United Nations Measures to Stop Violence against Women

: This article consists of a brief overview of the involvement by the United Nations (UN) and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in worldwide efforts to expose and prevent violence against women. It begins with a depiction of the types of gender‐based violence in contemporary society. Then follows a short history of the institutions and mechanisms created by the UN and civil society to prevent domestic and public violence against women. It concludes with a sketch of ongoing UN/NGO efforts to build on the momentum of the last decade, and suggests the challenges this presents to each and all of us in the new millennium.