A/HRC/RES/57/18 Stressing the need to fully engage and educate men and boys as agents and beneficiaries of change in the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, as well as allies in the prevention and elimination of domestic violence, ensuring that, at their core, such engagement and education are focused on tackling unequal power relations, gender stereotypes and negative social norms such as perceptions of masculinity, sexism and misogyny, while recognizing that men and boys can also be victims of domestic violence, Underscoring the fact that shame, stigma, fear of reprisals, fear of separation from children, psychological and emotional dependence and negative economic consequences, such as loss of livelihood or reduced household income, as well as social constraints and expectations, including those by administrative and legal authorities in charge of investigating domestic violence, prevent victims of domestic violence from leaving abusive relationships, seeking healthcare and social support services, reporting or acting as witnesses in cases of domestic violence and seeking redress and justice for these crimes, Recalling that States have the obligation, at all levels, to respect, protect and fulfil all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all and should take all possible measures to prevent domestic violence and investigate, prosecute and hold to account the perpetrators of domestic violence, eliminate impunity and provide for effective access to appropriate remedies for victims, and should work to ensure their protection, including through adequate enforcement of civil remedies, orders of protection and criminal sanctions, and the provision of shelters, psychosocial services, counselling, healthcare services, including, among others, sexual and reproductive healthcare services, and other types of support services such as legal redress, in order to avoid revictimization and to promote an empowering environment, and that to do so contributes to the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms by any person subjected to domestic violence, 1. Stresses that domestic violence is a human rights issue, a societal problem and a public concern and that it is critical for States to fulfil their obligations to respect, protect and promote human rights and freedoms for all and to take serious action to prevent and eliminate domestic violence and protect those subjected to this form of violence, and reaffirms that States should not invoke any custom, tradition or religious consideration to avoid the implementation of their obligations under international human rights law; 2. Strongly condemns and calls for the elimination of domestic violence, while recognizing that it is an impediment to the full realization of human rights and freedoms for all and to the achievement of gender equality and while expressing concern that domestic violence is the most prevalent and least visible form of violence and that its consequences are long-lasting and profound and affect many areas in the lives of those subjected to it; 3. Encourages all States to take effective action: (a) To prevent and eliminate domestic violence against women and girls, as they are disproportionately affected by such violence, paying particular attention to abolishing practices and laws that discriminate against women and girls, including, where applicable, provisions in civil, criminal and personal status laws governing marriage and family relations, eliminating harmful practices, including child, early and forced marriage, countering prejudices, gender stereotypes and negative social norms, providing human rights education and raising awareness of the unacceptability of violence against women and girls, including domestic violence, at all levels and throughout their life cycle; (b) To empower women and strengthen their economic independence, including through equal remuneration for equal work and increased job opportunities, as well as equal access to and control over economic resources, including land, credit, microcredit and traditional saving schemes such as women’s banks and cooperatives, and by ensuring women’s equal rights to acquire, change or retain their nationality, property rights and the right to inheritance, with a view to reducing women’s vulnerability to all forms of violence, including domestic violence; (c) To prevent and protect children from domestic violence, including children with disabilities, migrant children, Indigenous children, children of African descent and children in vulnerable situations, whether they are victims through witnessing or 3