A/HRC/23/25
first review cycle, recommendations related to the issue of violence against women
addressed a variety of issues, from ratification of international human rights instruments,
such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,
to removing reservations and fully incorporating international provisions into domestic law.
A number of recommendations urged States to follow up on recommendations emanating
from the human rights treaty bodies, including the Committee on the Elimination of
Discrimination against Women, and by the Special Rapporteur on violence against women.
16.
Overall the recommendations have focused primarily on: domestic violence; female
genital mutilation (FGM); sexual violence, including marital and other forms of rape; and
access to justice, including effective reparations for women who have been subjected to
violence. Other emerging thematic issues include violence against women and girls with
disabilities and political participation.
17.
The UPR recommendations are to an extent in line with the thematic work
undertaken by the Human Rights Council on the issue, particularly the recommendations on
rape and sexual violence, which mirror those discussed in relevant thematic reports
produced by OHCHR and the Special Rapporteur on violence against women,30 as well as
those addressed in the Council’s annual discussions on women’s human rights. 31
18.
However, there are some gaps between the thematic issues related to violence
against women addressed by UPR and the Human Rights Council. For example, in the
UPR recommendations there was little focus on prevention and responses as part of a
holistic approach to eliminating violence against women. Furthermore, while a broad
spectrum of UPR recommendations expressed concern about the causes of violence against
women, they did not explicitly link those to patriarchal structures that reinforce
discrimination against women and allow violence to be perpetrated against women, as
highlighted by the Special Rapporteur and in the course of the Council’s annual discussions
on women’s rights.
F.
Special procedures
19.
There are currently 36 thematic special procedures mandates, including the
mandates on violence against women, trafficking and discrimination against women. The
mandate of the Special Rapporteur on violence against women has studied the forms,
prevalence, causes and consequences of violence against women and has provided key
recommendations to Governments and to the international community. The mandate has
urged States to comply with their due diligence obligation to address violence against
women by tackling inequality and discrimination, which are root causes of such violence.
30
31
For example, “Report of the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and
consequences” (A/HRC/14/22), paras. 12-85 and the “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” (A/HRC/20/5).
From 2009 to 2012, OHCHR submitted two thematic reports to the Council on the issue of violence
against women, on good practices in efforts aimed at preventing violence against women
(A/HRC/17/23) and violence against women and girls and disabilities (A/HRC/20/5). Pursuant to
Human Rights Council resolution 6/30 (2007), OHCHR has organized six Council panel discussions
on the issue of violence against women, including conflict-related violence and discrimination against
women both in law and practice.
7
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