AG/RES. 1456 (XXVII-O/97)

PROMOTION OF THE INTER-AMERICAN CONVENTION ON THE PREVENTION, PUNISHMENT, AND
ERADICATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN, "CONVENTION OF BELÉM DO PARÁ"

(Resolution adopted at the sixth plenary session, held on June 4, 1997)

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,

HAVING SEEN the Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment, and Eradication of Violence against Women, "Convention of Belém do Pará," which was adopted by acclamation on June 9, 1994, at the twenty-fourth regular session, and is the first convention in the world on violence against women; and

CONSIDERING:

That in the Plan of Action adopted at the Summit of the Americas in 1994 the heads of state and government agreed to encourage, as appropriate, ratification of and compliance with the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment, and Eradication of Violence against Women;

That the Declaration of Montrouis: A New Vision of the OAS recognized the dignity of women and their contributions to society; called for the adoption of policies that foster active participation by women to enable them to fully enjoy all their rights and develop their potential; and, in this connection, supported the work of the Inter-American Commission of Women; and

That the adoption of the Convention of Belem do Pará demonstrates the recognition by member states of the problem of violence against women and their determination to make progress in this regard,

RESOLVES:

1. To instruct the Permanent Secretariat of the Inter-American Commission of Women, in order to ensure follow-up of the Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment, and Eradication of Violence against Women, to report to the General Assembly every two years on progress made in its application and on experiences and results achieved through the initiatives and programs pursued in the member states to combat violence against women.

2. To encourage all member states to take appropriate measures to ensure that the principles and objectives of the Convention of Belém do Pará are incorporated into their legal systems, so as to eliminate any discrimination and inequality still existing in national laws.