Article 1 of the Declaration states that:
“violence against women is an obstacle to the achievement of equality, development and peace, as recognized in the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women, in which a set of measures to combat violence against women was recommended, and to the full implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women…violence against women constitutes a violation of the rights and fundamental freedoms of women and impairs or nullifies their enjoyment of those rights and freedoms, and concerned about the long-standing failure to protect and promote those rights and freedoms in the case of violence against women… violence against women is a manifestation of historically unequal power relations between men and women, which have led to domination over and discrimination against women by men and to the prevention of the full advancement of women, and that violence against women is one of the crucial social mechanisms by which women are forced into a subordinate position compared with men”
It is specified that violence against women (VAW) prevents women from achieving fairness and freedom, and the enjoyment they can get from it. It is also clearly stated that VAW resulted from gender disparity, which hinders women from showing what their full potentials
Bibliography: Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women. (1994, February 23). Retrieved March 25, 2013, from United Nations General Assembly: http://www.unhchr.ch/huridocda/huridoca.nsf/(Symbol)/A.RES.48.104.En Alviola, A Philippine Laws and Judisprudence Databank. (n.d.). Retrieved March 25, 2013, from The LawPhil Project: http://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra1997/ra_8353_1997.html Philippine Laws and Judisprudence Databank Philippine Laws and Judisprudence Databank . (n.d.). Retrieved March 25, 2013, from The LawPhil Project: http://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2004/ra_9262_2004.html Rape Victim Assistance and Protection Act Dr. Emilia S. Visco March 26, 2013