Human Rights Council: fighting gender-based violence

The Lutheran World Federation welcomes the report on custody, violence against women and violence against children, by the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences,

We commend the report’s recognition of the potential use of parental alienation as an extension of domestic violence as well as child sexual abuse.

The Lutheran World Federation is concerned about the continued delegitimization of cases of domestic violence against women and children through invoking parental alienation in justice systems in several countries. Violence against women and children, especially girls, is one of the greatest human rights violations of our time, with one out of three women experiencing violence at least once in their lifetime. Most of this violence occurs within the home, perpetrated by an intimate partner or a former partner.

Ignoring the history of and prevalence of violence in the home subjects women and children to lasting emotional and physical harm and even death.

We therefore stress the need for the following:

This council, the international community and relevant duty bearers to work together to protect women and children from all forms of violence

Governments to strengthen legal standards and judicial systems to eliminate prejudices in custody cases and cases of violence against women and children

The Special Rapporteur to continue engaging with civil society organizations including faith actors working to promote and protect women and children’s rights

Thank you