29th session of the Human Rights Council

Geneva, 19 June2015
Room XX, Palais des Nations

Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am very pleased to address this important panel on “Eliminating and preventing domestic violence against women and girls”. The fact that the Human Rights Council is addressing domestic violence is very significant. It has taken years of struggles by the women’s rights movement to overcome a fierce resistance to treating domestic violence as a human rights issue. Deeply seated stereotypes about the role of women in the family and beliefs about women’s owed obedience to their husbands and fathers have long influenced the way in which societies have looked at domestic violence: as a private matter in which the State should not interfere. 

The international community has come a long way in the past 20 years in framing domestic violence as a human rights violation. Since the 90s there have been considerable normative developments at international and regional level, with the progressive definitions of States’ due diligence obligations and the recognition that violence against women is the result of structural, deep-rooted discrimination which the state has an obligation to address and for which it can be held accountable. This is a revolutionary conceptual shift.

At the national level, there has also been considerable progress. Legal frameworks and specific institutions and policies have been put in place to protect women from domestic violence. Worldwide, there is growing awareness of the nature and impact of violence against women. Policies and practices to strengthen prevention of domestic violence, protection of the victims and prosecutions of perpetrators have multiplied.

Yet, the figures on prevalence of domestic violence are shocking:

-    1 in 3 women in the world suffers violence during the course of her life. Violence in the home or by an intimate partner is the most common form of violence against women 
-    In 2012, almost half of all female murder victims were killed by family members or intimate partners, compared to only 6 per cent of male homicide victims. 

Why does domestic violence continue to be so wide-spread? The reasons are many and vary from one context to another. Gender inequality, lack of access to education and of full participation in power structures and decision-making bodies are all contributing factors. Compounded discrimination and economic power and structures can reinforce gender inequalities and make certain groups of women particularly vulnerable to violence, including poor, migrant, indigenous, young and elderly women and women with disabilities.

At the heart of the matter, however, continues to be the belief that men – fathers, husbands, brothers - have an entitlement over women and a right - or even a responsibility - to control their behaviour or protect their “honour”.  These beliefs are subtly and widely ingrained in societies. They can be the triggers of violence, and they can also affect the responses to it. Victims themselves may feel a sense of guilt for failing the expectations of their husbands or fathers and decide not to report violence. Families and communities may also look at victims with suspicion and compound their shame and isolation. Bias and stereotypes can also affect law enforcement and the judiciary – resulting in negligent responses or decisions based on patriarchal notions of what is women’s appropriate behaviour.

How do we put an end to domestic violence then? States and other stakeholders in this room have on various occasions shared information on successful initiatives from which a lot can be learnt.

We know already what is required: Comprehensive interventions that address both the causes and impact of violence. Let me mention four action points for States:

1.  Addressing discriminatory legislation. Discriminatory laws are both informed by and reinforce the very stereotypes that are at the heart of domestic violence. Over 50 countries still do not recognize equality between men and women in their Constitutions. In over 20 countries a married women cannot decide where to live on the same footing with men. In at least 10 countries married women are requested by law to obey their husbands. In over 20 countries surviving male and female spouses do not have the same inheritance rights. And there are still many countries in the world where marital rape is not prohibited. 

2.  Ensure accountability for perpetrators. This requires measures for strengthened prosecution – which not only bring accountability, but can also affect the social perception of what is just and acceptable. It also requires real access to justice for women – through gender-sensitive law enforcement, which also offers adequate protection from retaliation and stigma.

3.  Provide meaningful reparations. To be effective, reparations should not be just about returning women to the situation in which they were found before the individual instance of domestic violence. They should strive to have a transformative potential to try to reverse prior gender inequalities that may be the root causes of the violence. Meaningful employment, education, skill training, access to land titles can for instance help enhance victims’ autonomy and create opportunities.

4.  Last but not least, targeted efforts to change mind-sets. Awareness campaigns can change attitudes and challenging stereotypes, and inform the public about measures of protection and redress. And education can deconstruct stereotypical notions of masculinity and femininity and promote new understandings that value the full equality of men and women. This is critical not only to enable girls and women to claim their rights, but also to help our boys to escape oppressive expectations about masculinity that promote aggressive behaviour.  Relationship and sexuality education has also proven to be effective in teaching children about choice and consent and to help them build non-discriminatory and non-violent couple, family and social relationships.

I am heartened to witness the increased attention to these issues by the Human Rights Council. This would have been unthinkable when I was growing up. We must celebrate the now widely accepted recognition of the States’ role and responsibility in this matter. As Bonita Meyersfeld put it “State institutions cannot stay the blow of a violent fist. However, once charged with the knowledge of such violence, they can provide an effective response, a haven for recuperation, facilities for rehabilitation, and an expression of remorse and condemnation of such violence. Such measures would radically change the experience of the victim”.

2015 has provided us with a historic opportunity to change our world, for the better.  Let us use this occasion to continue our efforts to ensure every woman, and every girl can live in a world free from the fear of violence, particularly in their own homes and communities.

I thank you for your attention and I wish you a fruitful discussion.

[1100 words or 7 minues]