A/RES/57/179
Stressing the need to treat all forms of violence against women and girls,
including crimes committed in the name of honour, as a criminal offence,
punishable by law,
Aware that inadequate understanding of the root causes of all violence against
women, including crimes committed in the name of honour, which take many
different forms, and inadequate data on such violence hinder informed policy
analysis, at both the domestic and the international levels, and efforts to eliminate
such violence,
Deeply concerned that women and girls are victims of these crimes, as
described in the relevant sections of the reports of the Human Rights Committee, the
Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, the Committee on
the Rights of the Child and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,
and notes in this regard the relevant parts of the report of the Special Rapporteur of
the Commission on Human Rights on violence against women, its causes and
consequences, 9
Emphasizing that such crimes are incompatible with all religious and cultural
values,
Bearing in mind Commission on Human Rights resolution 2002/52 of 23 April
2002, 10
Emphasizing that the elimination of crimes against women committed in the
name of honour requires greater efforts and commitment on the part of Governments
and the international community, inter alia, through international cooperation
efforts, and civil society, including non-governmental organizations, and that
fundamental changes in societal attitude are required,
Underlining the importance of the empowerment of women and their effective
participation in decision-making and policy-making processes as one of the critical
tools to prevent and eliminate crimes against women committed in the name of
honour,
1.
Welcomes:
(a) The activities and initiatives of States aimed at the elimination of crimes
against women committed in the name of honour, including the adoption of
amendments to relevant national laws relating to such crimes, the effective
implementation of such laws and educational, social and other measures, including
national information and awareness-raising campaigns, as well as activities and
initiatives of States aimed at the elimination of all other forms of violence against
women;
(b) The efforts, such as projects, undertaken by United Nations bodies, funds
and programmes, including the United Nations Population Fund, the United Nations
Children’s Fund and the United Nations Development Fund for Women, to address
the issue of crimes against women committed in the name of honour, and
encourages them to coordinate their efforts;
_______________
9
E/CN.4/2002/83, paras. 21–37.
See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2002, Supplement No. 3 (E/2002/23), chap. II,
sect. A.
10
2