A/CONF. 187/1 14. Transnational crime poses complex problems in protection under the law, equal access to justice terms of victimization for many individuals; however, it mechanisms, equal protection and safeguarding of their has a disproportionately adverse impa women,as legal rights, fundamental freedoms and dignity, and fair shown by the work of the Ad Hoc Committee on the treatment, including in terms of victim support and Elaboration of a Convention against Transnational Orga- assistance There should not be circumstances under which nized Crime, which is negotiating the revised draft Proto- gender-directed criminal violence can be invited, tolerated col to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, or condoned; nor should there be circumstances of non- especially Women and Children, supplementing the United feasance or malfeasance in response to such victimization Nations Convention against Transnational Organized The forwarding and/or acceptance of stereotypic arguments Crime(A/AC254/4/Add. 3/Rev. 5), and the revised draft of victim precipitation and victim-blaming, including on Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Air the part of justice officials, do not conform with nd Sea, supplementing the United Nations Convention international standards and norms against Transnational Organized Crime 18. One matter of high priority is to promote safe (A/AC 254/4/Add. 1/Rev. 4), both of which pay particular communities and streets for women and girls so that they attention to the protection and support of victims. In the may realize their potential through equal opportunities and proposed preamble to the revised draft Protocol to Prevent, exercise their rights. Of critical importance to this is the Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, it is stated that realization, in terms of policy-making and decision-making targeted by transnational criminal organizations engaged in causes and consequences of victimization on the one hand trafficking in pe ersons and the pressing needs of potential women victims on the 15. The victimization of women cannot be addressed other. Public awareness campaigns, coupled with without examining their disadvantaged situation. There is community-based prevention, including in homes and evidence that womens victimization is directly linked to schools, are among the best ways to utilize scarce their social status. Women are at relatively greater risk of resources; such campaigns often contain a strong and various forms of victimization due to gender inequality. coherent anti-violence message. The proper education, The information available on women as victims of crime is socialization and rearing of children and the setting up of derived mostly from victimization surveys a system of support, referral and response also constitute 16. Various forms of criminal violence are gender- n important part of such efforts directed or gender-targeted violence and include exploita- 19. Research has demonstrated that women and girls who tion for sex and labour via organized criminal operations. commit crime often have a history of prior victimization The elimination of all such forms of violence is the object Familial abuse may force women to try to survive on the of the Model Strategies and Practical Measures on the streets. Women who are illegal migrants might be Elimination of Violence against Women in the Field of pressured to further violate the law in order to avoid Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. Major United deportation. Trafficked women might have been physically such violence in all its forms nullifies the advancement and city might have been used to get them to enter into thea, Nations conferences on the subject have made clear that and psychologically coerced, or false pretences or dupli fundamental freedoms of women and violates their human trade. Attempts by such victims to resist rape and exploita rights. It is incumbent on the justice systems to upgrade tion or to defend themselves against violence perpetrated heir responses to criminal victimization perpetrated by family members, intimates, associates, sponsors or against women and girls, in terms of prevention, deter- employers commonly result in the victims committing rence, law enactment, law enforcement, sanctioning and additional criminal acts victim support. Criminal justice systems have a central role 20. To combat women's victimization, particularly in the to play in ensuring the security and safety of women and in context of transnational organized crime, it is necessary to removing what might be regarded as invisible barriers to focus on the freedom from their criminal victimization s for such criminality. Despite thei tempts to resist abi porting 17. Thus, women have to be protected in terms of the risk authorities about being victimized. Research has resulted that they bear as a highly vulnerable segment of the victim in the identification of factors, including cultural valuesA/CONF.187/12 5 14. Transnational crime poses complex problems in terms of victimization for many individuals; however, it has a disproportionately adverse impact on women, as shown by the work of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Elaboration of a Convention against Transnational Orga￾nized Crime, which is negotiating the revised draft Proto￾col to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (A/AC.254/4/Add.3/Rev.5), and the revised draft Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Air and Sea, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (A/AC.254/4/Add.1/Rev.4), both of which pay particular attention to the protection and support of victims. In the proposed preamble to the revised draft Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, it is stated that women and children are particularly vulnerable to and targeted by transnational criminal organizations engaged in trafficking in persons. 15. The victimization of women cannot be addressed without examining their disadvantaged situation.10 There is evidence that women’s victimization is directly linked to their social status. Women are at relatively greater risk of various forms of victimization due to gender inequality. The information available on women as victims of crime is derived mostly from victimization surveys. 16. Various forms of criminal violence are gender￾directed or gender-targeted violence and include exploita￾tion for sex and labour via organized criminal operations. The elimination of all such forms of violence is the object of the Model Strategies and Practical Measures on the Elimination of Violence against Women in the Field of Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. Major United Nations conferences on the subject have made clear that such violence in all its forms nullifies the advancement and fundamental freedoms of women and violates their human rights. It is incumbent on the justice systems to upgrade their responses to criminal victimization perpetrated against women and girls, in terms of prevention, deter￾rence, law enactment, law enforcement, sanctioning and victim support. Criminal justice systems have a central role to play in ensuring the security and safety of women and in removing what might be regarded as invisible barriers to freedom from their criminal victimization. 17. Thus, women have to be protected in terms of the risk that they bear as a highly vulnerable segment of the victim population. In addition to that, however, they deserve equal protection under the law, equal access to justice mechanisms, equal protection and safeguarding of their legal rights, fundamental freedoms and dignity, and fair treatment, including in terms of victim support and assistance. There should not be circumstances under which gender-directed criminal violence can be invited, tolerated or condoned; nor should there be circumstances of non￾feasance or malfeasance in response to such victimization. The forwarding and/or acceptance of stereotypic arguments of victim precipitation and victim-blaming, including on the part of justice officials, do not conform with international standards and norms. 18. One matter of high priority is to promote safe communities and streets for women and girls so that they may realize their potential through equal opportunities and exercise their rights. Of critical importance to this is the realization, in terms of policy-making and decision-making and practical responses, of the relationships between the causes and consequences of victimization on the one hand and the pressing needs of potential women victims on the other. Public awareness campaigns, coupled with community-based prevention, including in homes and schools, are among the best ways to utilize scarce resources; such campaigns often contain a strong and coherent anti-violence message. The proper education, socialization and rearing of children and the setting up of a system of support, referral and response also constitute an important part of such efforts. 19. Research has demonstrated that women and girls who commit crime often have a history of prior victimization. Familial abuse may force women to try to survive on the streets. Women who are illegal migrants might be pressured to further violate the law in order to avoid deportation. Trafficked women might have been physically and psychologically coerced, or false pretences or dupli￾city might have been used to get them to enter into the sex trade. Attempts by such victims to resist rape and exploita￾tion or to defend themselves against violence perpetrated by family members, intimates, associates, sponsors or employers commonly result in the victims committing additional criminal acts. 20. To combat women’s victimization, particularly in the context of transnational organized crime, it is necessary to focus on the reasons for such criminality. Despite their attempts to resist abuse, most victims avoid reporting to authorities about being victimized. Research has resulted in the identification of factors, including cultural values, that contribute to non-reporting on the part of victims