Report of the Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, Its Causes and Consequences (Delivered at the 66th Session of the U.N. General Assembly)

This report provides an overview of the Special Rapporteur on violence against women's work and summarizes the findings to date. In the report, the Special Rapporteur describes the most prevalent manifestations of violence against women and confirms that domestic violence remains widespread and affects women of all social strata, with vulnerable women at a higher risk. Despite legal prohibitions, practices in the family and the community that are harmful and degrading to women and girls, including sexual violence, sexual harassment, violence suffered as a result of a woman's sexual orientation or identity, and femicide, continue without monitoring and prohibition in some countries. The report also discusses the due diligence obligation that States have to prevent, protect, investigate, prosecute, punish and provide reparations to women victims of violence. Evolving practices, jurisprudence and remaining challenges are addressed. Finally, the report emphasizes that a holistic framework, based on States' obligations under the due diligence standard, should be adopted to address the multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and violence against women.