Universal-Womens-accesss-to-justice-Publications-Practitioners-Guide-Series-2016-ENG

V
WOMEN’S ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE 157
jealous of this partner, or a wife is discovered to be unfaithful
to her husband. The key issue with all communities is to ensure
that women are safe to speak out, and seek remedies, about
violence that affects them, and that all authorities demand and
ensure that women can enjoy their rights to physical and
mental integrity.
The most important step is to reach out to women in affected
communities. The CEDAW Committee has in this regard
required States to:
“Develop targeted outreach activities and distribute
information about available justice mechanisms,
procedures and remedies in various formats, and also in
community languages such as through specific units or
desks for women. Such activities and information should
be appropriate for all ethnic and minority groups in the
population and designed in close cooperation with
women from these groups and, especially, women’s and
other relevant organizations.” 417
Statutes of limitation should not function in such a way
that women are denied access to justice
The CEDAW Committee has required that States parties:
“Ensure that the statutory limitation is in conformity with the
interest of the victims”. 418
The Istanbul Convention directly addresses the potential
problem of statutes of limitations. It calls for States parties to
“take the necessary legislative and other measures to ensure
that the statute of limitation for initiating any legal proceedings
with regard to the offences established in accordance with
Articles 36, 37, 38 and 39 of this Convention [of sexual
violence, including rape, forced marriage, FGM, forced abortion
and sterilization], shall continue for a period of time that is
sufficient and commensurate with the gravity of the offence in
417
CEDAW General Recommendation No 33, above note 383,
paragraph 17(c).
418
Ibid, paragraph 51(b).