1. International Day
for the Elimination
of Violence Against Women
Unpacking the impact of policies on
gender-based violence

2. Definitions
• According to CEDAW general recommendation 19 (1992) “gender-based violence
is a form of discrimination that seriously inhibits women's ability to enjoy rights and
freedoms on a basis of equality with men”. “CEDAW GR 19 defines gender based
violence as “violence that is directed against a woman because she is a woman or
that affects women disproportionately”.
• The United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against
Women (1993) Defines Violence Against women as “any act of gender-
based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or
psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such
act, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in
public or in private life”
• Article 3 of Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating
violence against women and domestic violence (2011) defines violence
against women “as a violation of human rights and a form of
discrimination against women”; (also incorporates above definitions)

3. Forms of gender based violence
• UN Secretary General’s Report (2006) identifies the
following forms of violence against women
Female genital mutilation Domestic violence
Forced pregnancy Harmful practices
Forced sterilization Maltreatment of widows
Female infanticide Marital rape
Femicide So-called ‘honor’ crimes
Sexual harassment Dowry-related violence
Sexual violence Acid throwing
Sexual violence in situations of Early marriage
armed conflict
Stalking Forced marriage
Trafficking

4. Gender based violence in Numbers
• Women aged 15-44 are more at risk from rape and domestic violence than from cancer,
motor accidents, war and malaria, according to (World Bank data).
• Worldwide, up to 6 in 10 women have suffered physical and/or sexual violence in their
lifetime. (Most of this violence takes place within intimate relationships, with many women reporting their husbands or partners as the
perpetrator)- UN Women fact sheet)
• Globally, 603 million women live in countries where domestic violence is not yet considered
a crime. (Today 125 countries have specific laws that penalize domestic violence however Violence against women remains one of the
most widespread human rights violations yet one of the least prosecuted crimes) (UN WOMEN)
•In Europe 12% to 15% of women face violence in their home every day. (Source :European Commission)
•Over 60 million girls are child brides and some 100 to 140 million girls and women have
experienced female genital mutilation/cutting. (UNICEF)
•More than 600,000 women and girls are trafficked across borders each year, the vast
majority for sexual exploitation. (UNWOMEN)

5. Indicators and data collection
Current core set of statistical indicators for measuring violence against women (“noted
with satisfaction” by the UN Statistical Commission at the last meeting in February 2011)
1. Total and age specific rate of women subjected to physical violence in the last 12 months by
severity of violence, relationship to the perpetrator and frequency
2. Total and age specific rate of women subjected to physical violence during lifetime by
severity of violence, relationship to the perpetrator and frequency
3. Total and age specific rate of women subjected to sexual violence in the last 12 months by
severity of violence, relationship to the perpetrator and frequency
4. Total and age specific rate of women subjected to sexual violence during lifetime by severity
of violence, relationship to the perpetrator and frequency
5. Total and age specific rate of ever-partnered women subjected to sexual and/or physical
violence by current or former intimate partner in the last 12 months by frequency
6. Total and age specific rate of ever-partnered women subjected to sexual and/or physical
violence by current or former intimate partner during lifetime by frequency
7. Total and age specific rate of women subjected to psychological violence in the past 12
months by the intimate partner
8. Total and age specific rate of women subjected to economic violence in the past 12 months
by the intimate partner
9. Total and age specific rate of women subjected to female genital mutilation

6. Indicators and data collection
• Violence against Women Prevalence Data:
Surveys by Country (85 countries)
• http://www.endvawnow.org/uploads/browser
/files/vaw_prevalence_matrix_15april_2011.p
df

7. Factors that perpetuate gender based violence
1. Cultural
- Gender specific socialization
- Cultural definitions of appropriate sex roles
- Expectation of roles both of men and women
- Customs of marriage
- Acceptability of violence as means to resolve conflict
2. Economic
- Women’s economic dependence on men
- Limited access to financial resources
- Discriminatory laws regarding access to property, inheritance , and maintenance
after divorce or widowhood
- Limited access to employment in formal and informal sector
- Limited access to education and training for women

8. Factors that perpetuate gender based violence
3. Legal
- Lack of gender sensitive laws
- Lesser legal status of women either by written law or practice
- Laws regarding divorce, child custody, inheritance….
- Legal definition of rape and domestic abuse
- Low levels of legal literacy among women
- Gender insensitive treatment of women and girls by police and judiciary
4. Political
- Under- representation of women in decision making , (politics, private sector,
media …)
- Limited organization of women as political force
- Limited participation of women in political systems

9. The Socio-Economic costs of violence against
women and girls
The socio economic costs of VAW
• Direct costs : value of goods and services used on treating or responding to violence
(medical, police, criminal justice, housing, social services)
2. Intangible/ Non monetary costs : pain (increased morbidity, abuse of alcohol and
drugs, depressions ,fuels HIV/ AIDS epidemic)
3. Economic effects : decreased labour market participation, reduced productivity on the
job, lower earnings, intergenerational impacts as lower education attainment of
children, decreased savings
4. Social effects: reduced quality of life, impact on participation in democratic life, erosion
of social capital
Costs of VAW:
• US$1.38 million annually (as of 2006) in Macedonia. (Gancheva, et. al., 2006) -
includes the criminal justice and social system, as well as costs to NGOs (highest)
• Costs of domestic violence alone in England and Wales (Walby 2004) are 32.9
billions of Euros x year
• In Europe 27 states the costs are €1 million every half hour (European
Commission)
• In CoE region, 33 billion Euros x year (Council of Europe)

10. What works: Investments in Women’s
Empowerment and Gender Equality

11. UN Women’s ED Ms Bachelet’s
comprehensive policy agenda
16 steps:
Today, 25th NOV, STEP 1:
Ratify international and regional treaties …
that protect the rights of women and girls,
and ensure that national laws and services
meet international human righst standards.

13. Ready?
• Do you know your facts on violence against
women? Take the Say NO quiz and find out!
What's more, every point you score counts
towards the Say NO action counter.
• http://www.saynotoviolence.org/quiz