A/HRC/23/49 I. Introduction 1. The present report is submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 16/7 by the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, Rashida Manjoo. Chapter II summarizes the Special Rapporteur’s activities since her previous report to the Council up until 4 March 2013. Chapter III addresses the topic of State responsibility for eliminating violence against women. II. Activities A. Country visits 2. During the period under review, the Special Rapporteur requested invitations to visit Azerbaijan, Colombia, Cuba, Israel, South Africa and the State of Palestine. Earlier requests for country visits were also reiterated to the Governments of Bangladesh, Nepal, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) and Zimbabwe. 3. The Special Rapporteur visited Solomon Islands, from 12 to 16 March 2012 (A/HRC/23/49/Add.1); Papua New Guinea, from 18 to 26 March 2012 (A/HRC/23/49/Add.2); Bosnia and Herzegovina, from 29 October to 5 November 2012 (A/HRC/23/49/Add.3), and Croatia, from 7 to 16 November 2012 (A/HRC/23/49/Add.4). The Special Rapporteur would like to thank these Governments for their cooperation before, during and after the visit, and urges the Governments that have not yet done so to provide a favourable response. B. Communications and press releases 4. The communications sent to Governments during the reporting period (A/HRC/21/49, A/HRC/22/67, A/HRC/23/51) concerned arbitrary detention; torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; summary and extrajudicial executions; sexual violence, including rape, sexual abuse and sexual exploitation; and other forms of violence grounded in discrimination against women. 5. The Special Rapporteur issued numerous press statements, either individually or jointly with other mandate holders. C. General Assembly and Commission on the Status of Women 6. In October 2012, the Special Rapporteur presented her second written report to the General Assembly (A/67/227). It discusses the issue of violence against women with disabilities. 7. In the report, the Special Rapporteur highlights how women with disabilities experience many of the same forms of violence that all women experience, yet violence against them takes on unique forms, has unique causes, and results in unique consequences. Women with disabilities experience both the stereotypical attitudes directed towards women, and those directed towards persons with disabilities. 8. The Special Rapporteur argues that in addressing violence against women with disabilities, States should ensure an empowerment perspective, as opposed to a 3