A/HRC/RES/29/14 women and girls and against children, building on existing relevant work of the World Health Organization, Acknowledging the important and useful role that can be played by regional conventions, instruments and initiatives to combat violence against women and girls, Recognizing that violence against women and girls is rooted in historical and structural inequality in power relations between women and men, and that all forms of violence against women and girls seriously violate and impair or nullify their enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and constitute a major impediment to women’s full, equal and effective participation in society, the economy and political decisionmaking, Gravely concerned that domestic violence, including intimate partner violence, remains the most prevalent form of violence affecting women of all social strata across the world, and emphasizing that such violence is a violation, abuse or impairment of the enjoyment of their human rights and, as such, is unacceptable, Recognizing that violence against women and girls, including in the domestic sphere, is a form of discrimination that seriously inhibits women’s ability to enjoy rights and freedoms on a basis of equality with men, Recognizing also that violence against women and girls, including domestic violence, is, inter alia, a serious violation or abuse of human rights, a societal problem and a manifestation of unequal power relations, and is intrinsically linked with gender stereotypes that underlie and perpetuate such violence, while stressing that women’s empowerment, including women’s economic and political empowerment, full and equal access to and control over land and resources, and participation in decision-making processes, are essential for addressing the underlying causes of violence against women and girls, Recognizing further the serious immediate and long-term implications for health, including psychological, physical, sexual and reproductive health and the enjoyment of all human rights, that domestic violence against women of all ages can present for individuals and families, Recognizing the vulnerability of those who suffer multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, such as older women, indigenous women, migrant women and women with disabilities, and the particular risk of violence they face, and stressing the urgent need to address violence and discrimination against them, Underscoring the fact that shame, stigma, fear of reprisals and negative economic consequences, such as loss of livelihood or reduced household income, prevent many women and girls from leaving dangerous relationships, reporting or acting as witnesses in cases of domestic violence, and seeking redress and justice for these crimes, Noting with deep concern that children can also be victims of domestic violence, including as witnesses, Recognizing that child, early and forced marriage places individuals, in particular the girl child, at risk of being exposed to and encountering various forms of discrimination and violence throughout their lives, including domestic violence, Recognizing also that the risk and prevalence of violence against women and girls, including domestic violence, are exacerbated in armed conflict and humanitarian crisis situations, 1. Stresses that “violence against women” means any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women of any age and girls, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary 2