A/RES/65/187 Deeply concerned about the pervasiveness of violence against women and girls in all its different forms and manifestations worldwide, and reiterating the need to intensify efforts to prevent and eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls throughout the world, Recognizing that violence against women and girls is rooted in historical and structural inequality in power relations between men and women and that all forms of violence against women seriously violate and impair or nullify the enjoyment by women and girls of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and constitute a major impediment to the ability of women to make use of their capabilities, Recognizing also that women’s poverty and lack of empowerment, as well as their marginalization resulting from their exclusion from social policies and from the benefits of education and sustainable development, can place them at increased risk of violence, and that violence against women impedes the social and economic development of communities and States, as well as the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, Recognizing further that the empowerment of women, by, inter alia, ensuring their full representation and full and equal participation at all levels of decision-making and their full economic autonomy, including by promoting their equal access to the labour market, is fundamental for eliminating violence against women and girls, especially in the current time of economic crisis, Acknowledging the need to address violence against women and girls holistically, including through the recognition of linkages between violence against women and girls and other issues, such as HIV/AIDS, poverty eradication, food security, peace and security, humanitarian assistance, human trafficking, education, health and crime prevention, Welcoming the adoption of the United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons, 15 and stressing its contribution to combating violence against women and the need for its full and effective implementation, 14F Expressing its appreciation for the efforts and the high number of activities undertaken by States to eliminate all forms of violence against women that have resulted in the strengthening of legislation and the criminal justice system, such as adopting national action plans, strategies and national coordination mechanisms, implementing prevention measures, including awareness-raising and capacity-building, reinforcing protection, support and services for victims and survivors, and improving data collection and analysis, Emphasizing that the lack of full and effective enforcement of national legal frameworks to prevent and address violence against women remains a continuing challenge, as noted by the Secretary-General in his report, 16 15F Recognizing the important role of the family in preventing and combating violence against women and girls and the need to support its capacity to prevent and eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls, Recognizing also the important role of the community, in particular men and boys, as well as civil society, in particular women’s organizations, in the efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women, _______________ 15 16 Resolution 64/293. A/65/208. 3