EFFORTS TOWARDS HUMAN RIGHTS, DEVELOPMENT, GENDER EQUALITY WILL HAVE ‘GAPING VOID’

IF THREAT OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN NOT ENDED, SAYS DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL

Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro’s remarks at the launching of the inter-agency publication entitled:  No more! The right of women to live a life free from violence in Latin America and the Caribbean, in Santiago, Chile, on 26 November:

I am deeply honoured to be present at the launching of this important inter-agency publication on a crucial issue that affects hundreds of millions of women around the globe.  I profoundly thank all of you for your singular efforts towards preparing and boldly presenting this important issue on the public agenda.

In his message on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the Secretary-General noted that violence against women continues to persist as one of the most heinous, systematic and prevalent human rights abuses in the world.  Our efforts towards promoting human rights, development and gender equality will have a gaping void if we are not able to urgently and effectively end this threat to all women.

There are reasons for hope.  In many countries, considerable progress has been achieved in changing laws, policies, practices and attitudes which in the past helped create a patchwork of impunity for this despicable offence.  Such progress has taken place in the Latin American and the Caribbean region, as well.

Yet, there is so much left to do to tear down the veil of silence which frequently shrouds this flagrant violation of human rights.  A lot depends on how all these laws and policies are actually implemented and enforced, so that there is indeed a real “zero tolerance” of violence against women worldwide.

I am pleased to say that the United Nations family is stepping up its activities at all levels -- from actions by the Regional Commissions to better coordination and programming at the country level.

Efforts are under way to raise public awareness, build political will and provide effective responses. The report we are launching today is also a testimony to the greater coordination among UN organizations to address important issues such as this.

To bring all these efforts together, the Secretary-General has decided to spearhead a system-wide campaign through 2015 for the elimination of violence against women.  The campaign will focus on three key areas:

-- global advocacy;

-- United Nations leadership by example, including strengthening gender architecture; and

-- strengthened partnerships at the national and regional levels to support the work of Governments, civil society, the private sector and others.

The Secretary-General has also proposed that the General Assembly devote an agenda item every year to considering the question of violence against women.  He has also called on the Security Council to establish a mechanism dedicated to monitoring violence against women and girls, within the framework of [Security] Council resolution 1325 on women, peace and security.

This publication will serve to remind us that the task of ending violence against women remains an unfinished business.  It will call us to stronger and more resolute actions not only in this region but also in all other parts of the globe.  We in the United Nations family pledge our determined and ceaseless efforts in ending this scourge.

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For information media • not an official record