Handbook for Legislation on Violence Against Women

The world is responding. We see a growing global momentum to stop violence against women. In 2008, the Secretary-General launched a multi-year global campaign called UNiTE to End Violence against Women. He is appealing to all partners to join forces to eliminate this scourge. The Campaign recognizes the power of the law: one of its five key goals is for all countries to adopt and enforce, by 2015, national laws that address and punish all forms of such violence, in line with international human rights standards.

This Handbook for Legislation on Violence against Women, prepared by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs/Division for the Advancement of Women (DESA/DAW), is intended to assist States and other stakeholders to enhance existing, or develop new laws to protect women.

The recommendations it provides in the model framework for legislation on violence against women serve as a useful tool in supporting efforts to provide justice, support, protection and remedies to victims and to hold perpetrators accountable. The commentaries which accompany the recommendations highlight promising examples from laws worldwide.