CHENNAI: A United Nations Secretary-General's study has highlighted that violence against women is yet to receive priority attention among States and other stakeholders.

In December 2003, the U.N. General Assembly mandated for the first time, the preparation of an in-depth study on all forms and manifestations of violence against women. The study, released by the U.N., says: ``There is compelling evidence that violence against women is severe and pervasive throughout the world: in 71 countries at least one survey on violence against women has been conducted. However, there is still an urgent need to strengthen the knowledge base to inform police and strategy development.''

Spelling out a way forward, the study has listed the priorities in this connection: States should take urgent and concrete measures to secure gender equality and protect women's human rights; the exercise of leadership is essential to end violence against women; States must close the gaps between international standards and national laws, policies and practices; States should build and sustain strong multi-sectoral strategies, coordinated nationally and locally; States should allocate adequate resources for programmes to address and redress violence against women; the knowledge base on all forms of violence should be strengthened; the U.N. system should increase the allocation of resources.

The study notes: ``Violence against women must be given greater priority at all levels — it has not yet received the priority required to enable significant change. Leadership is critical. Much can be achieved with political will, but there is also a need for considerable investment of resources and for consistent assistance, especially to the least developed countries emerging from conflict. A more cohesive and strategic approach is needed from all actors, including governments, the international community and civil society.''

What has emerged from the study is: ``Many countries lack reliable data and much of the existing information cannot be meaningfully compared. Few countries carry out regular data collection, which would allow changes over time to be measured. Information is urgently needed on how various forms of violence affect different groups of women. This requires data that has been disaggregated according to factors such as age and ethnicity. Little information is available to assess the measures taken to combat violence against women and to evaluate their impact. Ensuring adequate data collection is part of every state's obligation to address violence against women but inadequate data does not diminish state responsibility for preventing and eliminating violence against women."

The recommendation therefore for establishment of a set of international indicators on violence against women, based on widely available and credible data collected at the national level, using comparable methods to define and measure violence.

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