The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, entered into force in 1981, also does not explicitly include language on violence against women or domestic violence but guarantees the human rights listed above. In 1992, the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), which is the United Nations committee charged with monitoring the Convention, adopted General Recommendation Number 19. General Recommendation No. 19, Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, U.N. Doc A/47/38 (1992). This recommendation addresses the Women's Convention's silence on violence and states that gender-based violence is a "form of discrimination which seriously inhibits women's ability to enjoy rights and freedoms on a basis of equality with men." This recommendation was the first time a human rights treaty or convention was officially interpreted to prohibit violence against women. The recommendation made clear that domestic violence was included.

In resolution 2003/45, Elimination of violence against women, the Commission on Human Rights welcomes the Special Rapporteur's 2003 report, condemns all acts of violence against women, and affirms that violence against women constituted a violation of women's human rights. The Commission specifically condemns battering, and stresses that "all forms of violence against women occur within the context of de jure and de facto discrimination against women and the lower status accorded to women in society and are exacerbated by the obstacles women often face in seeking remedies from the State." Further, in paragraphs eleven and twelve, the Commission reminds governments of their obligations under the Women's Convention, and urges States that have not yet done so to ratify and accede to the Women's Convention and its Optional Protocol. In paragraph fourteen, the Commission stresses that governments "have an affirmative duty to promote and protect the human rights of women and girls and must exercise due diligence to prevent, investigate and punish acts of all forms of violence against women and girls."

In 2005 the UN Commission on Human Rights adopted a resolution that incorporates a report titled “Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparations for Victims of Gross Violations of Human Rights law and Serious Violations of Humanitarian Law.” In adopting Human Rights Resolution 2005/35, the Commission provides methods and models that member states can use to incorporate the existing international law into a national framework. The report lays out the obligations of each member state, including taking measures to prevent violations, investigation of past violations and providing victims with access to justice.