A/RES/59/165
Recalling also its resolution 58/185 of 22 December 2003, in which it called
for an in-depth study on violence against women, including crimes committed in the
name of honour, as well as its resolution 57/190 of 18 December 2002, in which it
called for an in-depth study on violence against children,
Bearing in mind that States have an obligation to exercise due diligence to
prevent, investigate and punish the perpetrators of crimes against women and girls
committed in the name of honour and to provide protection to the victims, and that
not doing so violates and impairs or nullifies the enjoyment of their human rights
and fundamental freedoms,
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,
Stressing also the need to identify and effectively address the root causes of
violence against women, in particular crimes committed in the name of honour,
which take many different forms,
Aware that inadequate data on violence against women, including crimes
committed in the name of honour, hinder informed policy analysis, at both the
domestic and the international levels, and efforts to eliminate such violence,
Deeply concerned that women and girls continue to be 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 noting in this regard successive reports of the Special Rapporteur of the
Commission on Human Rights on violence against women, its causes and
consequences,
Emphasizing that such crimes are incompatible with all religious and cultural
values,
Emphasizing also that the elimination of crimes against women and girls
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 and girls committed in the
name of honour,
1.
Welcomes:
(a)
The report of the Secretary-General on violence against women; 10
(b) 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
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A/59/281.