Good practices in legislation on violence against women, a report of the expert group meeting organized by the United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, has been released. The expert group was convened in response to the Secretary-General’s 2006 in-depth study on all forms of violence against women and General Assembly resolution 61/143. The group studied different legislative approaches to violence against women and developed this model framework for legislation based upon best practices and lessons learned. The report also includes commentary on legislation on violence against women in a number of countries.
“The purpose of this report is to assist States and other stakeholders in enhancing existing, and developing new, legislation on violence against women,” said Carolyn Hannan, Director of the United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women. “While States have made significant progress in the enactment of such legislation, numerous gaps and challenges remain.”
Under current international law, States must address violence against women, including through the enactment of legislation, but at present, only about one-half of the member states of the United Nations have specific legal provisions on domestic violence.
Compiled from "United Nations Report Offers Guidelines for Legislation on Violence Against Women, 7th Space, November 13, 2008.