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1998 Archives > Spring 1998
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Model Strategies and Practical Measures on the Elimination
of Violence against Women in the Field of Crime Prevention
and Criminal Justice
by Eileen Skinnider, L.L.B., L.L.M. Legal Researcher International
Centre for Criminal Law Reform and Criminal Justice Policy
Since
the adoption of the Convention on the Elimination of All
Forms of Discrimination Against Women(1979), the proclamation
by the United Nations General Assembly of the Declaration
on the Elimination of Violence against Women(1993) and
the Beijing Declaration and Platform of Action(1995),
there exists a clear agenda at the international level for
action to eliminate violence against women.
At its
sixth session (Vienna, April/May 1997), the United Nations
Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice adopted
a draft resolution on the elimination of violence against
women, which has been approved by consensus by the Economic
and Social Council (ECOSOC) and will be submitted for adoption
later this year to the General Assembly. The resolution, initially
proposed by Canada, calls upon Member States to review and
evaluate criminal law and practice to determine of they have
a negative impact on women, and if so, to modify them to ensure
that women are treated fairly by the criminal justice system.
The resolution further urges Member States to develop and
promote crime prevention strategies that reflect the realities
if women's lives and address their distinct needs. These internationally
agreed upon set of strategies and measures are included in
the resolution as a Annex entitled, "Model Strategies
and Practical Measures on the Elimination of Violence against
Women in the Field of Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice"
(the Model Strategies).
The Model
Strategies is a plan of action describing practical measures
an activities designed to bring about changes to ensure the
appropriate "fair treatment" response on the part
of criminal justice systems to women victims of all forms
of violence. The document recognizes the multifaceted nature
of violence against women and adopts a multidisciplinary approach
to combating violence against women. The Model Strategies
cover all components of the criminal justice system, from
crime prevention, to law enforcement to courts, sentencing
and corrections. They also offer a number of suggestions concerning
research, the media, education, the dissemination of information,
the raising of public awareness and outreach programs. The
Model Strategies provide a concrete framework for various
international technical assistance activities which can hopefully
be undertaken in the near future.
The International
Centre for Criminal Law Reform and Criminal Justice Policy,
as one of the institutes comprising the United Nations Crime
Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme Network, has made
the text of the Model Strategies available in French,
English, Spanish and Chinese and has taken an active role
in disseminating the document to governmental and nongovernmental
organisations in Canada. The Centre intends to develop a resource
manual on the Model Strategies which will provide a
summary of the experience acquired in various countries on
successful or promising means of ensuring their effective
implementation. It also intends to begin work on a compendium
of promising practices in the criminal justice system to eliminate
violence against women, providing detailed information on
various projects to implement each proposed strategy, their
implementation method, their potential transferability and
their evaluation. The Centre responds to requests received
from countries, recently fro the Czech Republic, Argentina
and the People's Republic of China, for information on successful
practices in this area. If you would like to receive a copy
of the Model Strategies or would like more information,
please contact: skinnider@law.ubc.ca
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