A/HRC/RES/14/12
Recognizing that power imbalances and structural inequality between men and
women are among the root causes of violence against women, and that effective prevention
of violence against women and girls requires action at all levels of government, the
engagement of civil society, the involvement of men and boys and the adoption and
implementation of multifaceted and comprehensive approaches that promote gender
equality and empowerment of women, and integrate awareness, education, training,
political will, legislation, accountability, targeted policies and programmes, specific
measures to reduce vulnerability, data collection and analysis, monitoring and evaluation,
and protection, support and redress for victims,
Recognizing also that violence against women is one of the factors impeding
progress towards meeting the Millennium Development Goals,
Recognizing further the importance of the full participation of women in the
development of effective policies and programmes relating to the prevention of violence
against women,
Acknowledging that confronting and changing the harmful attitudes, customs,
practices and gender stereotypes that underlie and perpetuate violence against women are
fundamental to ensuring effective prevention,
Stressing that the realization of all human rights by women and girls, such as those
regarding education, access to health, economic participation, access to the labour market,
conditions of work, disparities in salaries and compensation, public and political
participation, access to decision-making processes, inheritance, financial services, including
loans, nationality and legal capacity, ownership of land, property, housing, social security
and cultural life, supported by appropriate responses dealing with legal literacy, skills
training and access to productive resources, is a key factor in preventing violence against
women and girls, and that, in many instances, the different treatment of women before the
law has resulted in the lack of equal opportunities for them in these areas,
Deeply concerned that all forms of discrimination, including racism, racial
discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and multiple or aggravated forms of
discrimination and disadvantage, can lead to the targeting or vulnerability to violence of
some women and girls, including women belonging to minority groups, indigenous women,
refugee and internally displaced women, stateless women, migrant women, women living
in rural or remote communities, women living in slums and informal settlements, women
living in conditions of poverty, women in institutions or in detention, women with
disabilities, elderly women, widows and women in all situations of armed conflict, women
who face trafficking, sexual or labour exploitation, and women who are otherwise
discriminated against, including on the basis of their HIV/AIDS status,
Concerned that the threat or risk of being exposed to violence may constitute a
barrier to women and girls realizing their right to education,
Alarmed that, in situations of armed conflict, women are particularly exposed to
various forms of violence, including sexual violence, and recognizing the need to intensify
efforts to prevent such violence in accordance with international humanitarian law and
human rights law,
1.
Stresses that States have the obligation to promote and protect all human
rights and fundamental freedoms of women and girls, and must exercise due diligence to
prevent, investigate, prosecute and punish the perpetrators of violence against women and
girls and provide protection to the victims, and that failure to do so violates and impairs or
nullifies the enjoyment of their human rights and fundamental freedoms;
2.
Calls upon States to enact and, where necessary, reinforce or amend domestic
legislation and take measures to enhance the protection of victims, to investigate, prosecute,
2