Violence Against Women - Differences in Universal and Regional Approach

Violence against women is a severe violation of human rights that very often goes unpunished. It can exist in several forms - domestic violence, sexual violence, trafficking in women, female genital mutilation, and child marriage. Women can claim their rights through individual complaints to specialized bodies, namely the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) within the Council of Europe. The aim of this thesis is to compare the decision-making process of the UN and the Council of Europe and to identify differences between them. The question is whether the number of cases handled under the regional and universal approach is similar, the success rate of women in the proceedings, whether violence against women is more frequent in some countries and whether decisions have any real impact in that country or globally. Both approaches, universal and regional, are based on the same principle. Although both systems have their shortcomings, such as eligibility criteria, speed of proceedings, and under-representation of women in decision-making bodies, they are still an appropriate means of asserting their rights. The main differences between the two approaches include the number of cases, the speed of proceedings, and the scope of decisions. Differences also manifest themselves in forms of violence against women, which are addressed in the decision-making process. Ensuring equality between women and men, eliminating gender stereotypes, and prohibiting discrimination against women should be a priority for all countries in the world. Today, there is no reason why women should be perceived as inferior persons and, as a result, still suffer the violence of men.