A/HRC/26/38
call for comprehensive, coordinated, interdisciplinary, accessible and sustained
multisectoral services and programmes and responses at all levels for all victims and
survivors of all forms of violence against women and girls. The 1998 conclusions are more
specific with regard to the steps that governments should take to address violence against
women, whereas the 2007 and 2013 agreed conclusions are much more general. There is a
greater emphasis on the intersection between economic, social and cultural rights and
violence against women in the 2007 and 2013 conclusions.
13.
Regarding the inclusion of specific categories of women at risk, there has been more
inclusivity over the years. All three of the above-mentioned agreed conclusions discuss
traditional, customary and religious practices that are harmful towards women, with a
particular emphasis on female genital mutilation and its health consequences. The 2013
conclusions are less explicit about female genital mutilation, but refer to practices and
customs that discriminate against or have a discriminatory impact on women. States are
urged to ensure that the provisions of multiple legal systems, where they exist, comply with
international human rights obligations, commitments and principles, including the principle
of non-discrimination.
14.
The 1998 conclusions place greater emphasis on the development and funding of
national plans to end violence against women, while the 2007 conclusions call for the
formulation of a national plan to address child labour. The 2013 conclusions recommend
that governments develop and implement effective multisectoral national policies,
strategies and programmes.
15.
The 1998 and 2013 conclusions also place greater emphasis on the collection of data
so as to inform the development, revision and implementation of laws, policies and
strategies. The 2013 conclusions address the critical area of improving the evidence base,
through multidisciplinary research and analysis on the structural and underlying causes of,
the cost of and risk factors for, violence against women and girls.
16.
The 1998 conclusions are very specific regarding the investigation and prosecution
of acts of violence against women, ensuring the gender-sensitive development of an
integrated framework that includes criminal, civil, evidentiary and procedural provisions
for addressing the multiple forms of violence against women, and also ensuring the
accountability of relevant law enforcement agencies for the implementation of such
policies.
17.
The 2013 conclusions highlight the prevention of and response to all forms of
violence against women and girls, including sexual and gender-based violence, in armed
conflict and post-conflict situations, including through investigation, prosecution and
punishment of perpetrators to end impunity; removal of barriers to women’s access to
justice; the establishment of complaint and reporting mechanisms; the provision of support
to victims and survivors; affordable and accessible health-care services; reintegration
measures; and steps to increase women’s participation in conflict resolution and
peacebuilding processes and post-conflict decision-making.
18.
The CSW session in 2013 was challenging, with strong pressure from some States to
prevent the inclusion of language referring to sexual orientation, gender identity or intimate
partner violence, and contestation over a wider interpretation of the “family”. Nevertheless,
new themes did emerge in the conclusions, including the need to support and protect
women human rights defenders who work on gender-based violence; the need for
governments to promote and protect the human rights of all women, including their right to
have control over, and decide freely and responsibly, on matters relating to their sexuality,
including sexual and reproductive health, free of coercion, discrimination and violence;
specific commitments on the part of governments to ensure the safety of girls in public and
private spaces; commitment to end early and forced marriage; and to prevent, investigate
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