Unequal distribution of power between men and women; cultural, economic, and systemic factors; and tolerance by legal systems and society of violence against women are cited as contributing factors to the perpetration of this abuse of the human rights of women. Violence against women must be considered as a separate human rights abuse problem because of its complexity and involvement of primary human relationships. By employing these three approaches which originate at the local levels, human rights abuses of women can be dealt with in an international forum. A history of the development of women's rights as part of the human rights agenda through the United Nations is appended. 36 references