STRATEGIC ACTION TO BE TAKEN TO IMPLEMENT THE OBJECTIVES
OF THE CONVENTION OF BEL�M DO PAR�

(Resolution adopted at the fourth plenary session, held on November 18, 1998)

THE TWENTY-NINTH REGULAR MEETING OF THE ASSEMBLY OF DELEGATES OF THE INTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION OF WOMEN,

CONSIDERING:

That the Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment, and Eradication of Violence against Women, "Convention of Bel�m do Par�," was adopted by acclamation on June 9, 1994 by the twenty-fourth regular session of the General Assembly of the Organization of American States;

That the Convention came into force on March 5, 1995 and that to date it has been ratified by 28 countries; and

That it is advisable to promote the signature and ratification of the Convention as soon as possible by all member states;

RECOGNIZING:

That although efforts are being made throughout the Hemisphere to prevent, punish, and eradicate violence against women, it continues to exist on a scale making it imperative to continue to implement strategies designed to free the women of the Americas of this scourge;

That the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) have programs dedicated to eradicate violence against women;

That the twenty-eighth regular meeting of the Assembly of Delegates adopted resolution CIM/RES. 191 (XXVIII-O/96), "Unified Standards for Preparation of Delegates’ Reports," which provides that there should be a description of measures taken to implement the Convention of Bel�m do Par�;That at the last two regular meetings of the Assembly of Delegates, resolutions CIM/RES. 170 (XXVII-O/94) (Appendix IV) and CIM/RES. 186 (XXVIII-O/96) (Appendix V) were adopted to promote the Convention; they recommend the design and implementation of programs to prevent and eradicate violence against women; and

That the General Assembly of the OAS has adopted resolutions to promote the Convention: resolution AG/RES. 1432 (XXVI-O/96), "Status of Women in the Americas," (Appendix VI), which, among other measures, urges member states to ratify the Convention of Bel�m do Par�; and resolution AG/RES. 1456 (XXVII-O/97), "Promotion of the Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment, and Eradication of Violence against Women, Convention of Bel�m do Par�," (Appendix VII), which instructs the Permanent Secretariat of the CIM, in order to ensure follow-up of the Convention of Bel�m do Par�, to report to the General Assembly every two years on the progress made in application of the Convention, and the results achieved through initiatives and programs pursued in the member states to combat violence against women,

RESOLVES:

1. To urge member states and the principal delegates of the countries that have not yet signed and/or ratified the Convention of Bel�m do Par�, to continue promoting the Convention in order to obtain its signature and ratification by all member states.

2. To recommend to the principal delegates and the Permanent Secretariat of the CIM that they take action to implement the measures proposed in resolutions CIM/RES. 170 (XXVII-O/94), CIM/RES. 186 (XXVIII-O/96), AG/RES. 1432 (XXVI-O/96), and AG/RES. 1456 (XXVII-O/97).

3. To instruct the Executive Secretariat and Permanent Secretariat of CIM:

a. to formulate and coordinate specific efforts to collaborate with the IDB, PAHO, and other regional and international government and nongovernmental organizations concerned with violence against women.

b. to report to the next regular meeting of the Assembly of Delegates on the activities carried out in fulfillment of this mandate.