Despite progress in the realization of women's rights across the world, discrimination and violence against women, particularly sexual violence, is on the rise, said Xiaoqaio Zou, vice-Chair of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
Addressing the General Assembly, she stressed that CEDAW is particularly alarmed by the increase in violence against women. All over the world, women continue to be raped and abused, while two million girls between the ages of 5 and 15 are introduced into the commercial sex market each year. Impunity and justification for violence against women are widespread. The last stems from distorted views about gender equality, notably the roles and responsibilities of men and women in relationships. Many forms of sanctioned violence against women are associated with the community's or the family's demand for sexual chastity and virginity, CEDAW reports, with 'honour killings' taking the lives of thousands of young women every year.
The CEDAW Committee was established in 1992 to monitor the implementation of U.N. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (1979). The Convention is considered the most comprehensive treaty on women's rights issues but with 186 member parties, it does not even include all 192 U.N. members.
Global Issues