News

• Women have the right to live free of violence
  [November 25th 2012]
  In commemoration of November 25th, International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the President of the CIM and the Secretary General of the OAS join in calling for renewed to prevent, punish and eradicate this violence.
  Message from the President of the CIM, Maureen Clarke Clarke
  Message from the Secrtary General of the OAS, José Miguel Insulza
  More information on November 25th...
• Regional Forum on Indigenous Women's Access to Justice
  [November 9th 2012]
  The Follow-up Mechanism to the Belém do Pará Convention (MESECVI) will host a Regional Forum on Indigenous Women and the Inter-American Justice System on November 12th 2012. The main objective of the Forum is to bring greater visibility and attention to the issue of access to justice for indigenous women, as well as foster the exchange of regional experiences and good practices.
  Download the Press Release
  More information...
• Ninth Meeting of the Committee of Experts
  [November 5th 2012]
  From November 12th to 14th 2012, the Committee of Experts of the MESECVI will celebrate its 9th meeting in Mexico City. The meeting will look at two topics central to an effective response to violence against women: i) indigenous women's access to justice; and ii) indicators to monitor the exercise of women's right to a life free of violence.
  Download the Agenda of the meeting
  More information...
• Second Hemispheric Report on the Implementation of the Belém do Pará Convention
  [April 16th 2012]
  The 4th Conference of States Party to the Belém do Pará Covention adopted the Second Hemispheric Report, which looks at the progress made by States Party in punishing and eradicating violence against women, as well as persistent obstacles.
  Download the full document (PDF, 2.26MB)
• MESECVI publishes its Annual Report 2011
  [March 6th 2012]
  This report looks at the progress of the Follow-up Mechanism to the Belém do Pará Convention over the last year .
  Download the full document (Word, 528kb )
• Access to justice remains an obstacle to the elimination of violence against women
  [August 9th 2011]
  The countries of the region have in large measure adjusted their national laws to international and inter-American legal frameworks for women's rights, but the implementation of these laws and access to justice for women remain a major obstacle.
  Download the concept note and draft agenda
• Reports on violence against women in 32 countries to be evaluated
  [August 5th 2011]
  On September 28th and 29th, 2011, the Committee of Experts of the MESECVI will meet in Washington, D.C., to evaluate the national reports on implementation of the Convention of Belém do Pará.
  Download the draft agenda

Belém do Pará Convention

The Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment, and Eradication of Violence against Women, "Convention of Belém do Pará," establishes that violence against women constitutes a violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

It calls for the first time for the establishment of mechanisms for protecting and defending women's rights as essential to combating the phenomenon of violence against women's physical, sexual, and psychological integrity, whether in the public or the private sphere, and for asserting those rights within society.

More information…