This was an effort of the UN in 1979. It was intended to start a kind of International Bill of Rights for Women. This initiative defines and describes what is and isn't discrimination against women and sets out agendas for all national governments to follow.

From this initiative the Treaty for the Rights of Women emerged and international movements and organizations are urging and pressuring governments around the world to ratify this and commit to ending discrimination and violence against women.

"Violence against women and girls represents a global health, economic development, and human rights problem. At least one out of every three women worldwide has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime, with rates of domestic violence reaching 70% in some countries. The International Violence Against Women Act (I-VAWA) is an unprecedented effort by the United States to address violence against women globally." (Amnesty International USA)

The United States has taken a global initiative to end violence against women. Amnesty International provides good resources about this initiative as well as others around the world. It provides background and resources on Violence Against Women efforts.

There is also the SVAW campaign which provides worldwide facts on the severity of violence against women in different regions of the world.
"Amnesty International will show that the right of women to be free from violence is integral to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. As long as violence against women continues, the promise to humanity of the Universal Declaration cannot be fulfilled."(Amnesty International USA-SVAW)