The European Parliament adopted a resolution tabled by the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality on the elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls in view of the 57th session of the United Nations CSW.

Confirming its commitment to the Beijing Platform for Action and to the range of actions for gender equality outlined therein, Parliament underlines the importance of a positive outcome at the 57th session of the UN CSW to be held from 4 to 15 March 2013, including the adoption of a set of forward-looking agreed conclusions that will contribute in a significant way to ending violence against women and girls, including women with disabilities, indigenous women, migrant women, adolescent girls and women with HIV/AIDS, thus making a difference worldwide.

Among the key priorities for addressing violence against women and girls should be the elimination of discriminatory socio-cultural attitudes that reinforce women’s subordinate place in society and result in the toleration of violence against women and girls in both private and public spheres.

Members consider that the EU and its Member States, must also step up their domestic efforts to eliminate violence against women and gender-based violence in order to become more efficient actors globally. The Commission is asked to propose an EU strategy against violence against women, including a directive laying down minimum standards.

The Union and its Member States are asked to:

sign and ratify the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence; increase their resource allocation for ending violence against women and girls, including at local, national, European, and global levels.

Parliament also calls upon the EU to:

fully support the recommendation that the United Nations CSW of 2013 should agree to develop a Global Implementation Plan to End Violence against Women and Girls; support the launching of a Global Advocacy Campaign for the prevention of violence against women and girls and gender-based violence.

Lastly, the resolution asks the European External Action Service to make increasing efforts to ensure that the human rights of women and girls are protected and advanced in all actions and dialogues involving the EEAS.