The United Nations Secretary-General has released a study to be presented at the UN General Assembly on 9 October 2006. The study is a response to a 2003 UN General Assembly request for the Secretary-General to conduct an in-depth study on all forms of violence against women (resolution 58/185). The study provides recommendations on the national, intergovernmental, and UN level, on the action steps governments should take to end the impunity in which violence against women is perpetrated.
IN-DEPTH STUDY ON ALL FORMS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
Report of the Secretary-General - October 2006
Introduction
1. Violence against women persists in every country in the world as a pervasive violation of human rights and a major impediment to achieving gender equality.
Such violence is unacceptable, whether perpetrated by the State and its agents or by family members or strangers, in the public or private sphere, in peacetime or in times of conflict. The Secretary -General has stated that as long as violence against women continues, we cannot claim to be making real progress towards equality, development and peace.
2. States have an obligation to protect women from violence, to hold perpetrators accountable and to provide justice and remedies to victims. Eliminating violence against women remains one of the most serious challenges of our time. The knowledge base and tools to prevent and eliminate violence against women developed over the past decade must be utilized more systematically and effectively to put a stop to all violence against women. This requires clear political will, outspoken, visible and unwavering commitment at the highest levels of leadership of the State and the resolve, advocacy and practical action of individuals and communities.
3. Significant work has been undertaken by States, entities of the United Nations system, NGOs, women’s groups and networks and researchers to address male violence against women. The extensive work undertaken by different ac tors at different levels has led to a better understanding of the nature and scope of violence against women and an appreciation of its impact on women and on societies.
International legal and policy frameworks for addressing such violence have been established, covering many different forms and types of violence in public as well as in private settings.
4. At the same time, much more remains to be done to create an environment where women can live free from gender-based violence.1 Progress in the development of international legal norms, standards and policies has not been accompanied by comparable progress in their implementation at the national level, which remains insufficient and inconsistent in all parts of the world. Similarly, while data on the nature, prevalence and incidence of all forms of violence against women has increased significantly in recent years, information is not yet comprehensive. Lack of political will is reflected in inadequate resources devoted to tackling violence against women and a failure to create and maintain a political and social environment where violence against women is not tolerated. There is also a need to engage men more effectively in the work on preventing and eliminating such violence, and to tackle stereotypes and attitudes that perpetuate male violence against women.
5. The General Assembly has provided critical leadership in the global effort to combat violence against women. Its landmark Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women (resolution 48/104) provides the framework for analysis and action at the national and international levels. In recent years, the General Assembly has addressed violence against women in general, as well as specific forms and manifestations of such violence. These include violence against women migrant workers; trafficking in women and girls; traditional or customary practices affecting the health of women and girls; crimes against women committed in the name of “honour”; and domestic violence against women.
6. In December 2003, the General Assembly mandated — for the first time — the preparation of an in-depth study on all forms and manifestations of violence against women (resolution 58/185). This request is a clear signal of the importance that Member States — through the General Assembly — attach to addressing violence against women.
7. Specifically, the study aims to: highlight the persistence and unacceptability of all forms of violence against women in all parts of the world; strengthen the political commitment and jo int efforts of all stakeholders to prevent and eliminate violence against women; and identify ways and means to ensure more sustained and effective implementation of State obligations to address all forms of violence against women, and to increase State accountability.
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