"This book is a must read. It ventures into unchartered territory by providing a comprehensive analysis of international human rights and the ability of this body of law to compel states to act to address this form of violence. Additionally, Meyersfeld not only provides a content analysis of important pieces of international law and historical precedents, she uses empirical evidence to support which might otherwise be considered normative prescriptions. This book should be a required text in courses focused on human rights, gender studies and international law. While thickly descriptive, the content is important to comprehend the important role international law plays in the protection of vulnerable sectors of society. The details of important international treaties and events are quite informative. The book is extremely well written with a generous supply of case studies that help illustrate the complexities of understanding and eradicating systemic intimate violence. Providing materials relevant to international and regional instruments and national legislation allows the reader to become more familiar with the links between the domestic and international spheres of human rights law. This is one of the most informative books I have read on international law, and I highly recommend it to those who are interested in the field." Denise DeGarmo The Law and Poltics Book Review June 2011 "This erudite work breaks an altogether new ground. It covers both the legal and the political debate on the state's responsibility - under not merely its own constitution but also international law - to protect its citizens from extreme forms of what Dr Bonita Meyersfeld calls "systematic intimate violence". No other work has dealt with the subject as comprehensively as this." A.G. Noorani Frontline September 2010 "This comprehensive analysis makes a strong contemporary case for State responsibility, under International Law, for domestic violence. This fresh assessment of the foundational allegation 'systematic intimate violence' is a must read for making human rights courses even more relevant; for taking the work of international and domestic practitioners to a next level; and for every international institution with a mission that seeks to improve the lives of a perennially vulnerable target group." American Society of International Law Newsletter January 2011