Vienna Declaration. Furthermore, that issue had been incorporated into the mechanisms and procedures related to human rights. The Commission on Human Rights had adopted various resolutions including resolutions dealing with specific types of violence, such as that connected with the trafficking of women and girls, and that against women migrant workers, and with traditional practices affecting the health of women and children. 19. The Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women spoke about her mandate. This included reporting to the Commission on Human Rights, fact-finding missions to specific countries, the assessment of individual allegations of violence being committed against women, the forwarding of complaints to Governments with the purpose of receiving clarification and, in dialogue with States, the recommending of measures at all levels to eliminate violence against women. She further explained the legal framework and her priorities by referring to relevant instruments dealing with human rights and violence against women. She reported that the process of collecting information in respect to the future programme of work had begun and urged Governments to provide information. 20. A few representatives stressed that violence against women was not only a manifestation of the unequal distribution of power between women and men, but also an instrument in maintaining this situation. It was a revealing indicator of the continuing subordination and inequality of women. Many women were facing violence in their lives because of harmful traditions, customs, or religious or cultural practices or armed conflicts. 21. One representative referred to domestic violence, incest and genital mutilation as the worst forms of violence. Another representative informed about the measures taken to combat domestic violence including the adoption of gender-sensitive legislation. A few representatives referred to the practice of sexual and other forms of violence and inhuman degrading treatment faced by women during war and military occupation. Some representatives referred to the violence against women migrant workers, refugees and displaced women. 22. Many representatives expressed great concern about the problem of different types of violence against women. One representative stated that the issue was insufficiently dealt with by the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies. A few representatives stated that part of the problem was the lack of legal knowledge and legislation to protect women, as well as the lack of an effective mechanism for the implementation of national and international provisions, including the Geneva Conventions. 23. A few representatives indicated that they fully supported efforts to improve the collaboration between the Commission and the Centre for Human Rights, and welcomed the proposal for establishing a human rights section within the Division for the Advancement of Women. 24. A representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) emphasized that violence against women was a major public health issue, since it led to psychological trauma, depression, substance abuse, injuries, sexually transmitted diseases, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, suicide and death; however, the victims rarely received rehabilitative care, or the compensation received by the victims of other injury-causing trauma. -54-