CYIL vol. 14 (2023)

CYIL 14 (2023) THE CONCEPT OF DUE DILIGENCE IN THE CONTEXT OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMENS… 4.1.1 General prevention The first of the partial commitments within general prevention relates to the necessary existence of an adequate and effective legislative framework. 34 This obligation manifests itself at two levels, namely the obligation (1) to remove harmful “negative” or discriminatory provisions from the existing legal framework, 35 and (2) to build an effective “positive” legal framework responding to the occurrence of violence against women. 36 Regarding the obligation to establish an adequate legal framework, both material and procedural, the key is legislative recognition of certain forms of violence against women and their criminalization. 37 Following hand-in-hand, there comes the duty of securing victims’ access to appropriate judicial protection and recognition, including the processes leading to it. 38 Together, this should create a system that deters perpetrators from committing violence. 39 The next step involves the need for the adoption of relevant plans, strategies, or methodologies, 40 ensuring constitutional guarantees of equality between men and women, 41 and accession to relevant international human rights conventions. 42 Following, there is the requirement to establish the necessary institutional structure that will implement the content of said legal framework. The state should, thus, ensure an effective, competent, and adequately equipped system of not only judicial, but also health, social, criminal, and other assistance to victims (e.g., shelter houses, counselling centres etc.) and support the existence of specialized centres focused on the issue of violence against women. All mentioned aspects are backed by case law of human rights bodies. 43 Another significant partial commitment is the need to ensure education. According to the author, this obligation can again be divided into two levels, namely the education of (1) specialized personnel who comes into contact with victims of criminal offences, primarily criminal justice authorities, 44 and (2) general, societal education through 36 CEDAW Committee. General comment no. 12: Violence against women . 03.03.1989, A/44/38. [online]. [Accessed 22.04.2023]. Available from: https://www.refworld.org/docid/52d927444.html; Beijing Declaration, op. cit. , § 125/a, d); DEVAW art. 4/o) and p); IACHR. The situation of the rights of women in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico: The right to be free from violence and discrimination , 07.03.2003, OEA/Ser.L/V/II.117. [online]. [Accessed 01.04.2023]. Available from: http://hrlibrary.umn.edu/iachr/mexico-juarez.html, § 158; ECOSOC, 2006, op. cit. , § 82. 37 Judgment of the ECtHR of 04.12.2003 in M. C. v Bulgaria , no. 39272/98 , §§ 153, 185. 38 Beijing Declaration, op. cit. , § 124/d) – f), h), l). 39 OVEY, C. and WHITE, R. C. A., The European Convention on Human Rights . Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010. ISBN: 978-0-19-954338-0, p. 176. 40 DEVAW, art. 4/e) – f); Beijing Declaration, op. cit. , § 124/c) – g), i), j), o); ECOSOC, 1999, op. cit., § 25. 41 ECOSOC, 1999, op. cit., § 25. 42 Ibid. 43 See Judgment of the ECtHR of 12.06.2008 in Bevacqua v Bulgaria , no. 71127/01; Views of the CEDAW Committee of 10.09.2019 in S. L. v Bulgaria , no. 99/2016; Views of the CEDAW Committee of 25.04.2018 in J. I. v Finland , no. 103/2016; Views of the CEDAW Committee of 26.08.2020 in V. C. v Moldova , no. 105/2016; Views of the CEDAW Committee of 26.01.2005 in A. T. v Hungary , no. 2/2003. 44 DEVAW, art. 4/i); Beijing Declaration, op. cit. , § 124/n); Maria da Penha v Brasil, op. cit., § 61; ECOSOC, 1999, op. cit., § 25. 34 DEVAW, art. 4/d) – g); CEDAW, art. 2/a) – c); Velásquez Rodríguez v Honduras , op. cit. ; ECOSOC, 2006, op. cit., § 82. 35 CEDAW, art. 2/f – g); Tayag Vertido v Philippines, op. cit. , § 8.4.

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