Mar 17, 2013:  The United Nations (UN) on Friday agreed on a declaration that will spell out the code of conduct designed to combat Violence against Women (VAW) and girls.

A consensus was reached after Iran, Libya, Sudan and other Muslim nations ended threats to block the declaration and agreed to language stating that violence against women could not be justified by "any custom, tradition or religious consideration."

The gathering was attended by thousands of Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) in New York for the Commission on the Status of Women meeting welcomed the agreement and erupted in applause after the agreement was announced. 

Michelle Bachelet, the Executive Director of the UN Women, described the gathering as a "historic. Adding that, "people worldwide expected action, and we didn't fail them. Yes, we did it," Bachelet said.

UN leader Ban Ki-Moon said UN members had committed "to take action to prevent violence and provide justice and services to survivors" of violence against women, which he called a "global menace" and "moral outrage."

The last attempt by the UN commission to agree a declaration on violence against women in 2003 ended in failure. In another development, a Swiss woman is reported to have been gang-raped in the central Indian state of Madhya, Pradesh, police reported.

The victim, who is thought to be 39 years old, was admitted to hospital in Gwalior, and is said to be conscious and helping authorities track down the suspects.  

The incident comes three months after the gang-rape and murder of a 23-year-old female student on a bus in the capital, Delhi, which triggered widespread protests against the treatment of women in India.

On (Mar 11, 2013) one of the suspects was found dead in prison. Police said Ram Singh hanged himself, but his family suspect he was murdered.