The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW Committee) adopted General Recommendation No. 35 on gender-based violence against women that updated General Recommendation No. 19, in July 2017. 

Taking into account the work of the CEDAW Committee and other international human rights mechanisms and the developments at national, regional and international levels, gender-based violence is further elaborated in General Recommendation No. 35. 

General Recommendation No. 35 provides a clear conceptual framework for preventing gender based violence. It recognizes the prohibition of gender-based violence as a principle of international customary law. Violations of sexual and reproductive health rights are also included as forms of gender-based violence. It underlines the importance to repeal all legal provisions that discriminate against women. General Recommendation No. 35 declares due diligence obligations of States for acts and omissions of non-State actors that result in gender-based violence. 

In order to disseminate the content of General Recommendation No. 35, the CEDAW Committee held a panel discussion on 14 November 2017.

Webcast of the panel

Full text of the General Recommendation No. 35