Special Section:
International Progress in the VAW Movement

International Campaigns and Conventions: Contributing to the Elimination of Violence against Women

by Yunjo Lee

1981: Canada ratified the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). This treaty is the most comprehensive human rights treaty for women the world over. Though the text of this UN Convention does not specifically mention violence against women, articles 2 and 3 guarantee women’s equality in all aspects of their lives. In addition, in 1991, the UN CEDAW Committee, which oversees the Convention, stated explicitly that, “Gender-based violence may breach specific provisions of the Convention, regardless of whether those provisions expressly mention violence.” (Gen. Rec. 19: 11th session, 1992, point 6) Further, the UN Convention obligates governments to prevent and remedy violence against women perpetrated by both private individuals and public authorities. Canada must report to the United Nations on its compliance with this treaty every four years.

1993: At the World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna, the Declaration and Program of Action asserted for the first time that violence against women (VAW) is a human-rights violation and that the state has a responsibility to end gender-based abuses. Progress made in implementing the Vienna Declaration was reviewed at the March-April l998 session of the UN Commission on Human Rights. Subsequently, the UN General Assembly passed the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women. For the first time, the authors provided a definition of violence, and included psychological violence in the definition.

1994: The International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo recommended actions for governments, which includes prohibiting the trafficking of women and children, promoting discussion of the need to protect women from violence through education, and establishing preventive measures and rehabilitation programs for victims of violence. The Cairo Program of Action also recognizes that gender violence is an obstacle to women’s reproductive and sexual health and rights.

1994: The Organization of American States (OAS) negotiated the Inter-American Convention to Prevent, Punish and Eradicate Violence Against Women. The Convention recognizes VAW as a violation of human rights, and defines violence in both public and private. To date, 31 member States of the OAS have ratified the Convention. 

1994: The UN Human Rights Commission appointed the first Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women and empowered her to investigate abuses of women’s human rights.

1995: The UN Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing advocated ending gender violence as a high priority and devoted an entire section to the issue of VAW. The Conference Platform for Action specifically declares that VAW is a critical area of concern requiring special attention of governments, the international community, and civil society, and is an obstacle to the achievement of women’s human rights. Section 106(q) states that countries should “develop supportive programs and train primary health workers to recognize and care for girls and women of all ages who have experienced any form of violence, especially domestic violence, sexual abuse, or other abuse resulting from armed and non-armed conflict.”

1996: The 49th World Health Assembly adopted a resolution (WHA49.25) declaring violence a public health priority.

1997: The UN General Assembly adopted Model Strategies and Practical Measures on the Elimination of Violence against Women in the Field of Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.

1998: UNIFEM launched regional campaigns in Africa, Asia/Pacific, and Latin America in order to draw attention to the issue of VAW globally. UNIFEM manages The Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate Violence Against Women, an initiative that has disbursed US$3.3 million to 71 projects around the world since 1996.

1999: The UN Population Fund declared VAW “a public health priority.”

1999: The UN General Assembly adopted an Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. The protocol gives women the right to seek redress for gender-based violence.

2000: Beijing +5 adopted a Political Declaration and Outcome document to accelerate implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform and to measure progress in meeting commitments and overcoming the many obstacles to it. Some of the issues strengthened in the Outcome document are honour killings and forced marriage, dowry-related violence, and marital rape. It was recognized that actions to end VAW need to be taken in many areas, such as services, education/prevention, legislation/criminal justice, resource allocation, and the collection of data/research.  u

Yunjo Lee is a PhD candidate in psychology at York University, Toronto.

References

Heise, L, Ellsberg, M, and Gottemoeller, M (1999) “World organizations speak out,” in Population Reports, 27(4): 5

UNFPA Interactive Population Center: Violence against girls and women. Available online at http://www.unfpa.org/intercenter/violence/intro.htm.

UN Divison for the Advancement of Women: Beijing +5/Women 2000. Available online http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/followup/beijing+5.htm.