan in place.
Considering the period covered by the audit (2019-2021), the Plurinati
onal Plan for
2016-2019 and 2020-2023 was consulted to verify that programs and action
s had
been contemplated to address violence against women.
APP 2016-2019: Promotion, Defense of Human Rights and Citizenship.
APP 2020-2023: Pact for Life.
Thus, as for the efficiency of the State in addressing the problem of violence
against women, on the one hand, there is the network created by SEJUSC that
offers assistance to women victims of violence, in addition to federal leg
islation, with
emphasis on the Maria da Penha Law, and specific state legislation that deals with
obstetric violence, social income to women victims of violence and a pan
ic button.
The accountability report of the project for the actions carried out wit
h assistance
to the victims of violence presents percentages of achievement of object
ives that
exceed 100% in most cases.
On the other hand, the second objective of the audited project is to promote financial
autonomy, which is still in its infancy. In the action, provided for in the implementation
plan of the Nova Rede Mulher Project, “Promoting women’s financial autonomy,”
which has indicators such as the offer of courses and lines of credit, in 2020, out of
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128
Coordination mechanisms with civil society were insufficient.
This indicates that the State does not have a list of civil
organizations that work to combat violence against women.
There is no established flow of communication between civil
organizations and the State. Therefore, it is a challenge
for the State of Amazonas to create an established flow of
communication between civil organizations and the State.
CIVIL SOCIETY
The types of violence typified in the State of Amazonas are
aligned with the Belém do Pará Convention. TYPES OF
VIOLENCE
Violence against women in the audited period (2019 to 2021)
did not decrease, according to data from the State Secretariat
of Public Security –SSP, for its Portuguese acronym–,
available in the Panel of Criminal Indicators for Women
Victims of Domestic Violence – Amazonas (https://www.ssp.
am.gov.br/ssp-dados/).
The State measures compliance with the commitment to
eradicate violence against women in accordance with target
5.2 of the SDGs in two ways:
• The hotline provided to women victims of violence by
the bodies of the support network maintained by the
State (Emergency Support Service for Women – SAPEM,
Specialized Reference Center for the Assistance of Women
– CREAM, Service for Women in Situations of Violence
– SAMIC, and Casa Abrigo);
• Monthly statistics on types of crimes and misdemeanors
committed against women.
However, statistics on violence against women are aligned
with SDG 5.2 indicators so that they can be measured by
those indicators.
ERADICATING
VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN
210 courses planned, 26 were offered; in 2021, out of 180, 123 were offered. As for
credit lines, it only became an indicator in 2021. And this year, of the 30 planned,
none was granted.
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129
To combat the increase in violence against women during the
COVID emergency, measures such as the icon for combating
VAW in the Interactive PC-AM Police Station and the reopening
of Casa Abrigo were strengthened.
Meanwhile, new measures have been taken such as the
Inauguration of 4 more Emergency Support Service for
Women –SAPEM–, the inauguration of Support Services for
Women –SAMIC Maués–, the establishment of Law 5,332-
2020 on assistance for women victims of VAW exclusively by
female police officers, Law 5,506-2021 to fine the aggressor,
Law 5,532-2021 red light code and Law 5,709-2021 on social
income.
Therefore, it is observed that there was indeed a State
response to address violence against women during the
pandemic in terms of providing assistance. However, it is not
possible to assess whether the manner in which the assistance
was provided was effective.
VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN
IN A PANDEMIC
The AADESAM Institution is executing the Nova Rede Mulher
project, whose objective is to expand the support structure for
the network to fight against women victims of violence, as well
as to promote women’s economic autonomy to promote justice
and social equity.
In this context, actions were promoted in favor of eradicating
violence, where physical, technological, and human resources
were used, among others. However, these actions are aimed
at assisting women who have only been victims, without a
preventive approach.
In this sense, it is concluded that the lack of investment in
the educational system to influence cultural issues and health
and insertion in the labor market did not promote a reduction
in violence.
From this, it is concluded that the use of resources has been
partially efficient as they did not prioritize investments in
education, health and labor insertion.
USE OF
RESOURCES
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130
Regarding the creation of the Mulher Alert application and
the creation of the icon to combat VAW in the Civil Police of
the State of Amazon –PC-AM, for its Portuguese acronym–
Interactive Police Station. Telephone calls were established
as a follow-up tool for women victims of violence. However,
for the registration of new cases, especially those requiring
forensic examination, there were no effective mechanisms to
carry out the procedure, so the victim’s in-person assistance
was required to proceed with the complaint.
FOLLOW-UP
AND/OR
ACCOMPANIMENT
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131
MUNICIPALITY OF
RIO DE JANEIRO
The Court of Auditors of the Municipality of Rio de Janeiro covered its
audit by analyzing the information provided by the Special Secretariat
for Policies and Promotion of Women –SPM-RIO, for its Portuguese
acronym– and the Municipal Secretariat of Social Assistance
–SMAS, for its Portuguese acronym– covering the years 2019 to 2021,
being the managers of Program 0514-Women’s Assistance, during
the period indicated. However, interviews were conducted with other
agencies such as the Municipal Secretariat of Health –SMS, for its
Portuguese acronym– the Municipal Secretariat of Education –SME,
for its Portuguese acronym– the Municipal Secretariat of Finance
and Planning –SMFP, for its Portuguese acronym– and the Municipal
Guard –GM-Rio, for its Portuguese acronym–.
It was found that there was no compliance and follow-up of the general objective
of program 0514 – Assistance to Women, proving insufficient for the prevention of
violence against women in the Municipality of Rio de Janeiro. Also, the resources
allocated to the program are not disaggregated by type (physical, technological,
human) therefore it was impossible to verify them.
The Court of Auditors of the Municipality of Rio de Janeiro
reports that there is insufficient evidence of civil society
participation in the design and implementation of policies,
programs and/or actions associated with addressing violence
against women in the 2017-2020 strategic plan.
Regarding the implementation of program 0514 – Attention
to Women, the participation of civil society seemed to be
restricted to the Council for Women’s Rights of Rio –CODIM
Rio, for its Portuguese acronym– since there is no knowledge
of another civil society organization that works with the
municipal government in the design and improvement of public
policies. According to Article 2 of the law and which created
CODIM Rio, its competencies are to develop integrated and
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132
Regarding the types of violence, the Municipality of Rio de
Janeiro contemplates the provisions of the Convention of
Belém do Pará addressing physical, sexual and psychological
violence against women in the family/domestic sphere. These
types of violence were addressed in Program 0514.
However, in the report presented, there is no evidence of
concrete actions on the types of violence against women other
than those provided for in the Maria da Penha Law addressing
patrimonial and moral violence against women, and the
Femicide Law (Federal Law 13,104/2015).
TYPES OF
VIOLENCE
In the Brazilian legal system, the María da Penha Law
created mechanisms to curb and prevent domestic and family
violence against women under the terms of the Belém do Pará
Convention and other international conventions ratified by the
Federative Republic of Brazil, and courts were created for
domestic and family violence against women.
The organic law of the Municipality of Rio de Janeiro enacted
in 1990 has a chapter dedicated to assisting women and
provides, in article 367, the creation of a comprehensive
care center for women to provide them and their families with
medical, psychological, and legal assistance.
There is evidence of low-quality information available to verify
the challenges faced by the Municipality of Rio de Janeiro
in its commitment to eradicating violence against women, as
stipulated in Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goal
number 5.
ERADICATING
VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN
coordinated actions with SPM-RIO, and other bodies, for the
implementation of public policies committed to the elimination
of prejudices against gender inequalities; to assist the
Secretary of Public Order of Rio de Janeiro –SOM-RIO, for
its Portuguese acronym– by issuing opinions, accompanying
the development and execution of municipal level government
programs, as well as to expressing opinions on issues related
to women’s citizenship.
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133
Program 0514- Attention to Women, has an estimated budget
of BRL 15.55 million for the four years of management (2018-
2021); however, the products of the actions provided for in
the 0514 program only have information on the fulfillment of
budgetary and physical goals. It is considered that there was
a limitation to the work performed considering that there is no
information on physical, technological and human resources.
The evaluation shows that the budget execution perspective
of the Municipality of Rio de Janeiro was considered adequate
since, during the period analyzed, the commitment was 88%
fulfilled. However, it was not possible to analyze the amounts
foreseen in the budget, to verify if they were sufficient,
to achieve the objective of program 0514 related to the
confrontation of violence against women.
USE OF
RESOURCES
During the pandemic, the Municipality of Rio de Janeiro
suspended face-to-face assistance in the institutions
responsible for the 0514 program. During this period of social
isolation, telephone channels were set up for the population
to receive non-face-to-face assistance in cases of violence
against women.
Although the remote assistance service has not been
formalized or officially regulated, it is understood that it was
created to ensure the continuity of assistance services for
women. However, it was not possible to verify the number of
women assisted or accompanied since, according to those in
charge of the information, the data are confidential.
An action carried out by another municipal body during the
pandemic was also identified, with the creation of the Maria
da Penha Round, which includes home visits with patrols
accompanying women victims of this scourge.
VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN
IN A PANDEMIC
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134
No information is available on the effectiveness of monitoring
and follow-up mechanisms for women in situations of
violence. There is no evidence that the actions taken by the
municipality have been effective during the period of social
isolation. The evaluation of the effectiveness of the monitoring
and follow-up mechanisms was impacted by the weaknesses
identified in the planning of public policy and the presentation
of information on the achievement of the objectives set by the
bodies involved.
FOLLOW-UP
AND/OR
ACCOMPANIMENT
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135
STATE OF PERNAMBUCO
The Program to Combat Gender-based Violence against Women of
Pernambuco, provided for in the Budgetary Laws for the years 2019 to
2021 of the Secretariat for Women of Pernambuco –SecMulher-PE,
for its Portuguese acronym– is responsible for managing the Public
policy to combat gender-based violence against women in the State.
This program includes prevention actions (educational and cultural/
“Women’s 190” Registry) and reception and assistance (maintenance
of shelters).
The analysis shows that the program’s objectives are in line with the regulations.
Regarding each of the programs of the Policy by the Secretariat, some st
rengths and
weaknesses were identified:
Strengths: 1) Existence of the registry of women with protection measures
issued – a service that allows support and follow-up, together with the
military
police, on women who are protected by measures authorized by judicial
bodies; 2) Promotion of training for people who are part of the network
of
assistance to women victims, preparing people who work in the network
on the proper reception of victims of violence; 3) Promotion of publici
ty
campaigns to disseminate information to society about the network of
services – dissemination to the population that the state has a structur
e to
protect women who suffer from violence; 4) Partnerships with civil society
organizations for dissemination in schools and communities on the issue
of
violence and the importance of raising awareness in society through thes
e
projects.
Weaknesses: 1) Low budget for actions of the Secretariat for Women.
Currently, the budget allocated to these actions of the Secretariat for Women
is low and does not represent the total amount applied in the execution
of
the public policy to confront violence against women due to the fact tha
t
the financial resources of the other government secretariats directed to the
actions of this Policy are executed in the programs defined for the inherent
activities of each agency; 2) Deficiency in the detail of costs in the
budget –
considering the above, it was not possible to measure the expenses invol
ved
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136
in the actions carried out by the Secretariat for Women; 3) Deficiency in the
integration and flow of services among the various actors of public poli
cy;
4) Quantity and quality of the shelter structure for victims of gender-
based
violence; 5) Low scope of the specialized support network of assistance
to
women victims of violence in the municipalities of Pernambuco; 6) Obsol
ete
State Plan to Combat Violence against Women; 7) Limited listening spaces for
Civil Society Organizations from the State to formulate policies and imp
rove
actions; 8) Lack of goals, appropriate indicators and deadlines for pol
icy
actions, in addition to periodic evaluations and monitoring of complianc
e
and the impact of these actions on the reduction of violence against wom
en
in the state; 9) Lack of access, detail and processing of data on women

victims of violence, ideally through a specific system containing record
s of
police reports, mandatory notifications to health services and/or throug
h the
network of specialized and non-specialized municipal services, which wou
ld
support decision-making. to improve the policy.
In the development of this audit, it was observed that the
participation of Civil Society Organizations in the Policy to
Combat Gender-based violence against Women plays a very
important role in the oversight of state activities developed for
the protection of women. However, there is no hierarchical link
between the Civil Society Organizations and the government
since the Organizations need autonomy to independently
exercise their function of oversight and demand from the
authorities for improvements in the services offered to women
in the state of Pernambuco.
Some of the civil organizations participate in the annual
planning of the Policy to Combat Gender-based Violence
and its follow-up through their presence in the State Council
for Women’s Rights of Pernambuco –CEDIM-PE, for its
Portuguese acronym–.
Thus, it was possible to verify that the participation of Civil
Society in the Policy to Combat Gender-based violence
against Women occurs through participation in the annual
planning of the Policy, its approval and also the follow-up of
the referrals resulting from the debates promoted in the scope
of the Technical Room to Combat Gender-based violence
against Women of the Pact for Life.
CIVIL SOCIETY
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137
In the State of Pernambuco, the types of violence are in
line with the Inter-American Convention on the Prevention,
Punishment and Eradication of Violence against Women.
Thus, domestic violence and sexual violence, whether in the
domestic sphere or not, are recognized as the most recurrent
types of violence against women in the state. Data on these
types of violence are systematized in their own registry by
Pernambuco’s security agencies.
TYPES OF
VIOLENCE
The review identified that, in order to achieve the goals of
the SDGs, specifically, SDG 5, action is required by the
Commission on Sustainable Development Goals of the State
of Pernambuco.
Therefore, some of the challenges to the achievement of
SDG 5 in Pernambuco are: low budget for public policies;
delays in judicial procedures, especially in relation to the
non-compliance with Emergency Protection Measures and
the existence of few courts for Domestic and Family Violence
against Women in the State; lack of qualification of people
promoting the care of women in police stations and throughout
the coping network; precarious infrastructure of several
state police stations, resulting inadequate for attending
women victims of violence; completion of the National Risk
Assessment Form –FONAR, for its Portuguese acronym–, a
fundamental instrument in the risk diagnosis of gender-based
violence and protection of women; obstacles to the creation
of new technologies to improve women’s protection services;
existence of few reflective groups for men who abuse women
in the state; lack of a structure of the State Secretariat for
Women, created by law, to ensure policy actions are not lost
in management changes.
ERADICATING
VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN
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138
In the budgetary laws of the State of Pernambuco for the
years 2019-2021, it was found that only the Secretariat for
Women has a specific budget for the policy to combat violence
against women.
As for the other Secretariats that carry out actions, the
budgetary resources are diluted in the programs defined for
the activities of these bodies.
USE OF
RESOURCES
From the study, it is not possible to point out a single
justification for the possible changes in the situation of
violence against women in the state of Pernambuco since,
according to data collected over the years by the Ministry of
Social Defense, there was a decrease in the registration of
occurrence reports by commissioners in the years 2020 and
2021, i.e., during the pandemic, compared to the years 2019
and 2022.
However, according to experts, this decrease in incident reports
during the pandemic reflects the possible underreporting
of cases of violence that occurred during this period when
victims were isolated in their homes, preventing them from
seeking state aid and lacking a support network.
Given the information provided, it was possible to relate
the actions existing before the pandemic and which were
reinforced by the Secretariat for Women:
• Extension of the 24-hour shifts of the Specialized Police
Stations for Assistance to Women of the Specialized
Delegate of Assistance to Women –DEAM, for its Portuguese
acronym–;
• Uninterrupted service by the Protection Service and by
the services of the Justice for Women and Punishment for
Aggressors Program (Women’s 190, Maria da Penha Patrol
and Electronic Monitoring of the Maria da Penha Law);
• Uninterrupted operation of the Office of the Ombudsman for
Women;
VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN
IN A PANDEMIC
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139
In addition, new measures were taken, namely:
• Application to the Court of Justice of Pernambuco –TJPE,
for its Portuguese acronym– to recommend the extension of
Emergency Protection Measures –MPU, for its Portuguese
acronym– in times of a pandemic;
• Establishment of Electronic Police Reporting for women
victims of domestic and family violence, through the
Interactive Virtual Police Station;
• Training of SecMulher-PE professionals by the National
Council of Justice –CNJ, for its Portuguese acronym– for
the implementation of the National Risk Form for Women in
a Situation of Domestic Violence in Pernambuco;
• Agreement through a Technical Cooperation Agreement
with the Avon Institute’s Acolhe Project for the shelter of
women not under threat of death in hotels.
VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN
IN A PANDEMIC
The accompaniment mechanisms identified in the State of
Pernambuco for women victims of violence are the following:
Women’s 190 Registry: uninterrupted maintenance of service
and assistance of the military police; Maria da Penha Patrol
– Emergency Protection Measure; Electronic monitoring; 4
shelter/reception houses.
FOLLOW-UP
AND/OR
ACCOMPANIMENT
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140
STATE OF RIO GRANDE DO NORTE
In Brazil, the legal framework for combating violence against women
in the Maria da Pena Law deals with physical, psychological, sexual,
patrimonial and moral aggressions.
In the scope of Rio Grande do Norte, the program to combat domestic and family
violence was instituted by Complementary Law No. 356/2007. The main objective
of this program is to combat violence against women and promote protecti
on and
assistance to victims. To achieve this, the program contemplates the implementation
of specific actions and measures, including the creation of a complaint
mechanism,
the strengthening of the victim assistance network and the training of p
rofessionals
working in this area.
The factors present in the Network for the Protection of Violence against Women
are the following: the Secretariat of State for Women, Youth, Racial Equality and
Human Rights; the Civil Police; the Military Police; the Secretariat of
Penitentiary
Administration; the Scientific Technical Institute of Expertise; the Secretariat of
State for Labor, Housing and Social Assistance; the Secretariat of Public Health; the
Secretariat of Public Security; the Secretariat of Education; the Public
Prosecutor’s
Office; the Public Defender’s Office; the Court of Justice; and Collegiate Bodies.
In the State of Rio Grande do Norte, instruments have been
created that include representatives from different sectors
of society and have the important role of contributing to the
formulation of public policies, taking into account the needs
and demands of the population. Therefore, the State of Rio
Grande do Norte has formal mechanisms that include the
participation of civil society in its structure. These mechanisms
are linked to the Secretariat of State for Women, Youth, Racial
Equality and Human Rights.
CIVIL SOCIETY
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141
The Maria da Penha Law, as well as the Belém do Pará
Convention establish the different types of violence against
women; however, their main focus is violence in the domestic,
family and intimate relationship spheres.
In addition to the aforementioned regulations, the State has
other laws that promote prevention, assistance and reparation
for women victims of all forms of violence. It is important
to point out that despite the existence of a broad set of
regulations, some of these are not being duly applied by the
State.
When it comes to the most frequent types of violence in the
State during the audited period, the crime of threats ranks
first, representing more than 40% of the total occurrences in
all the years analyzed.
TYPES OF
VIOLENCE
Actions to combat violence against women designed to protect
victims and promote gender equality, in addition to a Network
of specialized services and protection instruments, are being
coordinated by the State Secretariat for Women.
According to data presented by the Coordination of Statistical
Information and Criminal Analysis, the cases of police
reports registered in the state in 2020 increased by 117%
in comparison to 2019. Likewise, the records of violence in
the state in the years 2021 and 2022 have also shown an
increase, with a growth of 57% in 2021 in comparison with
2020 and an additional increase of 32% of 2022 in comparison
with the year 2021.
However, weaknesses were identified that compromise the
fulfillment of Sustainable Development Goal 5.2 and represent
obstacles to achieving the desired results such as the lack
of effectiveness of established programs and measures and
regulations, the lack of coordination between secretariats and
civil society mechanisms, as well as the absence of a unified
and accessible database for network actors.
ERADICATING
VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN
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142
There is a lack of disaggregated information on resources
to evaluate the effectiveness of the actions carried out by
State bodies for the prevention of violence against women.
Therefore, it was not possible to identify the physical,
financial, technological and human resources used directly
in the actions carried out within the programs of the Maria
de Penha Patrol, the Panic Button, the Specialized Delegate
for Assistance to Women –DEAM–, and the Anatalia de Melo
Alves Shelter House.
USE OF
RESOURCES
In order to reduce the impacts of the pandemic, the Virtual
Police Station for Women was created, which allows victims
to file a report without having to leave their homes, and the
Anatalia de Melo Alves Shelter House, which offers shelter to
women in need of protection and support.
In 2019, only 60 of the 167 municipalities in the state reported
incidents of violence against women, indicating underreporting.
However, during the pandemic in 2020, there was a significant
increase, with reports from 110 municipalities, and the
following year, in 2021, from 163 municipalities. This growth
in the number of reports, mainly in the interior of the state,
may be directly related to the expansion of the Virtual Police
Station reporting channel.
VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN
IN A PANDEMIC
In 2019, the State Secretariat for Women, Youth, Racial
Equality and Human Rights was created in the State of Rio
Grande do Norte, within which is the Undersecretariat for
Women’s Policy, responsible for developing specific strategies
and programs to combat gender-based violence and promote
equality and women’s autonomy.
FOLLOW-UP AND
ACCOMPANIMENT
VI. B. SUB-NATIONAL ENTITIES

143
STATE OF RIO GRANDE DO SUL
In the state of Rio Grande do Sul, at the infra-constitutional level,
Law number 11,340 of August 7, 2006 (Maria da Penha Law) creates
mechanisms to curb domestic violence against women and establishes
a series of protection and assistance measures. The institutional
integration of the public prevention policy provided for in the Maria da
Penha Law involves all the federative entities, as provided for in Article
8 “The Public Policy to Curb Domestic and Family Violence against
Women shall be implemented through a coordinated set of actions of
the Union, the States, the Federal District and the Municipalities and
non-governmental actions.”
The projects audited by the Court of Auditors of the State of Rio Grande do Sul were:
Maria da Penha Patrol
Women’s Civil Police – Police for them
Cross-cutting Program for Structuring Safety – RS Seguro
Acolhe Program – Welcome
However, the set of actions carried out by the State of Rio Grande is not sufficient to
address the problem of violence against women. These actions need continuity and
long-term follow-up.
Through Decree number 39,669, dated August 17, 1999,
the State Council for Women’s Rights was reformulated
and became linked to the Ministry of Labor, Citizenship and
Social Assistance, being responsible for the dialogue between
civil society and the State on issues related to women’s
human rights with equal representation for state government
representatives and civil society entities.
CIVIL SOCIETY
VI. B. SUB-NATIONAL ENTITIES

144
The State of Rio Grande do Sul is subject to the content of the
regulations of international human rights law, in particular to
the obligations arising from CEDAW and the Belém do Pará
Convention on physical, sexual and psychological violence
against women.
However, in the report presented, there is no evidence of
discrimination of other types of violence other than those
contemplated in the Maria da Penha Law.
TYPES OF
VIOLENCE
The State of Rio Grande do Sul has carried out actions aimed
at achieving and complying with the written Sustainable
Development Goals, in particular number 5, specifically
target 5.2. It should be noted that target 5.2, in Brazil, is a
little more comprehensive: eliminate all forms of gender-
based violence in the public and private sphere, highlighting
sexual violence, human trafficking and homicides, in their
interactions interceptions with race, ethnicity, age, disability,
sexual orientation, gender identity, territoriality, culture,
religion and nationality, especially for women in rural, jungle,
urban regions.
In 2019, through State Decree No. 54,516 of February 28,
the RS Seguro Program was established, a cross-cutting
program for structuring public security coordinated within the
office of the governor of the state of Rio Grande do Sul. This
program aims to integrate citizen security actions, focusing on
municipalities and neighborhoods with higher socioeconomic
vulnerability and a higher incidence of criminal violence.
The Department of Justice, Citizenship and Human Rights,
created by complementary law number 15,595, of January
19, 2021, extinguished the Secretariat of Policies for Women
and began to implement policies to combat violence against
women through the Department of Policies for Women –DPM–
and the State Center of Reference for Women, which attends
to the most serious forms of violence against women.
ERADICATING
VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN
VI. B. SUB-NATIONAL ENTITIES

145
An analysis of the resources allocated (financial, physical,
technological and/or human resources, among others) to
achieve the objectives defined in the policies, programs or
plans to eradicate violence against women shows that the
resources were insufficient to meet the existing demand.
The low allocation of financial resources interferes with
the successful fulfillment of the actions and programs
implemented, thus showing the fragility in their execution
at the time of preventing and eradicating violence against
women.
During the 2020 and 2021 period, support was required to
strengthen patrolling programs within the Maria da Penha
Patrol Project. It is established that assistance cannot reach
all municipalities in the State due to a lack of human resources
and limited budgets. In order to reduce the impact, the aim
is to train all military police officers to provide specialized
assistance to victims of domestic violence.
USE OF
RESOURCES
The pandemic brought with it several challenges and
aggravated women’s vulnerability in different aspects. It
increased the factors that contributed to the worsening of
domestic violence cases, the burden of domestic and care
work, disproportionate economic impact, and limited access
to reproductive health services, among others.
In the State of Rio Grande do Sul, governmental actions
were instructed during the pandemic to mitigate the damages
and negative effects on women’s vulnerability. In the RS
Seguro strategy, the project brings together the 3 branches
of government, 16 institutions and 9 secretariats for the
protection of women, aggregating and uniting all the forces
of the State to address violence and its central objective to
strengthen the network of support to victims and promote a
cultural change among Brazilians that values the protection of
women in society in all its forms.
VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN
IN A PANDEMIC
VI. B. SUB-NATIONAL ENTITIES

146
Within the concept of integrated policies, article 35 of the Maria
da Penha Law provides for the creation of comprehensive and
multi-disciplinary care centers, shelters, police stations, public
defender’s offices, health and forensic services specialized
in the care of women in situations of domestic and family
violence, education and rehabilitation centers for harassers
and the creation of courts specialized in domestic violence,
according to article 29 of the law.
FOLLOW-UP AND
ACCOMPANIMENT
VI. B. SUB-NATIONAL ENTITIES

147
PROVINCE OF BUENOS AIRES
As of the change of government management, in December 2019,
and through Law No. 15,164, the Ministry of Women, Gender Policies
and Sexual Diversity was created, falling under its jurisdiction all the
programs inherent to the matter of its competence, including the
function of preventing and eradicating Gender-Based Violence.
Thus, an institutional, budgetary and programmatic hierarchization of th
e public
policy against gender-based violence in the Province of Buenos Aires is evidenced
since the creation of the Ministry of Women, Gender Policy and Sexual Diversity.
For this reason, it is noted that, in the province of Buenos Aires, the alignment of its
regulatory framework with the national legal framework and the existing
international
guidelines on gender-based violence was favored.
While the audit team was not able to fully assess the effectiveness of the gender-
based violence measures implemented by the Ministry of Women, Gender Policies,
and Sexual Diversity during the period from 2019 to 2021, there has been
a decreasing
trend in officially registered femicides, transfemicides, and travesticides and the

number of calls received through the 144 Hotline in the Province of Buen
os Aires.
CIVIL SOCIETY
The Province of Buenos Aires has a comprehensive, territorial,
inter-institutional and inter-jurisdictional vision in addressing
public policy on gender-based violence, with an emphasis on
citizen participation, fostering the creation of a solid network
of actors who contribute added value from their different
dimensions and local realities.
One of the most concrete examples of this valuable perspective
of citizen participation is the strengthening, reactivation
and creation of new Local Intersectoral Roundtables –MLI,
for its Spanish acronym– as spaces for dialogue where the
necessary agreements for the implementation of public policy
at the municipal level are defined and organized.
However, there are instances to be strengthened in terms of
such roundtables, regarding the types of organizations that
should be part of them to ensure equitable and democratic
participation in decision-making.
VI. B. SUB-NATIONAL ENTITIES

148
Also, the need to promote the formalization of agreements
between the public authorities and the civil society organizations
involved in addressing the problem was identified as an aspect
to be improved, including protocols to operationalize the
exchange of information between these actors.
CIVIL SOCIETY
The programs that make up the public policy against gender-
based violence in the Province of Buenos Aires –PBA, for
its Spanish acronym– not only cover all types of violence
against women as defined in the Belém do Pará Convention
-physical, psychological and sexual- but also extend their
approach to economic and patrimonial violence, symbolic and
political violence, in line with the provisions of National Law
No. 26,485 of Comprehensive Protection to Prevent, Punish
and Eradicate Violence against Women, to which the province
adhered through Law No. 14,407, which was enacted through
Law No. 14,407.
TYPES OF
VIOLENCE
Although, since 2018, the PBA adhered to the SDGs of the
2030 Agenda, the Strategic Plans of the Women, Gender
and Sexual Diversity Policies –MMPGyDS, for its Spanish
acronym– do not reflect the formal commitment of the agency
to contribute to the fulfillment of SDG 5 “achieve gender
equality” of the 2030 Agenda, even though its mission, vision
and competency are fully congruent with that goal.
In terms of data transparency, the PBA created the Gender-
Sensitive Indicator System, which identifies gender gaps in
its 5 dimensions: demographic, economic, physical, decision-
making, and state.
Although in the period analyzed the gender gaps in their
physical, economic and decision-making dimensions show
a decreasing trend, they continue to be elevated in the
provincial territory, so it is suggested to sustain and deepen
the presence of the problem in the provincial public agenda
at the operational level, maintaining a consolidated budget
sensitive to gender issues and generating instances of
political consensus aimed at promoting the representation of
the female gender and diversities in provincial and municipal
candidacies for elective and hierarchical public positions to
moderate violence in decision making.
ERADICATING
VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN
VI. B. SUB-NATIONAL ENTITIES

149
The Communities Without Violence Program has a solid legal
framework, a formal operational structure and an adequate
budgetary provision to guarantee compliance with its objectives.
The goals foreseen in the projects submitted by the
municipalities within the framework of the Communities without
Violence Program are in line with the specific objectives of
the corresponding financing lines and the municipal projects
executed so far have managed to cover all the specific objectives
foreseen in the Program.
The Program has been executed in a timely manner as planned,
granting financing to 95.5% of the municipalities of the Province
of Buenos Aires through the execution of 178 projects in the
2021-2022 period.
Nevertheless, several opportunities for improvement in the
implementation of the program were detected, linked to the
need to strengthen the tools for operational follow-up of the
projects executed; streamline administrative procedures;
design and implement a system of indicators to measure the
goals and results obtained; review the goals of Funding Line
3 on the outcomes of violence, and improve the instances of
monitoring and evaluation of the Program’s projects.
USE OF
RESOURCES
In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, measures for care
and assistance, inter-institutional coordination, awareness-
raising and training to address gender-based violence were
strengthened and implemented. These measures included the
enactment of a law that included gender-based violence in the
social emergency, the declaration of care services as non-
interruptible, the creation of new help lines, the strengthening
of follow-up teams and the promotion of training in health and
safety.
The lack of information on the management of the results
obtained for each of the measures implemented in the
pandemic scenario added to the inexistence of a systematized
registration system of cases, prevented the measurement of the
effectiveness of the actions promoted by the PBA in that period.
VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN
IN A PANDEMIC
The audit team has not been able to access information
related to the design and evaluation of the results of each of
the follow-up and/or accompaniment measures implemented
in the emergency context beyond the management reports
prepared by the MMPGyDS, which describe, in general terms,
the interventions carried out in this sense during the evaluated
period.
FOLLOW-UP
AND/OR
ACCOMPANIMENT
VI. B. SUB-NATIONAL ENTITIES

150
TCE PARANA
Two initiatives were selected as the specific object of the work:
1. 2018-2021 State Plan for Women’s Rights –PEDM, for its Spanish
acronym–.
2. Protocol to Investigate, Prosecute and Judge the Violent Deaths of Women
(Femicides) in Paraná with a Gender Perspective.
From the initiatives, there is an absence of connection between the Stat
e Plan for
Women’s Rights and the Multi-annual Plan; low effectiveness in the State Plan for
Women’s Rights; lack of coordination and follow-up on the implementation of th
e
Protocol to investigate and prosecute violent deaths of women (femicide
s) in Paraná
from a gender perspective.
At the state level, the main articulation mechanism established
between the State and Civil Society is the State Council for
Women’s Rights –CEDM, for its Spanish acronym–, which
aims to enable participation and propose guidelines for
governmental action for the promotion of women’s rights.
Due to the absence of a culture of civil society participation
in the elaboration and execution of public policies, in addition
to the absence of subsidies for follow-up actions and the
absence of a record of the actions carried out with the other
bodies, insufficiency is detected regarding the effectiveness
of the mechanisms for articulation with civil society –CEDM–
and the Network for the Protection of Women Victims of
Domestic Violence.
CIVIL SOCIETY
VI. B. SUB-NATIONAL ENTITIES

151
Due to the Federal Programs or Guidelines that guide the
overcoming of institutional and informative gaps, the absence
of a specific unit that centralizes competencies and resources,
the lack of prioritization of actions to combat violence against
women, the difficulty of initiating processes to adapt the goals
of the SDGs, and the insufficient information for the production
and follow-up of phenomena of violence against women in
the State, the institutional and informative precariousness to
achieve target 5.2 of the Sustainable Development Goals has
been concluded.
ERADICATING
VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN
There is a lack of control over the specific resources allocated
and applied to the policy to combat violence against women.
Since there is no separation of resources by measures adopted,
the resources applied to the policy are spread over several
Secretariats, generally spending resources on core activities
and indirect costs, lack of integration between medium-term
planning and annual financial execution (segregation between
the State Secretariat of Planning –SEPL, for its Spanish
acronym– and the State Secretariat of Finance –SEFA, for
its Spanish acronym–, absence of a specific budgetary unit
to execute the policy, weaknesses in multi-annual planning,
generic characterization of the Initiatives, targets and
indicators misaligned concerning the Plan, many changes
in budgets and physical targets without proper records and
justifications, and lack of specific budgetary unit to implement
the policy.
The allocation of both human and financial resources is
not traceable, and there is an absence of general data and
information on resource expenditure/actual allocation in the
policy. It is impossible to monitor the achievement of physical
and budgetary goals of the Multi-Annual Plan –P PA –, and
there is poor cost control, making it impossible to determine
the efficiency of the policy because it is unclear where the
resources were spent, and resources are limited.
USE OF
RESOURCES
VI. B. SUB-NATIONAL ENTITIES

152
Due to the pandemic emergency, the following initiatives were
reinforced:
• Protection measures already granted during the period of
remote assistance by the bodies of the Justice System as a
way of ensuring the protection of women at risk;
• Analysis of the request for urgent protection measures,
even without prior police registration.
• Adoption of means of communication, notification and
summons of the parties by digital channels.
También se adoptaron nuevas medidas como:
1. New measures were also adopted, for example:
2. Care related to cases of domestic and family violence
against women is exceptional for the assistance of the
Legal Medical Institute –IML, for its Spanish acronym– in
the context of closing activities to prevent the spread of the
pandemic.
VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN
IN A PANDEMIC
Although there are mechanisms such as the issuance of
protection measures, the Maria da Penha Patrol, specialized
police stations, the Women’s Care Reference Center, and
some Reflection Groups for victims of violence, these are not
present throughout the territory and depend on the activation
of the victim, and no proactive follow-up measures have been
identified to assist women in situations of violence under
normal operating conditions, as in the pandemic.
FOLLOW-UP
AND/OR
ACCOMPANIMENT
VI. B. SUB-NATIONAL ENTITIES

V. GLOSSARY

154
Sexual Harassment:
A form of gender discrimination that arises from the employment relations
hip and, as
such, constitutes an illegal and undesirable practice that violates the
principle that the
dignity of the human being is inviolable. This form of discrimination consists of any
unwanted verbal, visual, or physical misconduct of a sexual nature that
interferes with
work, conditions employment or continuity, or creates an offensive, intimidating, or
hostile work environment.
73
Workplace harassment:
Any conduct that constitutes repeated aggression or harassment, by any m
eans, that
results in the impairment, mistreatment or humiliation of the affected persons, or that
threatens or harms their employment status or their opportunities in emp
loyment.
74
Rape Culture:
A set of beliefs that is evident in people’s ways of life that generate patriarchal power
and control that normalize and justify sexual violence. Persistent gende
r inequalities
and attitudes toward gender and sexuality are most evident in this cultu
re.
75
Discrimination:
Any distinction, exclusion, restriction, or preference based on certain
grounds, such as
race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or socia
l origin,
economic status, birth, or any other social condition, with the purpose
or effect of
nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment, or exercise, on an e
qual footing, of
human rights and fundamental freedoms of all persons.
76
Effectiveness:
Refers to the extent to which an intervention has achieved or is expecte
d to achieve its
objectives and outcomes, including differentiated outcomes among groups.
77
73 Nash, C. (2015) Institutional Response to Sexual Harassment at Universidad de Chile. Retrieved from: https://
direcciondegenero.uchile.cl/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/respuesta_acoso_s
exual_uchile.pdf
74 BCN (2021) Legal guide on workplace harassment. Retrieved from: https://www.bcn.cl/portal/leyfacil/recurso/
acoso-laboral
75 UN. (2019) Sixteen ways to confront rape culture. Retrieved from: https://unsdg.un.org/es/latest/stories/16-ways-
you-can-stand-against-rape-culture
76 OAS. (2019) Compendium of Equality and Non-Discrimination. Page 23. Retrieved from: https://www.oas.org/es/
cidh/informes/pdfs/Compendio-IgualdadNoDiscriminacion.pdf
77 OECD. (2020) Better Criteria for Better Evaluation – Revised definitions of evaluation criteria and principles for
their use. Retrieved from: https://www.oecd.org/development/evaluation/Criterios-evaluacion-ES.pdf

155
Efficiency:
Corresponds to the degree to which the intervention produces or is likel
y to produce
results economically and timely.
78
Cost-effectiveness:
Involves achieving the lowest possible cost, spending only what is reaso
nably
necessary to achieve the goals or targets.
79
Sexual exploitation:
Provoking or intending to provoke abuse based on a power differential, trust, or a
person’s vulnerable position obtain sexual favors. Money or other social, econo
mic, or
political advantages are offered to obtain this, as well.
80
Femicide/Feminicide:
The intentional murder of a woman or girl for reasons of gender. It can be perpetrated
by a current or former partner, including situations of repeated domestic abuse, threats,
intimidation, or sexual violence.
81
Consummated femicide:
These are cases where the offense committed by the aggressor is committed, and the
person attacked dies for gender reasons.
82
Frustrated femicide:
This corresponds to cases in which the perpetrator of the crime does eve
rything in his
or her power to carry out the femicide; however, the person affected does not die due to
causes independent of the aggressor’s will.
83
78 OECD. (2020) Better Criteria for Better Evaluation – Revised definitions of evaluation criteria and principles for
their use. Retrieved from: https://www.oecd.org/development/evaluation/Criterios-evaluacion-ES.pdf
79 OECD. (2020) Better Criteria for Better Evaluation – Revised definitions of evaluation criteria and principles for
their use. Retrieved from: https://www.oecd.org/development/evaluation/Criterios-evaluacion-ES.pdf
80 UNHCR. Sexual Exploitation and Abuse. Retrieved from: https://www.acnur.org/que-se-entiende-por-
explotacion-abuso-acoso-hostigamiento-sexuales#:~:text=La%20explotaci%C3
%B3n%20sexual%20se%20
entiende,servicios%20%E2%80%93%20con%20el%20fin%20de
81 WHO. (2013) Understanding and addressing violence against women. Retrieved from: https://oig.cepal.org/sites/
default/files/20184_femicidio.pdf
82 Prepared by the authors
83 Undersecretariat of Crime Prevention. Intersectoral protocol for assistance to victims of femicide. Retrieved from:
https://www.sename.cl/wsename/p6_22-03-2018/Anexo_09_Protocolo-intersectorial-atenc
ion-victimas-femicidio.
pdf

156
Gender equality:
Includes the existence of substantive equality of opportunities and righ
ts among people,
regardless of their gender, both in the public and private spheres, ensuring that they
can carry out their life projects. The ability of all people to participate on an equal footing
in social, cultural, political and economic life allows public policies,
values, norms and
cultural practices to include the interests and experiences of all gende
rs.
84
Racism:
Theory, doctrine, ideology, or set of ideas that enunciate a causal link between the
phenotypic or genotypic characteristics of individuals or groups and the
ir intellectual,
cultural and personality traits, including the false concept of racial s
uperiority, and which
gives rise to racial inequalities and the notion that discriminatory rel
ations between
groups are morally and scientifically justified.
85
Trafficking in persons:
Recruiting, transporting, transferring, harboring, or receiving persons
through threats
or the use of force or other forms of coercion, kidnapping, fraud, decei
t, abuse of
power, or a position of vulnerability, or providing or receiving payments or benefits to
obtain consent from a person who has control over another person for exp
loitation.
Exploitation includes, at a minimum, the exploitation of prostitution or
other forms of
sexual exploitation, forced labor, slavery, or practices similar to slavery, servitude, or
organ removal.
86
Rape:
Any non-consensual vaginal, anal, or oral penetration by another person,
whether
known or unknown, using any part of the body or an object, which can occ
ur within a
marriage or a domestic partnership or in an armed conflict.
87
84 UNESCO. (2020) Gender equality. Retrieved from: https://es.unesco.org/creativity/sites/creativity/files/digital-
library/cdis/Iguldad%20de%20genero.pdf
85 United Nations (2002) World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related
Intolerance. Declaration and Programme of Action, paragraph 2, page 13. Retrieved from: https://www.ohchr.org/
Documents/Publications/DurbanDecProgAction_sp.pdf
86 UN (2000). Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons Especially Women and Children.
Retrieved from: https://www.unodc.org/documents/treaties/UNTOC/Publications/TOC%20Convention/
TOCebook-e.pdf
87 United Nations (2002) World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related
Intolerance. Declaration and Programme of Action, paragraph 2, page 13. Retrieved from: https://www.ohchr.org/
Documents/Publications/DurbanDecProgAction_sp.pdf

157
Violence against women:
Any act of gender-based violence that results in death, physical, sexual
, or
psychological harm or suffering to a woman, both in public and private contexts. This
includes rape, abuse, sexual abuse, torture, human trafficking, forced prostitution,
abduction, and sexual harassment in public contexts. This violence occurs in three
areas: 1) the family environment; 2) the community, including sub-environments such
as 2.1) violence in the workplace, 2.2) violence in schools, 2.3) vio
lence in healthcare
institutions; and 3) violence within the state.
88
Gender-based violence:
Gender-based violence (GBV) refers to harmful acts directed at an indi
vidual or a group
of individuals based on their gender. It is rooted in gender inequality, the abuse of power
and harmful norms. While women and girls suffer disproportionately from violence, this
term also includes violence directed against LGBTIQA+ populations.
89
Physical Violence:
A form of control, intimidation, and aggression toward another person thr
ough direct
contact (such as hitting, scratching, or pulling) or by restricting mo
vement (binding,
confinement). It can occur in the context of a partnership, family , school, workplace,
community, or institution and can ultimately lead to death.
90
Sexual violence:
Sexual acts committed against a person without their consent, including
physical
invasion of the human body, which can include acts that do not involve penetration or
even any physical contact.
91
88 Article 1. Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence against Women
(“Belém do Pará Convention”). Retrieved from: https://www.oas.org/juridico/spanish/tratados/a-61.html
89 UN Women. Violence against women and girls. Retrieved from: https://www.unwomen.org/es/what-we-do/ending-
violence-against-women/faqs/types-of-violence
90 Immujeres. “Glosario para la Igualdad.” Retrieved from: https://campusgenero.inmujeres.gob.mx/glosario/
terminos/violencia-politica
91 IACHR. Sexual violence against girls and adolescents. Retrieved from: http://www.oas.org/es/cidh/mujeres/
factsheets/03.pdf

158
Political violence:
Encompasses all actions and omissions –including tolerance– that,
based on gender
elements and occurring within the framework of exercising political-elec
toral rights, have
the purpose or result of undermining or nullifying the recognition, enjo
yment, and/or
exercise of political rights or prerogatives inherent to a public office.
92
Psychological violence:
Intentional use of power, including the threat of physical force, against another
person or group that can result in harm to physical, mental, spiritual,
moral, or social
development. It includes verbal abuse, bullying/mobbing, harassment and
threats.
93
Sexual political violence:
Refers to the sexual violence used by members of a political institution
or organization
as a way to impose political control over an individual and social body. It is used during
times of political conflict, such as the invasion of a state, nation, or paramilitaries, an
imposed government against civil society, or in times of war.
94
Obstetric violence:
A set of practices that degrade, intimidate, and oppress women and girls in the field of
reproductive healthcare, particularly during the pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum
process.
95
92 Immujeres. “Glosario para la Igualdad”. Retrieved from: https://campusgenero.inmujeres.gob.mx/glosario/
terminos/violencia-politica
93 International Labour Office (2013) Work-related violence and its integration into existing surveys https://www.ilo.
org/wcmsp5/groups/public/—dgreports/—stat/documents/meetingdocument/
wcms_222231.pdf
94 Maldonado Garay, J. (2019). Sexual political violence: a necessary conceptualization. Nomadías, (27), 160.
Retrieved from: https://nomadias.uchile.cl/index.php/NO/article/view/54379
95 Arguedas, Gabriela. (2014). Obstetric violence: a conceptual proposal based on Costa Rican experience.
Exchange notebooks on Central America and the Caribbean, 146 – 147 Retrieved from: https://www.
bibliotecafragmentada.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/La-violencia-obst%c
3%a9trica-propuesta-conceptual-a-
partir-de-la-experiencia-costarricense.pdf

VI. ANEXOS

A. PLANNING MATRIX
AUDIT OBJECTIVE:
To evaluate the effectiveness/efficiency of government actions, whether plans or
programs, in order to eradicate violence against women, during the 2019-
2021 period,
evaluating the impact that the pandemic has had.

162
Sub
Questions Criteria
Information & sourcesData collection methodsEvidence analysisLimitations and
risks What the analysis
will allow to say 1.1. What policies, programs and/or actions has the State implemented to address violence against women?
a) The commitment of the States: National or regional plans and policies to eradicate violence against women in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNDP, UN Women,
2013)
b) From Commitment to Action: Policies to Eradicate Violence against Women in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNDP, UN Women, 2017)
c) Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW, 1979)
d) Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women (United Nations General Assembly, 1993)
e) Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, approved at the Fourth World Conference on Women, United Nations, 1995.
f) The Inter-American Convention to Prevent, Punish and Eradicate Violence against Women (Belém do Pará Convention)
g) National and/or regional policies or plans to address violence against women
h) Implementation strategies of Agenda 2030, specifically target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in public and private spheres, including
trafficking and sexual exploitation and other forms of exploitation.
i) National Pact to Combat Violence against Women
j) Law to Prevent, Sanction, and Eradicate Violence
k) Law Against Femicide and Other Forms of Violence Against Women
l) General Government Policy
m) Public Policy Against Trafficking in Persons and Comprehensive Protection of Victims
n) National Policy for Effective Equality between Women and Men
o) National Policy for the Care and Prevention of Violence against Women of All Ages
p) Pachuca Declaration, “Strengthen efforts to prevent violence against women”
q) Other regulations or rules specific to each country or region related to VAW. a) National regulations related
to violence against women
b) National or regional policies, programs and/or plans.
c) Studies, research, evaluations, technical advice,
best practices, statistics,
among other documents
issued by recognized
organizations, such as ECLAC,
UN Women, Universities,
United Nations Human
Rights, Gender Equality
Observatory of Latin America
and the Caribbean, Global
Center of Excellence in
Gender Statistics, among
others.
d) Agreements, treaties, declarations, conventions
and commitments acquired
by the State or Government.
e) Evaluation of the plans, programs and/or policies
under study of third parties,
and universities, among
others.
f) Minutes of National Gender Committees or Councils
that provide support to the
Institutional Mechanisms for
the Advancement of Women,
MAM. Interviews with
representatives of bodies
responsible for national
plans, programs and/or
policies.
Information requirements
to the responsible bodies.
Search on official
websites of recognized
organizations, such as
ECLAC, UN Women,
Universities, United
Nations Human Rights,
Gender Equality
Observatory of Latin
America and the
Caribbean, and Global
Center of Excellence in
Gender Statistics, among
others, regarding studies,
research, evaluations,
technical advice, best
practices, statistics, etc., on
violence against women.
Documentary and systems
research.
Work meetings/surveys/
focus groups. Comparative
qualitative analysis
of changes in
current national
regulations.
Qualitative analysis
of interview
content.
Qualitative analysis
of documentation.
Qualitative analysis
of surveys/focus
groups.
Analysis and
comparisons of
studies, research,
evaluations, and
statistics, among
others.
Analysis of which
international
guidelines were
adopted by states. Policy, program,
and/or plan
objectives are
ambiguous, take
a long time to
develop, or are
contradictory.
No or difficult
access to data. Identify the
actions (policies,
programs and/
or plans) that
the State has
promoted to face
VAW.
Chronologically
identify the
programs and/
or plans in the
audited period.
Consistency
between legal
regulations versus
the objectives
and purposes of
policies, programs
and/or plans.
Consistency
between legal
regulations versus
international
guidelines.
QUESTION 1. Have the policies, programs and/or actions of the participating states been effective in addressing
the problem of violence against women?
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163
Sub
Questions Criteria
Information & sourcesData collection methodsEvidence analysisLimitations and
risks What the analysis
will allow to say 1.2. Have states established mechanisms for coordination with civil society regarding the design and implementation of policies, programs and/or actions associated with addressing violence against women?
a) Laws on associations and citizen participation in public management.
b) Specific laws establishing civil society participation.
c) Integral Program establishing the participation of civil society organizations.
d) Statutes of national, state, and/or municipal councils establishing civil society participation in policies, programs, and/or plans.
e) Comprehensive approach framework for the prevention, care, and reparation of violence against women and girls (UNDP, 2020).
f) Best practices for the eradication of domestic violence in the Latin America and the Caribbean region (ECLAC, 2005). a) National regulations related to violence
against women and civil society
participation.
b) National or regional policies, programs and/ or plans that are born in order to the current
regulatory frameworks in the field.
c) Studies, research, evaluations, technical advice, best practices, statistics, among
other documents issued by recognized
organizations, such as ECLAC, UN Women,
Universities, United Nations Human Rights,
Gender Equality Observatory of Latin
America and the Caribbean, Global Center
of Excellence in Gender Statistics, among
others.
d) Agreements, conventions, treaties, declarations, conventions, commitments
acquired by the State or Government,
among others.
e) Evaluation of the policies, programs and/ or plans under study of third parties,
universities, among others.
f) Proceedings of National Gender Committees or Councils that provide support to
the Institutional Mechanisms for the
Advancement of Women, MAM.
g) Consultation/Public Hearing. Interviews with
representatives of bodies
responsible for national
or regional policies,
programs and/or plans.
Information
requirements to the
responsible bodies.
Search on official
websites of recognized
organizations, such as
ECLAC, UN Women,
Universities, United
Nations Human Rights,
Gender Equality
Observatory of Latin
America and the
Caribbean, and Global
Center of Excellence in
Gender Statistics, among
others, regarding studies,
research, evaluations,
technical advice, best
practices, statistics, etc.,
on violence against
women.
Documentary and
systems research.
Work meetings/surveys/
focus groups. Qualitative analysis of
interview content.
Analysis of what
international guidelines
were adhered to by the
state.
Qualitative analysis of
documentation.
Qualitative analysis of
surveys/focus groups.
Analysis and comparisons
of studies, research,
evaluations, and statistics,
among others. There is no
evidence of the
participation of
civil society in the
actions carried
out.
Ignorance of the
entities involved
regarding the
existence of any
civil participation
mechanism. Whether
mechanisms have
been established
with civil society,
in relation to
the design and
implementation of
policies, programs
and/or plans
that the state
has promoted to
combat violence
against women.
The established
mechanisms
have achieved
the objective,
which supports
civil participation
in the design
and execution of
policies, programs
or plans.
Explain the specific
participation.
The state has
considered the
opinion of civil
society for the
formulation of
public policies.
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164
Sub
Questions Criteria
Information & sources Data collection methodsEvidence analysisLimitations and
risks What the analysis will allow to say 1.3. Have the policies, programs and/or actions covered all types
of violence against women defined in the Inter-American Convention to Prevent, Punish and Eradicate Violence against Women – “Belém do Pará Convention?”
a) The Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of
Violence against Women (Convention of
Belém do Pará)
b) Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW,
1979)
(c) Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women (United Nations General
Assembly, 1993)
(d) Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, adopted at the Fourth World Conference on
Women, United Nations, 1995.
e) Strategies for implementing the 2030 Agenda, specifically target 5.2 Eliminate all
forms of violence against all women and girls
in the public and private spheres, including
trafficking and sexual and other types of
exploitation.
f) Declaration of Pachuca, “Strengthening efforts to prevent violence against women.” a) National regulations related to
violence against women
b) National or regional policies, programs and/or plans.
c) Studies, research, evaluations, technical advice, best practices,
statistics, among other documents
issued by recognized organizations,
such as ECLAC, UN Women,
Universities, United Nations
Human Rights, Gender Equality
Observatory of Latin America and
the Caribbean, and Global Center
of Excellence in Gender Statistics,
among others. Interviews with representatives of
bodies responsible for national or
regional policies, programs and/or
plans.
Information requirements to the
responsible bodies.
Search on official websites of recognized
organizations, such as ECLAC, UN
Women, Universities, United Nations
Human Rights, Gender Equality
Observatory of Latin America and
the Caribbean, and Global Center of
Excellence in Gender Statistics, among
others, regarding studies, research,
evaluations, technical advice, best
practices, statistics, etc., on violence
against women.
Documentary and systems research.
Work meetings/surveys/focus groups. Qualitative analysis
of interview content.
Qualitative analysis
of documentation.
Qualitative analysis
of surveys/focus
groups.
Analysis and
comparisons of
studies, research,
evaluations, and
statistics, among
others. Cost of obtaining
information on
the existence of
specific actions,
regarding the
types of violence
not contemplated
in state policies,
programs and/or
plans.
Ambiguous
information
regarding why
they have not
considered such
types of violence
in public policies. Identify what types of violence your
State’s policies, programs, and/or
plans cover.
The policies, programs and/or plans
that your State has developed and
promoted to eradicate VAW are framed
within the commitments established
in the Belém do Pará Convention.
The policies, programs and/or plans
that your State has developed and
promoted to eradicate VAW are
consistent with the established
commitments of the Belém do Pará
Convention and the legal regulations
and laws that support them.
What types of violence are more
recurrent in the State and which
studies or evidence support
addressing such types of violence at
the expense of others.
Identify what types of violence have
not been addressed by your State.
1.4. What are the challenges for your State, in order to meet the commitment to eradicate VAW in the 2030 Agenda?
5.2 Eliminate all forms of violence against
all women and girls in the public and private
spheres, including trafficking and sexual and
other types of exploitation. a) Official systems and databases
of accredited study and research
institutions.
b) Studies and technical research on the situation of the VAW problem.
c) Technical evaluations of state actions.
d) Transparency portals, websites and/or information provided by the
responsible entities Documentary research, database
systems.
Work meetings/surveys.
Interviews with representatives of
bodies responsible for national plans,
programs and/or policies.
Review of national studies.
Analysis of representative surveys. Qualitative analysis
of interview content.
Qualitative
analysis of the
documentation
collected. Not having
access to data/
information.
Low quality of
information
available. Know the gaps regarding compliance
with SDG 5.2, the 2030 Agenda and
whether they are being considered by
the states to be addressed.
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165
Sub QuestionsCriteria Information & sources Data collection methodsEvidence analysisLimitations and risks What the analysis will allow
to say 2.1.Do the resources allocated (financial, physical, technological and/or human, among others) make it possible to achieve the objectives
defined in the audited policies, programs or plans?
a) Sources of financing of the public policies of
each participating State,
Budget Laws b) National
policies, programs and/
or plans under study,
with respect to allocated
resources. a) National Budget Law
b) National policies, programs and/or plans under study, regarding allocated resources.
c) Evaluation of the policies, programs and/or plans under study of third parties, and universities, among
others.
d) Studies, research, evaluations, technical advice, best practices, and statistics, among other documents
issued by recognized organizations, such as ECLAC, UN
Women, Universities, United Nations Human Rights,
Gender Equality Observatory of Latin America and the
Caribbean, and Global Center of Excellence in Gender
Statistics, among others.
e) Local financing strategies.
f) Monitoring, evaluation and follow-up reports of the selected Programs, prepared by the governing body of
the evaluated program. Documentary and systems
research.
Work meetings/surveys.
Interviews with representatives of
bodies responsible for national
policies, programs and/or plans.
Interviews with other actors
involved in the implementation
of the evaluated program.
Information requirements to the
responsible bodies. Analysis and comparisons
of the resources allocated
in a given period versus the
fulfillment of the objective
of the policy, program and/
or plan under study.
Breakdown of the total
amount executed, in a
certain period, corroborating
the sufficiency of the same.
(Analysis for each year of the
audited period) . Outdated
information.
Cost of obtaining
disaggregated
information on the
resources allocated
by item (physical,
technological, and
human, among
others). If there are resource limitations
(physical, financial, technological,
and/or human, among others)
that prevent compliance with the
final objectives of the policies,
programs and/or plans under
study.
The relationship between the
resources used and services
delivered by the state policies,
programs and/or actions under
study has been maximized in
quantity and quality.
2-2. Have the analyzed state policies, plans,
programs, and/or actions been executed in a timely manner as planned?
a) National or regional policies, programs and/
or plans under study. a) National policies, programs and/or plans under study.
b) Evaluation of the policies, programs and/or plans under study of third parties and universities, among
others.
c) Results of the policies, programs and/or plans under study, from 2019 to 2021.
d) Indicators of the policies, programs and/or plans under study, from 2019 to 2021. Documentary and systems
research.
Work meetings
Interviews with representatives of
bodies responsible for national
policies, programs and/or plans.
Information requirements to the
responsible bodies.
Statistics, indicators, data that
make up these results. Analysis of the deadlines
defined in state policies,
programs and/or actions vs.
executed deadlines of such
policies, programs and/or
actions. Outdated
information.
Little clarity in
the definition of
deadlines associated
with plans and/or
programs. Whether the products and/or
services delivered by the state
programs and/or actions under
study were delivered in a timely
manner.
Analyze the consequences of not
delivering such products and/or
services in a timely manner.
QUESTION 2. Have the State policies, programs and/or actions carried out by the participating States used
the resources allocated in an efficient manner?
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166
Sub
Questions Criteria
Information & sourcesData collection methods Evidence analysisLimitations and
risks What the analysis will allow to say 3.1. Did the measures adopted by the States
make it possible to identify and assist
women in situations of violence during the pandemic?
(a) Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women –CEDAW–.
(b) Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women (United Nations General Assembly, 1993).
c) Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women, United Nations,
1995.
d) The Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence against Women
(Belém do Pará Convention).
e) Global Pandemic Compact – actions to combat violence against women and girls during the pandemic.
f) Commitments made by the State to address violence against women and girls during the pandemic.
g) National or regional action plans to address situations of violence against women and girls during the pandemic. a) National Studies.
b) Representative surveys at the national or regional level.
c) Registration systems for women victims of violence in
the pandemic. Documentary research,
systems and databases.
Work meetings.
Interviews with
representatives of bodies
responsible for national
policies, programs and/
or plans.
Review of national studies. Analysis of documents and
data on women and girls in
situations of violence.
Qualitative analysis of the
documentation collected. Not having
access to data/
information.
Low quality of
information
available. Whether the state has taken
additional actions in the pandemic to
address the problem against women.
Check the existence of an integrated
system regarding the identification of
women subjected to violence.
Conclude whether the measures
adopted by the pandemic state
succeeded in getting women victims
of violence to seek assistance.
Determine if the state provided
support for those women victims
of violence who sought assistance
during the pandemic.
3.2. Were the mechanisms for following up on and/ or accompanying women in situations of violence effective?
a) National or regional policies, plans and/or actions to address violence against women during the pandemic.
b) The Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence against Women
(Belém do Pará Convention).

a) State actions or actions
complementary to existing
programs and/or policies
to address the problem of
violence against women.
b) Transparency portals, websites and/or information
provided by the responsible
entities.
c) Technical studies and research.
d) Monitoring and/or accompaniment systems
for women in situations of
violence. Documentary, systems and
database research.
Work meetings.
Interviews with
representatives of bodies
responsible for national
policies, programs and/
or plans.
Review of national studies. Qualitative analysis of the
documentation collected. Not having
access to data/
information.
Low quality of
information
available. Check the existence of follow-up
and/or articulated accompaniment
mechanisms to provide care to
women in situations of violence
during the pandemic.
Determine the main shortcomings/
strengths of the mechanisms for
follow-up and/or accompaniment of
women victims of violence that affect
their effectiveness.
QUESTION 3. Have the responses of the participating states to address
violence against women during the pandemic been effective?
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167
B. CONSOLIDATION QUESTIONNAIRE

Questionnaire for Obtaining Results
Coordinated Audit on Violence against Women
SAI or Associate Member: ______________________________________________
Delivery Date: ____________________________________________________
Person responding: ________________________________________________
Objective
Guide the recording of the information collected in the inquiries carrie
d out in the audit in
a common format for all participating states.
The description of information is associated with the Coordinated Audit Planning Matrix,
mainly linked to the field “What we want to know”.
For its development, we require the completion of each of the points rai
sed with their
respective supports.
If you require help in collecting or recording the information, you can
write to the email
[email protected]
A. Policies, Programs and/or Actions
1. Is there consistency between the legal regulations versus the objectives of the
state actions, programs and/or policies audited?
___ Consistent: The program’s objectives are framed in the regulations
___ Partially consistent: Part of the objectives are not covered by any
regulations
___ Inconsistent: Program objectives do not align with regulations
In the event that the answer is “Partially Consistent” or “Inco
nsistent,” explain in which
points the objective of the program is not included in the regulations.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

168
2. What are the main strengths and challenges of audited state policies, programs
and/or actions?
Strengths:
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Challenges:
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
3. As a result of the analysis carried out, do you consider that the audited state policy,
programs and/or actions achieve the objective for which they were create
d?
(Please respond for each of the audited initiatives, i.e., if 3 program
s are being audited,
respond to each of the three)
Program 1: XXXXX
___ It achieves the objective
___ It partially achieves the objective
___ It does not achieve the objective
___ There is no clear definition of the objectives
Please specify the points it achieves and those it does not (detail for
each audited
initiative).
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

B. Civil Society
4. What are the existing coordination mechanisms between the state and civil society
organizations to combat violence against women?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

169
5. Are the existing coordination mechanisms between the state and civil society
organizations to combat violence against women formalized?
___ YES
___ NO
___ PARTIALLY
6. The State considers the opinions and/or suggestions of civil society organizations
to design programs or actions, in relation to the subject under study.
___ YES
___ NO
___ PARTIALLY
7. The State considers the opinions and/or suggestions of civil society organizations
to improve programs or actions, in relation to the subject under study.
___ YES
___ NO
___ PARTIALLY
8. What are the main strengths in the relationship between the State and civil
organizations in your country?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
9. What are the main obstacles in the relationship between the State and civil
organizations in your country?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
10. What are the main challenges in the relationship between the State and
civil organizations in your country? Indicate if there are projects that
address such
challenges.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

170

11. Are civil organizations in your state part of the implementation or execution of
actions and/or programs in relation to violence against women?
___ YES
___ NO
If the answer is “Yes,” explain the participation
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
C. Types of Violence
12. Are the types of violence covered by state actions, programs and/or policies in line
with the Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Era
dication of
Violence against Women – “Belém do Pará Convention?”
___ YES
___ NO
If the answer is “NO,” explain
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
13. What is the type of recurrent violence in your state?
(Check all that apply)
___ Domestic or family violence
___ Obstetric violence
___ Workplace violence
___ Media violence
___ Institutional violence
___ Others, Specify
If there is no reliable evidence or information to support the most recu
rrent type of
violence in your state, please specify.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
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171
D. Eradicating VAW
14. Has your state measured the achievement of SDG target 5.2 in the audited period?
___ YES
___ NO
15. If yes, how has your State measured compliance with SDG target 5.2?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
16. What are the gaps that your country has in achieving the commitment to eradicate
VAW, according to target 5.2 of the SDGs?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
E. Use of Resources
17. Do the audited state policies, programs and/or actions have a budget allocated in
the years 2019, 2020 and 2021?
___ YES
___ NO
___ Only in some of the years consulted
___ Only some of the audited state policies, programs and/or actions
18. Are the executed resources of the audited state policies, programs and/or actions
distributed by physical, financial, technological and human resources?
___ YES
___ NO
___ Only some of the audited state policies, programs and/or actions

172
19. If the previous answer is “Yes” or “Only some,” indicate the distribution of the
resources spent on the audited programs:
Type of resources Average % of resources spent for all audited programs
Year 2019 Year 2020Year 2021
Physical
Financial
Technology
Human Resources
Other Resources
Please indicate what the other resources are: __________________________
________

20. Did the resources allocated to the audited state policies, programs and/or actions
achieve the program objectives?
___ YES
___ NO
___ PARTIALLY
___ COULD NOT BE EVALUATED
In case of answering “NO” or “Partially,” detail why the resources were insufficient.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
F. Services and/or Benefits
21. Do the audited state policies, programs and/or actions have a definition of the
services and/or benefits to be provided?
___ YES
___ NO
___ PARTIALLY
22. If the previous answer is Yes, do the services described have defined deadlines?
___ YES
___ NO
___ PARTIALLY

173
23. Are the deadlines established for the services and/or benefits provided met?
___ YES
___ NO
___ PARTIALLY
___ COULD NOT BE DETERMINED
If you mark “NO” or “Partially,” provide details on why:
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
___________ ___________________________________________________________
G. VAW in a Pandemic
24. In your State, the problem of VAW during a pandemic:
___ Increased
___ Decreased
___ Remained the same
___ No evidence available
25. Indicate the scenario your State is in during the pandemic with respect to the VAW
issue:
(Check the appropriate option (s))
___ Reinforced existing measures
___ Created new measures to address the issue
___ Has not taken additional actions during the pandemic
26. In accordance with the previous response, please specify which actions were
reinforced and the new measures adopted by the State in order to eradica
te VAW during
the pandemic:
Reinforced Actions:
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
New measures adopted:
______________________________________________________________________
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174
27. Do you think that the reinforced actions or new measures succeeded in
encouraging abused women to seek assistance?
___ YES
___ NO
___ COULD NOT BE EVALUATED
28. Were remote assistance channels for women victims of violence provided and/or
reinforced?
___ YES
___ NO
___ COULD NOT BE EVALUATED
Specify which ones
_____________________________________________________________________

29. Did the reinforced actions or new measures taken by the pandemic state meet its
objectives?
___ YES
___ NO
___ PARTIALLY
___ COULD NOT BE EVALUATED
H. Follow-up and/or accompaniment
30. Were there mechanisms to follow up on and/or accompany women in situations of
violence during the pandemic?
___ YES
___ NO
If “Yes,” indicate which ones
______________________________________________________________________
31. If the previous answer is “Yes,” indicate if the mechanisms of follow-up and/or
accompaniment indicated above have a defined objective
___ YES
___ NO
___ PARTIALLY

175
32. If the previous answer is “Yes,” indicate if the mechanisms of follow-up and/or
accompaniment have a defined objective. Was the objective reached?
___ YES
___ NO
___ PARTIALLY
___ COULD NOT BE EVALUATED
33. Indicate shortcomings in the mechanisms for follow-up on and/or accompaniment
of women in situations of violence during the pandemic.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
34. Indicate strengths in the mechanisms for follow-up on and/or accompaniment of
women in situations of violence during the pandemic.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
C. SIGNING AND RATIFICATION OF THE
CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF ALL
FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN
–CEDAW–
CEDAW
Countries Subscription Entry into force
Argentina July 17, 1980July 15, 1985
Bolivia May 30, 1980June 8, 1990
Brazil March 31, 1981February 1, 1984
Chile July 17, 1980December 7, 1989
Costa Rica July 17, 1980April 4, 1986
Ecuador July 17, 1980November 9, 1981
El Salvador November 14, 1980August 19, 1981
Guatemala June 8, 1981August 12, 1982
Honduras June 11, 1980March 3, 1983
Mexico July 17, 1980March 23, 1981
Paraguay April 6, 1987April 6, 1987
Puerto Rico July 17, 1980July 17, 1980
Venezuela July 17, 1980May 2, 1983

176
D. SIGNING AND RATIFICATION OF THE
OPTIONAL PROTOCOL TO THE CONVENTION
ON THE ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS OF
DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN –CEDAW–
Supplementary Protocol
Countries Subscription Entry into force
Argentina February 28, 2000March 09, 2007
Bolivia December 10, 1999September 27, 2000
Brazil March 13, 2001June 28, 2002
Chile December 10, 1999January 20, 2020
Costa Rica December 10, 1999September 20, 2001
Ecuador December 10, 1999February 5, 2002
El Salvador April 4, 2001N/A
Guatemala September 7, 2000May 9, 2002
Honduras N/AN/A
Mexico December 10, 1999March 15, 2002
Paraguay 28 December 1999May 14, 2001
Puerto Rico N/AN/A
Venezuela March 17, 2000Seite 4 13 May 2002
E. SIGNING AND RATIFICATION OF THE
INTER-AMERICAN CONVENTION ON THE
PREVENTION, PUNISHMENT AND ERADICATION
OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN “CONVENTION
OF BELEM DO PARÁ”
“Inter-American Convention to Eradicate Violence against Women – Belém do Pará”
Countries Subscription Entry into force
Argentina June 10, 1994April 9, 1996
Bolivia September 14, 1994October 26, 1994
Brazil June 9, 1994November 16, 1995
Chile October 17, 1994October 24, 1996
Costa Rica June 9, 1994July 5, 1995
Ecuador January 10, 1995June 30, 1995
El Salvador August 14, 1995November 13, 1995
Guatemala June 24, 1994January 23, 1995
Honduras June 10, 1994July 4, 1995
Mexico June 4, 1995June 19, 1998
Paraguay October 17, 1995September 29, 1995
Puerto Rico N/AN/A
Venezuela June 9, 1994January 16, 1995

177
F. NATIONAL EMERGENCY NUMBERS
If you are a victim of gender-based violence, contact the following emer
gency numbers:
Argentina: You can call free of charge, 24 hours a day on Line 144.
Bolivia: The Bolivian police through the Special Force to Combat
Violence –FELCV– is there to provide immediate attention.
Call 24 hours a day at 800 14 03 48.
Brazil: To denounce or seek help in case of violence against
women, contact 180
Chile: You can call free of charge to receive guidance on violence
against women at 1455.
Costa Rica: You can contact the Operational Center for attention to
domestic violence at 9-1-1 24 hours a day, every day of the
year.
Ecuador: You can contact the Integrated Security Service ECU911 in
case of domestic violence.
Guatemala: You can call the Modelo de Atención Integral para mujeres
víctimas by dialing 1572.
Honduras: In case of violence against women call the National Police
emergency line 911.
Mexico: Call 911 for first contact for attention to violence against
women.
Paraguay: Call 137 24 hours a day for women victims of violence.
Puerto Rico: For emergencies or counseling in case of being a victim of
violence against women, call 787-722-2977.
Venezuela: In case of violence against women call 0800-34722-00 24
hours a day.

178
G. ACRONYMS
SAI Supreme Audit Institutions
AE Audit Entities
OLACEFS Latin American and Caribbean Organization of Supreme Audit
Institutions
INTOSAI International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions
GTG Working Group on Gender Equality and Non-Discrimination
Policy Gender Equality and Non-Discrimination Policy
ISSAI International Standards of Supreme Audit Institutions
CCC OLACEFS Capacity Building Committee
INTOSAI (IDI) INTOSAI Development Initiative
MOOC Massive Open Online Course
OHCHR Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
CEDAW Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
against Women
Belém do Pará Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and
Eradication of Violence against Women
SDG Sustainable Development Goals
GBV Gender-based violence
GEO Gender Equality Observatory of Latin America and the
Caribbean
ECLAC Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
MESECVI Follow-up Mechanism to the Convention of Belém do Pará
OECD Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development
CSO Civil Society Organizations