Year of entry into force: 1995
Region:
Legal Status: Intergovernmental - Legally Binding
Excerpts
“AFFIRMING that violence against women constitutes a violation of their human rights and fundamental freedoms, and impairs or nullifies the observance, enjoyment and exercise of such rights and freedoms;
CONCERNED that violence against women is an offense against human dignity and a manifestation of the historically unequal power between women and men;
[…]
CONVICED that the elimination of violence against women is essential for their individual and social development and their full and equal participation in all walks of life…”
“Article 1. […] violence against women shall be understood as any act or conduct, based on gender, which causes death or physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, whether in the public or the private sphere.”
“Article 3. Every woman has the right to be free from violence in both the public and private spheres.”
“Article 4. Every woman has the right to the recognition, enjoyment, exercise and protection of all human rights and freedoms embodied in regional and international human rights instruments. These rights include, among others:
a. The right to have her life respected;
b. The right to have her physical, mental and moral integrity respected;
[…]”
“Article 9. […] the States Parties shall take special account of the vulnerability of women to violence by reason of, among others, their race or ethnic background or their status as migrants, refugees or displaced persons. Similar consideration shall be given to women subjected to violence while pregnant or who are disabled, of minor age, elderly, socioeconomically disadvantaged, affected by armed conflict or deprived of their freedom.”