In spite of the growing international awareness of the problem and the declared willingness of States to fight gender-based violence, women and girls continue to suffer disproportionately from violence, both in peacetime and in the context of armed conflict, at the hands of family members, intimate partners, community members and State agents.
The violence is often of a sexual nature. Instead of taking responsibility, States frequently ignore or deny violence against women, or justify the abuse with a reference to “culture”. The perpetrators of violence against women often escape punishment and its victims rarely receive reparation.
The most visible aspect of torture against women is sexualised torture. Of course, men can also be victims of sexual torture. However, rape, threat of rape and other forms of sexual violence are used more consistently against women.
