A key global expert on violence against women and women’s rights, Ms Dubravka  Šimonović , has reiterated her call for intensification of international, regional and national efforts to prevent femicides or gender related killings of women, and other forms of gender-based violence. The statement by the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, marks the 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence, as well as International Human Rights Day on 10 December. 

In order to prevent and eradicate femicide and gender-based violence against women and girls worldwide, States should increase their efforts to establish femicide watch and gender-based violence observatories and to strengthen their legal framework and its implementation by all relevant actors.

I also urge States and stakeholders to increase the number of shelters or safe places for women and girls who are victims or at risk of violence, and to provide immediately accessible and effective protection orders. Data on shelters and protection orders should also be considered as objective indicators under Target 2 of Sustainable Development Goal 5 on the elimination of violence against women.