26 May 1988

15th plenary meeting

Efforts to eradicate violence against women within the family and society

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women, in which it was stated that violence against women was a major obstacle to the achievement of the objectives of the United Nations Decade for Women,

Cognizant of the fact that violence against women exists in various forms in everyday life in all kinds of societies and that concerted and continuous efforts are required for its eradication,

Also recalling the relevant recommendations of the Sixth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, the relevant observations of the Seventh Congress, Economic and Social Council resolution 1984/14 of 24 May 1984 on violence in the family, and section IV of Council resolution 1986/10 of 21 May 1986 and General Assembly resolution 40/36 of 29 November 1985 on domestic violence,

Noting the relevant provisions of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Declaration on Social Progress and Development,

Taking note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on efforts to eradicate violence against women within the family and society and the views of the Commission on the Status of Women expressed during its thirty-second session,

Also noting and fully appreciating the efforts being undertaken by intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and researchers throughout the world,

Mindful of the need to continue and accelerate both short-term and long-term efforts already under way to eradicate the problem of violence against women,

1. Calls upon Member States to take the necessary steps to give effect to the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General;

2. Also calls upon concerned intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and researchers to continue to consolidate their efforts and establish close collaboration with the relevant units and organizations of the United Nations system in the eradication of violence against women within the family and society;

3. Invites organizations and institutions dealing with the various aspects of the problem of violence against women within the family and society in such fields as social welfare, criminal justice, education, health and shelter, as well as research, to establish an international network for co-operation to facilitate complementarity of action;

4. Requests the Secretary-General to pursue the implementation of the recommendations contained in his report and, in this regard, to ensure close collaboration between the Branch for the Advancement of Women and the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Branch of the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat and with intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and research institutions concerned;

5. Also requests the Secretary-General to bring to the attention of the Committee on Crime Prevention and Control at its tenth session the relevant recommendations of the Expert Group Meeting on Violence in the Family with Special Emphasis on its Effects on Women, held in Vienna from 8 to 12 December 1986, so that the Committee may review them and provide guidance on their implementation;

6. Further requests the Secretary-General to ensure that adequate documentation on the issue of violence against women within the family and society is prepared for the Eighth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders.