Violence against women is gender-based violence directed against a woman because she is a woman or disproportionately affects women. It is also a serious violation of human rights. It includes acts such as sexual violence, including rape, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, forced abortion or sterilization, trafficking for sexual exploitation, dangerous stalking, sexual harassment, femicide, hate speech and gender-based crimes, and various forms of violence on the internet (cyber violence). Domestic violence is also a form of violence against women. At the root of this violence is gender inequality, which is a manifestation of structural discrimination against women.  

According to UN-Women global surveys, nearly 1 in 3 women over the age of 15 has been subjected to physical or sexual violence at least once in her lifetime, either by an intimate partner or another person. The results of these surveys lead to the conclusion that the situation worldwide has remained essentially unchanged over the last 10 years. The intersecting crises of climate change, global conflicts and economic instability have further exacerbated the situation. Violence against women and girls is a global phenomenon. In many countries, women's rights are being violated and suppressed, and regressive laws are being passed leading to impunity for perpetrators of domestic violence. At the same time, there has been an increase in movements against women's rights, including anti-feminist groups. Cyber-violence is becoming more widespread, particularly affecting women active in public life. There have been more attacks against women human rights defenders, journalists and activists, who face increased repression. Women human rights defenders are routinely targeted for harassment, hate speech, discrimination, dissemination of personal or intimate information, defamation and other forms of online pressure to silence and punish their public presence on social media.

Activities of the Czech Republic on the international scene

The protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the rights of women and girls, together with the promotion of democracy, continue to be key objectives of the Czech Republic's foreign policy. In accordance with the Concept for the Promotion of Human Rights and Transitional Cooperation, the Czech Republic supports equal opportunities for women and men in international organizations and actively opposes violence against women and girls, including sexual violence in armed conflicts, at meetings of the UN and other international organizations. In this respect, the Czech Republic also supports the work of UN WOMEN and contributes to the implementation of the EU guidelines on violence against women and girls and the fight against all forms of discrimination against them. In the framework of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the UN Human Rights Council, the Czech Republic formulates, inter alia, recommendations focused on sexual abuse and trafficking in women, gender discrimination, eradication of female circumcision, and combating sexual and gender-based violence, including domestic violence. 

n 2024, the Czech Republic supported a new resolution to end sexual and gender-based violence online at the 56th session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) and also joined the US joint statement on ending gender-based violence in conflict. At the 57th HRC, CR cosponsored a new resolution on the elimination of domestic violence. In the UN General Assembly Third Committee, the CR sponsored resolutions on the eradication of violence against women and girls, on trafficking in women and girls and on the eradication of female circumcision.

Consulate General in Shanghai