The Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognizes the inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family as the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world. Its mandate indicates that all human beings -men, women and children- are born free and equal in dignity and human rights. And that no man or woman or child shall be subjected to torture or to cruel inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

However, Ms. Radhika Coomaraswamy, who is the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, stated in her preliminary report (22 November 1994) that although violence against human beings has been one of the major factors which prevented the enjoyment of human rights goals as an universal phenomenon in the twentieth century, violence against women in the family, in the community and by States have been of such magnitude and of such unprecedented proportions that it has shocked the conscience of the world.

Aware that violence against women had become a critical matter requiring priority attention, the U.N. Commission on Human Rights on 4 March 1994, adopted resolution 1994/45 in which it was decided to appoint a Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences. Ms. Radhika Coomaraswamy was appointed for a period of three years.

• seeking and receiving information on violence against women, its causes and consequences from governments, treaty bodies, specialized agencies, other Special Rapporteurs on human rights, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and women's organizations;
• recommend measures, ways and means, at the national, regional and international level, to eliminate violence against women and its causes, and to remedy its consequences;
• carry out field missions, either separately or jointly with other Special Rapporteurs and working groups.

The Special Rapporteur has scheduled field visits to cover all geopolitical regions. Information and materials were requested from governments on national legislation, relevant court cases, training programmes for judges and lawyers, police practice and training procedures, special policies and institutions concerned with women victims of violence, statistical data and information on national plans of actions in the areas of:

1. violence in the family (including domestic violence, traditional practices, infanticide, incest, etc.);
2. violence in the community (including rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, commercialized violence such as trafficking in women, prostitution, labor exploitation, pornography, women migrant workers, etc.);
3. violence by the State (including violence against women in detention and custodial violence, as well as violence against women in situations of armed conflict and against refugee women).