A/HRC/20/5 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 30 March 2012 Original: English Human Rights Council Twentieth session Agenda items 2 and 3 Annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development Thematic study on the issue of violence against women and girls and disability Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Summary The present study, submitted pursuant to paragraph 11 of Human Rights Council resolution 17/11, examines the causes and manifestations of violence against women and girls with disabilities. It analyses national legislation, policies and programmes for the protection and prevention of violence against women and girls with disabilities. It highlights the remaining challenges in addressing the root causes of violence against women and girls with disabilities and incorporating women and girls with disabilities into gender-based violence programmes. The study concludes with recommendations on legislative, administrative, policy and programmatic measures to address violence against women and girls with disabilities, with emphasis on the need for a holistic approach aimed at eliminating discrimination against women and girls with disabilities, promoting their autonomy and addressing specific risk factors that expose them to violence. GE.12-12580