26. Gender-based violence which resulted in or was likely to result in physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women affected the corporal integrity of women. It was emphasized that the elimination of violence against women was therefore linked to other human rights guarantees, including the right to life, freedom from torture, detention and arbitrary arrest, and the Geneva Conventions. 27. All forms of gender-based violence against women had a devastating effect on women and their families, in particular their children, and brought with it the risk of a continuous cycle of violence between generations, focused on groups of women, including women with disabilities, migrant women and women in prostitution. 28. It was noted that trafficking in women had become an integral feature of transnational organized crime. International cooperation was needed to address the issue of trafficking and to punish those involved in organizing and profiting from it. In several instances, regional cooperation in that regard had started, and national task forces had been established. It was underlined that the problem of trafficking should be dealt with along the lines set out by the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, which had not yet been ratified by all countries. 29. Recently, many Governments had given the elimination of violence against women top priority, as reflected in the many national action plans established in the follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women. In addition, several countries had elaborated specific action plans to combat gender-based violence, involving non-governmental organizations. At the international level, activities carried out by existing mechanisms, including the Commission on the Status of Women, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, the Commission on Human Rights and reports of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on violence against women, were praised. 30. Mention was made of good practices in the fields of appropriate assistance, management and communication, and prevention, investigation and prosecution, which involved social, educational, medical, judicial, law enforcement, and migration authorities as well as non-governmental organizations. There was consensus that legal action and reform of the criminal and civil justice systems were critical. It was essential that perpetrators be confronted with the consequences of their behaviour and held accountable. It was noted that some countries had introduced legislation that made it possible to remove the violent offenders from the family home, instead of accommodating victims and children in shelters. 31. Gender training for law enforcement officers and other personnel, relevant governmental agents and officials was considered important in order to sensitize the criminal justice system regarding violence against women. In some countries, special examination kits were provided to the police for collecting forensic evidence from women. It was emphasized that the full participation of women in the development and execution of laws was required and that there was need for more gender-sensitive women police officers, prosecutors and judges. Training of health and social workers, teachers and counsellors was also necessary in order to ensure that they would be able to identify crimes of violence committed against women and girls. Effective partnership between the police and non-governmental organizations working on violence was considered crucial. -69-