30 Resource book on the use of force and firearms in law enforcement Women and girls The United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women requires that States pursue a policy to eliminate violence against women, including “physical, sexual and psychological violence perpetrated or condoned by the State.” (articles 2 and 4). Women,77 when coming in contact with the criminal justice system, including as  victims, suspects and detainees, often find themselves vulnerable to sexual and other abuse. Many of these women have previously suffered sexual or gender-based violence and are at particular risk of secondary victimization  by law enforcement and criminal justice officials. Moreover, women in police custody and in detention centres are vulnerable to sexual abuse and other forms of violence, which may be used to force them to confess to offences they may or may not have committed.78  Women and girls who face multiple forms of discrimination and are often particularly vulnerable to violence include indigenous women, refugee women, migrant women, women living in rural or remote communities, destitute women, women with disabilities, elderly women, and women in situations of armed conflict. Violence against women, in all its forms, violates or impairs the enjoyment of human rights by women and girls. Law enforcement should take steps to prevent such acts of violence and conduct prompt, independent, impartial and efficient investigations into allegations of violence against women and girls, whether perpetrated by public officials or private persons, in the home, in the community, or in official institutions. In situations where the police lawfully use force against women, special attention should be given to a number of factors. For example, use of force should be avoided as far as possible against pregnant women, and medical assistance should be made available as soon as possible afterwards.79 In addition to factors relating to the person against whom force is used, police also need to consider the possible physical and psychological consequences, which may be different for women than for men. It is recommended to have all law enforcement personnel regardless of their gender duly trained on women’s rights and gender equality and on how to respect and protect these rights while exercising their duties. In many countries, female law enforcement officers are assigned to deal with female victims and suspects or these victims and suspects are given the option to be dealt with by female police officers, sometimes operating from a Women’s Desk or even an entire female police station or unit. Generally, it is good practice to assign female officers to carry out all searches and supervision of women, including female detainees.80 77  For more on fundamental principles relevant to law enforcement and human rights of women, see OHCHR, Human Rights and Law Enforcement, A Manual on Human Rights Training for Law Enforcement Officials, 2017, p. 311-320. 78  See UNODC, Resource book on Women and Imprisonment, 2014, p. 8. 79  See for example the final report of “The President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing” in the United States, which was published in May 2015, which included the following action item: “Use of physical control equipment and techniques against vulnerable populations—including children, elderly persons, pregnant women, people with physical and mental disabilities, limited English proficiency, and others—can undermine public trust and should be used as a last resort. Law enforcement agencies should carefully consider and review their policies towards these populations and adopt policies if none are in place.” (p. 15-16). 80  See p. 53 of the UNODC Resource book on Effective Police Responses to Violence against Women.