A/HRC/32/42
(enslavement), torture and other forms of inhuman, cruel or degrading treatment of
punishment. The prevention of such violence must be placed within the broader context of
the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women. Under the Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Declaration on the
Elimination of Discrimination against Women, States are responsible for preventing acts of
violence by State actors, and also to exercise due diligence to prevent, investigate and, in
accordance with national legislation, punish acts of violence against women perpetrated by
non-State actors.
C.
Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals on the
elimination of violence against women and girls
38.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development comprises 17 transformative
Sustainable Development Goals aimed at the realization of the human rights of all,
including the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.
Goal 5, and in particular its targets 5.2, focuses on the elimination of all forms of violence
against women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual
and other types of exploitation, while target 5.3 focuses on the elimination of all harmful
practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation While it is
remarkable that, For the first time, the elimination of violence against women is included as
a target for the achievement of sustainable goals, violence against women is also an issue
addressed in Goal 11, on safe spaces, and Goal 16, relating to peace and security. It is also a
barrier to achieving other gender-related goals, such as those on health, education, reducing
poverty in all its forms, and sustainable growth. For the first time, a global gendered
framework for development has been adopted that is inclusive and builds upon human
rights instruments, all relevant world conferences, such as the four World Conferences on
Women. The implementation of all 17 goals also requires systematic gender mainstreaming
in all targets and indicators.
39.
The implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development provides a
fresh opportunity to accelerate progress in achieving gender equality and empowerment of
women and girls, and in eliminating violence against women. Indeed, the formulation of
Goal 5 on gender equality provides a women’s perspective to the entire Agenda, which also
provides that substantive gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls should
be achieved by the elimination of all forms of discriminations and violence against women
and girls in the public and private spheres. The Special Rapporteur stands ready not only to
monitor progress but also to give guidance to States and other stakeholders in implementing
Goal 5.
D.
Regional human rights mechanisms
40.
The Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of
Women in Africa includes provisions on violence against women. Its implementation by
States is assisted by the African Commission on Human Rights. The Inter-American
Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence against Women
(Convention of Belém do Pará), which expressly recognizes the relationship between
gender violence and discrimination, is a key instrument in addressing violence against
women in the Inter-American system. The Follow-up Mechanism to the Belém do Pará
Convention is the mechanism responsible for follow-up on the implementation of the
Convention. Within the Council of Europe system, the Istanbul Convention is the second
regional treaty to address violence against women; and the monitoring mechanism in
charge of the implementation of the Convention consists of two bodies, the Group of
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