This section provides resources demonstrating the use of a human rights framework in addressing domestic violence and sexual assault and using the law to improve the responses of governments and law enforcement to gender-based violence.
COURAGE in Policing Project, University of Miami Law Human Rights Clinic, 2018.
Summary: The COURAGE in Policing Project works to enhance the law enforcement response to domestic violence and sexual assault, in partnership with community-based organizations, police departments, and national leaders.
Violence Against Women in the Inter-American Human Rights System: A Case Study of Jessica Gonzales v. United States
This resource examines the issue of violence against women in the Americas through the lens of a landmark legal case, Jessica Gonzales v. the United States, which was heard in the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and has had reverberations in legal jurisdictions across the globe.
Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault in the U.S.: A Human Rights Based Approach & Practice Guide
The guide provides an overview of human rights law’s approach to addressing gender-based violence. Specifically, the guide focuses on the “due diligence” standard and provides a comprehensive framework to address human rights violations in a systemic and proactive manner.
Jessica Lenahan (Gonzales) v. United States of America
Jessica Lenahan’s three daughters were kidnapped and killed by her estranged husband due to the lack of actions taken by local law enforcement. She took her case before the U.S. Supreme Court and then before the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights. This webpage includes the amicus briefs regarding her case, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights decision, and the press releases regarding this decision.
Toradze v. Georgia Amicus Brief
In Toradze v. Georgia, a law enforcement officer used his position of power to perpetuate a domestic violence situation in the country of Georgia. The Amicus Brief urged the European Court to consider, in the context provided by the case of Toradze v. Georgia, important principles that have been developed by international, regional, and national authorities on policing and human rights, and to apply a heightened responsibility standard in cases of officer-perpetrated gender based violence.
Advancing a Human Rights Framework to Reimagine the Movement to End Gender Violence
In analyzing the evolution of federal legislation in the United States, the author highlights how a human rights framework calls for a more comprehensive, multi-faceted approach to ending gender-based violence. It recognizes that domestic violence is not a private family matter and that the state has an obligation in efforts to prevent and respond to this violence in a manner that is holistic, effective and accessible to all.
Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence
This landmark treaty of the Council of Europe opens the path for creating a legal framework at pan-European level to protect women against all forms of violence, and prevent, prosecute and eliminate violence against women and domestic violence.
The Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment, and Eradication of Violence against Women
The Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment, and Eradication of Violence against Women, known as the Convention of Belém do Pará, defines violence against women, establishes that women have the right to live a life free of violence and that violence against women constitutes a violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa
The Maputo Protocol is a treaty instrument that is binding on all countries that ratify it. Proponents of the Maputo Protocol present it as a method of combating female genital mutilation in Africa, where it is more common than elsewhere.
Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women
Among the international human rights treaties, the Convention takes an important place in bringing women into the focus of human rights concerns. The present document spells out the meaning of equality and how it can be achieved.
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women General Recommendations
The U.N.'s general Recommendation No. 19 from 1992 was historic as it clearly framed violence against women as a form and manifestation of gender-based discrimination, used to subordinate and oppress women. 25 years later, General Recommendation No. 35 elaborates on the gender-based nature of this form of violence, building on the work of the Committee and other international human rights mechanisms, as well as developments at national, regional and international levels.
United Nations Police Gender Toolkit: Standarised Best Practices on Gender Mainstreaming in Peacekeeping
In three modules, this resource covers lessons on how to apply gender concepts to policing; how to develop a police gender strategy and action plan; how to assist the host state police in developing and implementing a gender equality policy and recruiting female police officers; and how to establish special police units to address sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).
Gender and Security Toolkit: Policing and Gender
This security toolkit draws together the key lessons of the past decade in promoting gender equality in security and justice. The toolkit shares new and emerging good practices, reflect upon how successes in increasing gender equality have been achieved and move forward thinking about integrating a gender perspective in security and justice sector institutions.
Report of the inquiry concerning Canada of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women under article 8 of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
This report includes recommendations from the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women in response to the extremely high levels of violence experienced by aboriginal women and girls in Canada.
CEDAW's Key Cases on Violence against Women
This resource puts together brief summaries of some of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women Committee’s (CEDAW) key decisions related to violence against women and state responsibility to end it.