Roderico Fernandez
II- ICT
Violence against Women
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states, Òno one shall be subjected to torture
or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment Although this doctrine was adopted in
1948, the world has fallen quite short of this goal. Violence against women pervades all states
and it is the duty of the international community to ensure that all persons are afforded equality
and respect. Despite cooperative efforts at combating gross human rights abuses, such as the
adoption of the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women, the United Nations
has not been able to alleviate the injustice women worldwide experience daily.
The Kingdom of Denmark believes that in order to end violence against women, nations
must look to empower women in all aspects of society. This includes promoting equal gender
roles in government, civil society, education and business. However, Denmark also recognizes
the need to combat human rights abuses against women as they occur, and no nation is immune
to gender violence.
In 2002, the Danish Government launched an extensive action plan to combat domestic
violence against women. The plan includes measures to help treat abused women, identify and
prosecute the perpetrators, and incorporate professional medical and psychological staff into the
rehabilitation process. The action plan currently reaches out to both governmental and
nongovernmental groups on the local level throughout the nation.
The Danish Centre for Human Rights in Copenhagen, Denmark's foremost national
human rights institution also promotes and protects human rights. Based on the Centre's research,
Denmark's parliament can promote human rights-based legislation and education/awareness
programs throughout the nation. The Centre also addresses the UN Commission on Human
Rights annually regarding human rights developments in Denmark and internationally. Denmark
has no record of committing major human rights violations, most importantly any targeted at
women. In its 2003 Annual Report, Amnesty International also found no human rights violations
against Danish women.
Women are invaluable to Denmark's society and have achieved significant economic and
social gains in the 20th century. Currently, 75 percent of medical students in Denmark are
women.
Denmark is confident that this Commission can bring about an end to violence against
women without compromising the sovereignty of member states. Education remains perhaps the
most useful tool in protecting victims of gender-based violence. Governments, UN agencies, and
nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) can plan a coordinated campaign that educates national
populations on the various ways women are violently targeted. Similarly, harmful traditions, such
as honor killings and female genital mutilation, must be stopped by reforming traditional views
of women in society. Children of both sexes need to be taught at an early age to value the rights
of women in order to prevent such violence in their generation.
Another way to stop gender violence would be to reproach member states that
consistently violate treaties such as the Convention on Political Rights of Women (1952), the
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (1979), and the
Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women (1993). Although this Committee
cannot impose sanctions, it can pass resolutions verbally condemning states that commit human
rights violations. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights can also meet with
representatives of governments that violate the above treaties to discuss possible [Link]
order to prevent gender violence, nations must work together to build a culture of support,
equality and community. As such, the Kingdom of Denmark looks forward to offering its
support, in whatever form possible, to nations firmly committed to ending violence against
women in all its forms.
