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Madam Chair,  Lithuania would like to thank the Special Rapporteur, Ms Rashida Manjoo, for her briefing. Let me take this opportunity to express our full support to your mandate and your work, Madam Special Rapporteur.  Violence against women is a destructive phenomenon with lasting effects on women themselves, as well as on societies as a whole. Its elimination requires a comprehensive and systematic response by states, the United Nations, and all stakeholders. Local communities and men also have an important role to play in this regard. We welcome the HeforShe initiative in this respect and hope it will find ever new supporters. 

Work to end violence against women requires not only a clear political will and commitment but also strong institutional mechanisms at national, regional, and international levels to ensure systematic and sustained action, coordination, monitoring and accountability. 

In your Report, Madam Special Rapporteur, you speak of the need to consider the adoption of a new legally binding international convention or protocol on violence against women and girls, which should include a separate monitoring body.   

We are aware that opinions on this matter may differ. At the same time we believe that any initiative for strengthening the international framework to combat violence against women must be grounded in existing norms and standards, and not undermine or fragment them. 

In this regard, we would like to ask you to elaborate on the need for a new legally binding instrument on violence against women. How would it complement and strengthen the current architecture of international and regional instruments used for preventing and combating violence against women? 

Our second question relates to the forms of violence referred to as “harmful cultural or traditional practices”. Indeed, so-called honor killings, female genital mutilation, early and forced marriage, and similar practices have a severe impact on women’s and girls’ physical, mental, sexual and reproductive health. Girl infanticide in particular is a barbaric practice which denies life to persons simply because of their gender. 

In this context how do you see the power of legislation and the role of community, religious and traditional leaders, as well as grassroots organizations in preventing and eliminating such detestable harmful practices? What concrete measures should be taken, what efforts should be made at all levels to change the underlying attitudes that perpetuate harmful practices? 

Thank you.