In 1994, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights appointed a Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women (SRVAW) after the adoption of a resolution for “integrating the rights of women into the human rights mechanisms of the United Nations and the elimination of violence against women” (United Nations Commission on Human Rights). To date, the position has been occupied by three appointees: Radhika Coomaraswamy (Sri Lanka) from 1994 to July 2003; Dr. Yakin Ertürk (Turkey) from August 2003 to July 2009; and Rashida Manjoo (South Africa) since 2009.
A 15-year report has been published to review the work of the Special Rapporteur since the creation of the post and to position it within a global perspective of the causes and consequences of violence against women. The review specifically analyzes the mandate of the SRVAW; the main areas of violence against women covered by the mandate; methods developed to implement the mandate globally; advances made in the field of women’s human rights; and current and future challenges to women’s rights.
Compiled from: “15 years of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, its causes and consequences (1994-2009) - A critical review,” Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (27 August 2009).