For national policy to be effective (through the implementation of a plan of action, for instance), there must be a mechanism in place to transmit the policy from the centre of governance to local levels, ideally through coordination bodies (Kelly, 2008). At the national level, this is often achieved through an inter-ministerial group or women’s commission (see above).
Example: Multi-Sectoral Programme on Violence against Women (Bangladesh)
The Multi-Sectoral Programme on Violence against Women () was set up in 1997 by the government of Bangladesh with support from the Danish International Development Agency. It aims to address and prevent violence against women through a coordinated inter-ministerial approach. The brings together representatives of eight ministries: Health and Family Welfare; Home Affairs; Information; Social Welfare; Law, Justice and Family Welfare; Religious Affairs; and Education. The programme objectives are to:
- develop an integrated public service response to violence against women, primarily through One-Stop Crisis Centres (OSCCs);
- promote awareness of violence against women and responding services among the public; and
- enhance inter-ministerial coordination and action on violence against women.
The OSCCs have police units attached and are supported by a specially established DNA facility. They also have capacity to provide on-site temporary shelter, medical treatment, counseling and legal services.
The initiative is led by the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs (MoW&CA), which facilitates coordination and ensures implementation of the programme objectives. A Steering Committee made up of members from the eight ministries, directors and principals of the medical colleges housing the OSCCs is tasked with formulating policy and monitoring the project, and is chaired by the Secretary of the MoW&CA. There is also a Coordination Committee co-chaired by the Planning and Development Secretary and the MoW&CA, with representatives of the eight ministries, which is the main body responsible for the implementation of the project.
Source: Multi-Sectoral Programme on Violence Against Women website
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Example: Inter-Ministerial Group on Violence against Women and Girls (England & Wales) A violence against women Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) is chaired by the Home Secretary and meets on a quarterly basis. The IMG addresses issues across Government and monitors progress on the delivery of the national action plan on violence against women, A Call to End Violence against Women and Girls. A cross-departmental violence against women Delivery Board, managed by the Home Office, has responsibility for oversight of the actions to which all individual departments and associated agencies have agreed. The Delivery Board meets every six weeks and reports to the violence against women IMG.
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Example: Inter-Sectoral Committee (South Africa) In South Africa, an Inter-Sectoral Committee for the Management of Sexual Offence Matters was established under Section 63 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences And Related Matters) Amendment Act 32, 2007. The committee is a monitoring framework involving senior government officials, which aims to redress the fragmented nature of service delivery by ensuring that the heads of relevant departments meet regularly to ensure coordination. The committee was tasked with developing a Draft National Policy Framework to coordinate a cross-departmental and multi-sectoral approach to addressing sexual offences (§62(a), guide implementation of the Act (§62(b), and enhance service delivery to victim-survivors (§62(c). The framework includes:
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