UN Division for the Advancement of Women - The Secretary-General's in-depth study on all forms of violence against women

The Secretary-General’s in-depth study on all forms of violence against women

About the study

The Secretary-General’s in-depth study on all forms of violence against women was launched in the General Assembly on 9 October 2006. Its presentation and discussion in the Third Committee were accompanied by a panel discussion on “Ending violence against women: The role and responsibility of various sectors in effective prevention and response” and an exhibit of posters from around the world to raise awareness about violence against women and strengthen commitment to end it.

The study aims to:

highlight the persistence and unacceptability of all forms of violence against women in all parts of the world;
strengthen the political commitment and joint efforts of all stakeholders to prevent and eliminate violence against women; and
identify ways and means to ensure more sustained and effective implementation of State obligations to address all forms of violence against women, and to increase State accountability.

The study:

gives an overview of the historical overview of the development of international awareness and action on male violence against women (section II);
sets out the broad context within which violence against women occurs and persists (section III);
synthesizes the knowledge regarding the extent and prevalence of different forms and manifestations of violence against women, in the main settings: that is, within the family, the community, and perpetrated or condoned by the State, including in conflict settings; and reviews the consequences of such violence, including its costs of forms and manifestations of violence against women and its consequences, including costs (section IV);
discusses the gaps and challenges in the availability of data, including in methodologies for assessing the prevalence of different forms of violence (section V);
highlights the responsibilities of States to address and prevent violence against women (section VI);
gives examples of promising practices in the areas of law, service provision and prevention (section VII); and
puts forward a blueprint for action by all stakeholders—by States, at the national level, and by intergovernmental bodies and UN entities—to make measurable progress in preventing and eliminating violence against women (section VIII).

Downloads

Executive summary of the Secretary-General's in-depth study on violence against women
[ English | French | Spanish ]

Background note on "Forms, consequences and costs of violence against women"
[ English | French | Spanish ]

Background note on "Fighting violence against women: What works"
[ English | French | Spanish ]

Background note on "Violence against women: Unmet needs, broken promises"
[ English | French | Spanish ]

Presentation by Mr. José Antonio Ocampo, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, at the launching of the Secretary-General’s in-depth study on all forms of violence against women - New York, 9 October 2006

Statement by Ms. Rachel Mayanja, Assistant Secretary-General, Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women, at the launching of the Secretary-General’s in-depth study on all forms of violence against women - New York, 9 October 2006

Preparatory process

On 22 December 2003, the General Assembly requested the Secretary-General to prepare an in-depth study on all forms and manifestations of violence against women (A/RES/58/185). In 2005, the Secretary-General submitted an interim report that summarized the mandate, goals and objectives of the study, as well as the status of preparations. The General Assembly (A/RES/60/136) welcomed the work already undertaken and called for enhanced awareness raising and involvement of all stakeholders in the preparatory process.

Expert Group Meetings

Following the adoption of resolution A/RES/58/185 by the General Assembly, two expert group meetings were convened to provide input for the study. An expert group meeting on data and statistics on violence against women, convened in collaboration with the Economic Commission for Europe and the World Health Organization, was held in Geneva from 11-14 April 2005. Another expert group meeting on good practices in addressing violence against women, convened in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, was held in Vienna from 17-20 May 2005.

Consultations

A Task Force, comprising 36 representatives of United Nations entities, and non-governmental organizations and regional networks, provided input and feedback on various aspects of the study (see membership of the Task Force).

An Advisory Committee consisting of ten internationally recognized experts in the field of combating violence against women provided guidance and advice at critical junctures in the preparation of the study.

Sources of information

Many sources of information fed into the study, including reports and information from Governments, and from United Nations bodies, and entities and non-governmental organizations.

Responses of Member States to the Secretariat’s request for information regarding General Assembly resolution 58/185
Responses of Member States for the 10-year Review and Appraisal of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. Member States were invited to provide information via a questionnaire prepared by the Division for the Advancement of Women, on implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. Of the 134 responses received, 129 addressed the issue of violence against women.
Reports submitted by States parties under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
Non-governmental organizations were invited to submit inputs to the study based on their experiences in addressing violence against women.