ABSTRACT
Violence against women (VAW) and girls is a fundamental violation of human rights. VAW is a complex and multifaceted global issue, which includes elements of legal, social and health aspects. VAW includes: physical, sexual, psychological and economic abuse and it cuts across boundaries of age, race, culture, wealth and geography. It has many manifestations, from the most universally prevalent forms of domestic and sexual violence, to harmful practices, abuse during pregnancy, so-called honour killings and other types of 'femicide'. UN Women, United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, focuses on Violence against Women as a priority area, aiming at the implementation of Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and United Nations Security Council resolutions 1325. The chapter discusses contributions on VAW in peace and conflicts, focusing on prevention of violence as well as protection of and care for survivors/victims.
