Violence against women: Prevent, Protect and Provide Justice

NEW YORK (10 October 2011) – “Pervasive, widespread and unacceptable; that’s violence against women throughout the world,” said United Nations Special Rapporteur Rashida Manjoo at the UN General Assembly today, presenting a key thematic report on violence against women, its causes and consequences.

“Whether it occurs in times of peace and conflict, the various forms and manifestations of violence against women are simultaneously causes and consequences of discrimination, inequality and oppression,” Ms. Manjoo stressed. The report brings together the expert views of Ms. Manjoo and two of her predecessors charged with monitoring and reporting on violence against women.

“My report provides an overview on the forms violence against women takes and how States should respond to it,” the Special Rapporteur on violence against women said. “Wherever it occurs, any violence that is either directed at women, or experienced by a group that is overwhelmingly female represents a violation of international human rights law.”

Ms. Manjoo reiterated her call on States to uphold their international human rights obligations by preventing acts of violence against women, investigating and punishing all acts of violence against women, protecting women against such violence, and providing remedy and reparation to the victims.

“The fight for the human rights of women remains a collective endeavour in which we should jointly take action to ensure their full enjoyment by every women and girl worldwide,” Ms. Manjoo said.

Ms. Rashida Manjoo (South Africa) was appointed Special Rapporteur on Violence against women, its causes and consequences in June 2009 by the UN Human Rights Council, for an initial period of three year. As Special Rapporteur, she is independent from any government or organization and serves in her individual capacity. Ms. Manjoo is also a Professor at the Department of Public Law at the University of Cape Town.

(*) Check the report by Special Rapporteur Rashida Manjoo: http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=A/66/215

For additional information on the mandate and activities of the Special Rapporteur, log on to: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Women/SRWomen/Pages/SRWomenIndex.aspx

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