Review, Rationalization and Improvement of Mandates
Special Rapporteur on violence against women,
its causes and consequences, Dr. Yakin Ertürk
Friday, 14 March 2008
Mr President,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union.
The European Union would like to start by expressing its great appreciation for the
work of the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, Dr. Yakin Ertürk. Building
on the work of her predecessor, Dr Ertürk has achieved important results that
contribute to the establishment of mechanisms around the world to protect women
and girls against all forms of violence. During this session of the Council we have had
an interesting dialogue on her very promising proposals concerning indicators on
violence against women and on measures taken by States to address violence
against women. Dr. Ertürk has proven the usefulness of this mandate.
This mandate is of extreme importance to the Council and to the common efforts of
the international community in addressing violence against women,. This is
underlined by the UN Secretary General in his in-depth study on all forms of violence
against women of July 2006. As stated by the Secretary-General, as long as violence
against women continues, we cannot claim to be making real progress towards
equality, development and peace. We welcome in this respect the campaign
launched by the Secretary General in February 2008 to eliminate violence against
women through 2015.
But, first and foremost, we must always keep in mind the hope that this mandate
gives to the many millions of individual women and girls suffering persistent violence
against women in all its forms. The ambition to move towards a universal culture of
rights is a high ambition, but it is a goal that we must maintain. Achieving this goal
means that women and girls all over the globe can feel safe at home and in the
public sphere.
The Special Rapporteur, throughout the years, has succeeded in bringing this goal of
a culture of rights nearer, by focusing on the implementation level. A very concrete
milestone on the road towards this goal that the mandate achieved is the fact that all
forms of violence are now visible and recognized as a matter of public concern.
International laws and standards have been disseminated and are used by lawyers,
researchers, policymakers and last but not least by women’s groups, as a priceless
instrument to claim their rights. The dialogue with countries is of utmost importance
to increase awareness and help governments to take practical steps to put a halt to
violence against women in all its forms. This includes the forms that have been less
explored, such as early and forced marriages and female genital mutilation.
It is this powerful combination of analytical work, country visits, receiving and
addressing individual communications, regional consultations with NGOs, meetings
with intergovernmental organisations and cooperation with other Special Procedures
that gives the Special Procedures its great value. This has contributed to the many
increasing initiatives and efforts at all levels to eliminate all forms of violence against
women.
This mandate exists since March 1994, and although much has been achieved, we all
know that the problem it addresses is of immense magnitude. A great many
challenges remain in translating the international norms and standards into real
action to prevent and address all forms of violence against women. Challenges
include further developing and operationalising the indicators, analysis of the root
causes behind violence against women and promoting the integration of the gender
dimension in the work of other Special Procedures and the Treaty Bodies.
On behalf of the European Union, Mr. Chairman, I would like to conclude with
expressing the hope that this mandate in the years ahead will continue with the full
support of the Council.
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