last updated October 26, 2012

In 1994, the UN Commission on Human Rights made its first appointment to the position of Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, Including Its Causes and Consequences.[1] Radhika Coomaraswamy, from Sri Lanka, held the position from 1994 to July 2003.  Yakin Ertürk, from Turkey, held the position from 2003 until 2009.  South African lawyer Rashida Manjoo was appointed to the position in June 2009.

 

The mandate of the Special Rapporteur as articulated by the Commission is to "seek and receive information on violence against women, its causes and consequences” from Governments, treaty bodies, specialized agencies, other special rapporteurs and non-governmental organizations and “recommend measures, ways and means, at the local, national, regional and international level to eliminate violence against women and its causes, and to remedy its consequences.”[2] As independent experts, rapporteurs are seen as one of the most effective tools within the United Nations to monitor human rights violations.[3]

 

The Special Rapporteur presents annual reports to the UN Human Rights Council on a thematic topic related to the causes and consequences of violence against women. Notable thematic reports on domestic violence include “Integration of the Human Rights of Women and the Gender Perspective: Violence against Women” (2003)[4] (see paragraphs 26-36), “Violence against Women in the Family” (1999),[5] and “Violence in the Family” (1996).[6] These reports not only discuss the causes of domestic violence, but they also recommend best practices and model legislation. For example, in “Violence in the Family” (1996), Ms. Coomaraswamy provided a definition of domestic violence, a declaration of purpose, and both civil and criminal provisions. A complete collection of the Special Rapporteur’s thematic reports can be found on the Special Rapporteur’s website.[7]

 

In addition to the annual thematic reports, the Special Rapporteur makes several country visits each year to examine violence against women in that particular country. During country visits, the Special Rapporteur meets with government officials, civil society (including NGOs and community action groups), and individuals impacted by violence against women. Country visits allow the Special Rapporteur to tailor recommendations to that country’s unique situations, including highlighting programs that have been successful and identifying where gaps in enforcement, legislation or public awareness may still exist. The findings and recommendations are then compiled into country reports, which are available on the Special Rapporteur’s website.[8] Recent country reports to highlight domestic violence as a prominent issue include the United States (2011),[9] Kyrgyzstan (2009),[10] Moldova (2008),[11] and Tajikistan (2008).[12]

 

Finally, the Special Rapporteur acts as a liaison for individual cases of violence against women, transmitting urgent appeals and allegation letters to the State. These communications from the Special Rapporteur request the State to either provide effective protection for a potential victim (for urgent appeals) or respond to allegations made against the State (for allegation letters).[13] Urgent appeals involve cases where there is reliable information involving an imminent threat to the right to personal integrity or the life of a woman, whereas allegation letters relate to violations that have already occurred or general patterns of violence.[14] Such appeals and allegations can be in regard to one or more individuals or they may convey information relating a general prevailing situation that condones or perpetuates violence against women.[15] Unlike the Optional Protocol to CEDAW, which is limited to states which are parties to the Protocol, the Special Rapporteur can liaison with any government. Unlike the Optional Protocol, the Special Rapporteur also does not publish findings relating to individual complaints or conduct quasi-judicial proceedings like the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.[16] The form for submitting a case to the Special Rapporteur, including access to the individual complaint form, can be found on the Special Rapporteur’s website.[17]

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