Women Ministers of Foreign Affairs and dignitaries of numerous delegations decry violence against women on the margins
Declaration, 60th Session of the Commission on Human Rights, Geneva, 16 March 2004
For declaration in pdf format

Violence against women is a violation of women's human rights. Around the world, women and girls are victims of countless acts of violence – because they are female. We have come together today to raise our voice against this most pervasive human rights abuse which affects women of all ages, ethnic origins and religions. While recognition of the problem of gender-based violence has changed significantly over the past 20 years, the scope and frequency of assaults against women persist in all layers of world society.

As women ministers and dignitaries we have an important opportunity to take a specific focus on gender issues within our overall goal to promote peace, democracy and the protection and promotion of human rights. Safeguarding women's dignity and liberty, protecting their health and subsistence and promoting their education and empowerment must be at the core of our political engagement for a democratic, just and equitable society. The strengthening of women will also actively and forcefully contribute to the fight against HIV/Aids.

This year is marked by several events that call for stepping up our fight against gender-based violence. We celebrate the 10 th anniversary of the mandate establishing the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on Violence against Women, its Causes and Consequences. We take this opportunity to declare our full support for the Special Rapporteur's efforts to eliminate violence against women persisting in every part of the world.

2004 has been proclaimed by the United Nation's General Assembly as International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition – which refers us to contemporary forms of slavery, namely trafficking in human beings. We welcome the entry into force of the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children and declare our firm will to step up the fight against this crime and to further concert our anti-trafficking measures.

This year, furthermore, 6 February has been declared International Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation Day. We fully subscribe to taking a zero-tolerance approach to every form of gender-based violence, including traditional practices affecting the health of women and children.
Armed conflict continues to stalk the world, becoming ever more vicious. Women and children suffer disproportionately during and after wars. They form the majority of refugees and internally displaced persons. They endure rape and sexual abuse, which have been used throughout history as weapons of war. It is our firm conviction that much more attention must be given to the consequences of war for women and children, and in particular to the protection of women and girls from gender-based violence.

Our initiative on "violence against women" which we are taking this year at the occasion of the 60 th session of the Human Rights Commission responds to our determination to oppose any attempt to stalemate efforts to further promote the human rights of women.

Indifference surrounding women's human rights has to be shaken and turned into sincere engagement for the protection and advancement of women. Declarations against violence against women have to be matched with actions. We call upon the political leadership and civil society worldwide to join into our efforts to eradicate obstacles impeding women's full enjoyment of human rights.

We express our commitment to further develop policies in accordance with the Beijing Platform of Action to intervene against violence against women, to strengthen implementation of laws protecting the rights of women, to forge strategies to address the root causes of gender-based violence and to raise awareness for this tragedy.

Violence against women is not a “women's issue”, but one that concerns us all. Each of us must accept responsibility for putting an end to gender-based violence. Let us ensure that this message is heard loud and clear – including by those who need to hear it most.

Geneva, 16 March 2004

H.E. Mrs. Christine Gallus
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Australia

H.E. Mrs. Benita Ferrero Waldner
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Austria

H.E. Mrs. Lidija Topic
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina

H.E. Mrs. Monique Ilboudo
Minister for Human Rights of Burkina Faso

H.E. Mrs. Marie Gervais Vidricaire
Director General for Global Issues at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Canada

H.E. Mrs. Maria de Fatima Lima Veiga
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cape Verde

H.E. Mrs. Carolina Barco Isakson
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Colombia

H.E. Mrs. Victorine Wodié
Minister for Human Rights of Côte d'Ivoire

H.E. Mrs. Jadranka Kosor
Deputy Prime Minister of Croatia

H.E. Mrs. Marie-Madeleine Kalala
Minister for Human Rights of the Democratic Republic of Congo

H.E. Mrs. Kristiina Ojuland
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia

H.E. Mrs. Maria Eugenia Brizuela de Ávila
Minister of Foreign Affairs of El Salvador

H.E. Mrs. Noëlle Lenoir
Minister Delegate of European Affairs of France

H.E. Mrs. Claudia Roth
Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany

H.E. Mrs. Marta Altolaguirre
Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guatemala

H.E. Mrs. Margherita Boniver
Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy

H.E. Mrs. Yoriko Kawaguchi
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan

H.E. Mrs. Asma Khadar
Minister of State and Government Spokesperson of Jordan

H.E. Mrs. Lydie Polfer
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg

H.E. Mrs. Ilinka Mitreva
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

H.E. Mrs. Frances Rodrigues
Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mozambique

H.E. Mrs. Aïchatou Mindaoudou
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Niger

H.E. Mrs. Leila Rachid de Cowles
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Paraguay

H.E. Mrs. Delia Domingo Albert
Secretary of State of Philippines

H.E. Mrs. Teresa Patricia Gouveia
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal

H.E. Mrs. Edda Mukabagwiza
Minister of Justice of Rwanda

H.E. Mrs. Nkosazana C. Diamini Zuma
Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Africa

H.E. Mrs. Ana Palacio
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain

H.E. Mrs. Maria Elizabeth Levens
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Suriname

H.E. Mrs. Laila Freivalds
Minister of Foreing Affairs of Sweden

H.E. Mrs. Micheline Calmy-Rey
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland

H.E. Mrs. Amat Al-Aleem Alsoswa
Minister for Human Rights of Yemen