ABSTRACT

This chapter examines Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and asserts that the realisation of the right to life, liberty and security of the person is not a reality in the lives of women in many countries of the world. It focuses particularly on the ultimate act of violence against women that is the issue of gender-related killings of women. The chapter suggests that the rights articulated in Article 3 are being violated in most countries, despite some positive legislative and programmatic developments at the national level. In addition at the international level, of specific legally binding obligations on states to respond to, protect against and prevent violence against women broadly does contribute to the impunity challenge. The discrimination and violence which is reflected in gender-related killings of women can be understood as multiple concentric circles, each intersecting with the other. Violence against women is a systemic human rights violation experienced largely by women because they are women.