In 2013, the 57th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW57) reached a historic global consensus that discrimination and violence against women and girls have no place in today’s world, and agreed on a comprehensive blueprint of actions to prevent and eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls. This official outcome document from CSW57 lays out in full the text of the Agreed Conclusions.
The adopted conclusions cover all forms of violence against women and girls, in all contexts and settings. Additionally, emerging forms of violence, such as cyber stalking and cyber bullying, gender-related killings, or femicide, and the need for safety in public spaces, also receive attention. The Agreed Conclusions recognise that multiple forms of discrimination and other factors expose some women and girls to increased risk of violence, requiring targeted responses.
The introductory section of the document sets out the framework as well as progress and challenges in addressing the scourge of violence against women and girls. It condemns all forms of violence against women and girls as a violation of the enjoyment of human rights, and reiterates that custom, tradition or religious consideration may not be invoked to avoid obligations with respect to its elimination. The introductory section also makes it clear that violence against women and girls must be addressed in a comprehensive manner through prevention measures, as well as support for victims and survivors of such violence.
The rest of the text includes actions to strengthen legal and policy frameworks that address gender inequality and violence against women and girls; to address the structural causes, social norms and gender stereotypes that perpetuate violence against women and girls; to enhance education, awareness-raising and community mobilisation; to call for the establishment of a range of essential services, programmes and responses for women and girls subject to violence; to ensure availability of social and rehabilitative services, and their accessibility for victims and survivors; and to improve the evidence-base including through research and analysis, and enhanced data collection and information dissemination.
Governments and stakeholders are called upon to implement the actions contained in the agreed conclusions so that all women and girls can exercise their right to a life free from violence, and the fear of such violence. UNWomen reiterates that it stands ready to support Member States and other stakeholders in this work.
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