Office of the High Commissioner Human Rights | June 2015
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Violence against women affects women everywhere. It impacts women’s health, hampers their ability to participate fully in society, affects their enjoyment of sexual and reproductive health and rights, and is a source of tremendous physical and psychological suffering for both women and their families.

Recent research has shown that women who have been subjected to violence by their  partners have greater chances of having a low birth weight baby, are at much greater  risk of depression, and more likely to have an induced abortions. They are also more  likely to be living with HIV.

International standards recognize violence against women as a form of discrimination and require States to exercise due diligence to prevent, investigate and punish all acts of violence against women perpetrated by any actor, including both State or non-State actors.