International standards on violence against women
The International Observatory on Violence against Women works within a framework of international standards to combat violence against women.
Equality between women and men and the fight against violence against women are components of human rights, protected by the international community. Since the 1970s, the international community has increasingly taken into account the specificity of violence against women and recognized the need for increased protection of women’s rights through specific international conventions and declarations.
1979: Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
It is the first international text which take into account the specificity of discrimination against women. This convention occupies an important place among the international treaties on human rights because it recalls the inalienable rights of women, half of the world’s population. It is one of the most signed conventions in the world, adopted since its proclamation by more than one hundred States.
1993: UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women
It is the first international instrument to explicitly confront violence against women, providing a framework for national and international action. The declaration specifies that states must both refrain from acts of violence against women and prevent and punish such acts if committed by private persons.
« The term “violence against women” means any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life. »
– Article 1 of the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women, 1993
1995: Beijing Platform for Action
This program defines the measures to be taken by States to prevent and combat violence against women and girls. It has been adopted by 189 countries. It specifies 12 critical areas of concern for gender equality in which States must act. Eliminating violence is one of its 12 priority areas of action.
2015: Sustainable Development Goals
These goals were adopted by the UN as targets to be achieved by 2030. There are 17 goals, among them “gender equality”.
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