A/RES/69/147 Intensification of efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls Recognizing the vulnerability of those who suffer multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, such as older women, indigenous women, migrant women and women with disabilities, and the particular risk of violence they face, and stressing the urgent need to address violence and discrimination against them, Gravely concerned that impunity for violations and abuses against women human rights defenders persists owing to such factors as a lack of reporting, documentation, investigation and access to justice, social barriers and constraints with regard to addressing gender-based violence, including sexual violence, and the stigmatization that may result from such violations and abuses, Alarmed by the acts of intolerance, violent extremism, violence, including sectarian violence, and terrorism in various parts of the world, which claim innocent lives, cause destruction and displace people, including women and girls, Recognizing that the illicit use of and illicit trade in small arms, light weapons and ammunition aggravate violence, inter alia, against women and girls, Taking note of the forthcoming entry into force of the Arms Trade Treaty on 24 December 2014,34 which includes provisions for States parties regarding serious acts of gender-based violence or serious acts of violence against women and children, 1. Stresses that “violence against women” means any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women and girls, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life, and also notes the economic and social harm caused by such violence; 2. Recognizes that gender-based violence is a form of discrimination that seriously inhibits women’s ability to enjoy rights and freedoms on a basis of equality with men; 3. Also recognizes that violence against women and girls persists in every country in the world as a pervasive violation of the enjoyment of human rights and a major impediment to achieving gender equality, development, peace, security and the internationally agreed development goals, in particular the Millennium Development Goals; 4. Further recognizes that all human rights are universal, indivisible and interdependent and interrelated and that the international community must treat human rights globally in a fair and equal manner, on the same footing and with the same emphasis, and stresses that, while the significance of national and regional particularities and various historical, cultural and religious backgrounds must be borne in mind, it is the duty of States, regardless of their political, economic and cultural systems, to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms; 5. Stresses that it is important that States strongly condemn all forms of violence against women and refrain from invoking any custom, tradition or religious consideration to avoid their obligations with respect to its elimination as set out in the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women;15 6. Strongly condemns the targeting of civilian populations, including women and girls, in violation of international law, by violent extremists, and calls upon all States to intensify their efforts to counter violent extremism, including by _______________ 34 6/14 See resolution 67/234 B and resolution 69/49.