United Nations Nations Unies

Division for the Advancement of Women
Department of Economic and Social Affairs
2 UN Plaza, DC-2-1250, New York, NY 10017 USA
Telephone: +1 212 963 9750 Facsimile: +1 212 963 3463
Internet location: http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/vaw/index.htm

Galvanizing action to combat violence against women

Consultation on 6 - 7 September 2005, United Nations, New York

Background and objectives

The General Assembly has mandated the Secretary-General to prepare an in-depth study on violence against women (A/RES/58/185). The study will be submitted to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session, in 2006. An interim report will be submitted to the sixtieth session.

The study of the Secretary-General aims to:

• Highlight the persistence, and unacceptability, of all forms of violence against women in all parts of the world;
• Identify ways and means for better and more sustained and effective implementation of Government commitments and obligations to combat all forms of violence against women, and increase accountability; and
• Strengthen political commitment and joint efforts of all stakeholders to prevent and eliminate violence against women.

In the Millennium Declaration, Governments resolved to combat all forms of violence against women and to implement the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. In his report In larger freedom (A/59/2005), the Secretary-General highlighted the need to support direct interventions to protect women from violence.

Gender equality is a human right and at the heart of achieving the MDGs. It is a prerequisite to overcoming hunger, poverty and disease. Violence against women, which is a form of gender-based discrimination within the meaning of article 1 of the CEDAW Convention, occurs in epidemic proportions in many countries around the world. Such violence is perpetuated by women’s lack of equality, and constitutes an obstacle to the achievement of the objectives of equality, development and peace; it violates and impairs or nullifies the enjoyment by women of their human rights and fundamental freedoms. Violence against women reinforces gender inequality and prevents women from contributing fully to the achievement of the MDGs.

In the lead-up to the 2005 World Summit, the Division for the Advancement of Women is convening a consultation on 6 and 7 September 2005 to highlight the linkages between violence against women and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); and to identify key issues to be addressed in the Secretary-General’s study on violence against women. The consultation will develop recommendations to inform discussions at the sixtieth session of the General Assembly; as well as for inclusion in the study on ways for eliminating violence against women. Representatives of Member States, United Nations entities and nongovernmental organizations are invited to participate. The event is part of a series of activities to increase opportunities for consultations with stakeholders.

The consultation will use an inter-active format. It will consist of a combination of lead presentations and discussion in plenary, with opportunities for further elaboration of key aspects and development of recommendations in two working groups.

The Millennium Development Goals Report 2005

UN Millennium Project 2005. Taking Action: Achieving Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women. Task Force on Education and Gender Equality.