Spacer  English  |  Español  |  Français  |  Russian  |  Arabic  |  Chinese
Spacer OHCHR flame logo   United Nations logo

Media Centre

Top news

United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial Executions finds that the military is killing leftist activists in the Philippines
More ...
26 November 2007

Committee on Protection of Rights of Migrant Workers opens seventh session
More ...
26 November 2007

High Commissioner addresses Dublin's Trinity College on responsability to protect
More ...
23 November 2007

Special Rapporteur on Human Rights of Indigenous People to visit Bolivia
More ...
23 November 2007

Press release archive
Summaries of twice-weekly press briefings

Speeches

Opinion articles

Publications

Calendar

21-30 November 2007
Working Group on Arbitrary Detention

26-30 November 2007
Committee on the Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families

6 and 7 December 2007
Meeting on new mechanisms on Indigenous Peoples

UN Conferences and Observances

Real equality and end to impunity needed to stop violence against women

23 November 2007

Statement of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, 25 November:

Every day, in all corners of the world, countless women and girls are killed, mutilated, beaten, raped, sold into sexual slavery or tortured. Most of the survivors of this violence have little hope of seeing their tormentors pay for their crimes. And so the violence goes on.

This impunity is built on a foundation of discrimination and inequality. States have largely accepted the international human rights framework in place to prevent, condemn and punish discrimination against women. But unless these inequalities are addressed, including in the economic and social spheres, the violence will persist. A woman is more likely to remain in a relationship in which she is the victim of domestic violence when the alternative is lessness for herself and her children. A woman will not report rape if we continue to stigmatize the victims of violence rather than the perpetrators.

International law requires States to adopt appropriate and effective legislative and administrative procedures for fair, effective and prompt access to justice.

A sustained effort to end violence against women also means a commitment to ensure equality with respect to economic and social rights. This contributes not only to the equitable allocation of public goods and services but also leads to improved law enforcement by facilitating accountability for violence against women. As we prepare to commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, there is no better demonstration of the interdependence of all human rights.

On this International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and on every day that will follow, we must demand action to stop the killing and the abuse. We must demand that States honour their commitments to bring perpetrators to justice and provide redress for their victims. We must demand, simply, that more than half of humanity is given the full protection it is entitled to.

 

High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour More ...
Human Rights Council


More ...

Human Face of Human Rights

More ...

Contacts

Praveen Randhawa, Information Officer
0041 22 917 9602

Yvon Edoumou, Information Officer
00 41 22 917 9383

Please send interview requests to:
press-info@ohchr.org

Register for news alerts

Spacer Site map  E-mail Contact us 
United Nations logo