The Due Diligence Standard and Violence Against Women

Abstract

"Due diligence" is the standard often used to determine what actions states should take to address violence against women, including domestic violence. This article explains the development of the concept of due diligence in international human rights law, addresses what measures states are to take to meet their due diligence obligation, and discusses some of the jurisprudence of United Nations and regional human rights bodies that have applied the standard.

Keywords: due diligence, domestic violence, non-state actors, human rights, state responsibility, gender, discrimination

JEL Classification: I18, N14, N33, N42