WUNRN
Joint
Statement by Representatives of National Human Rights Institutions at the 54th
Session of the United Nations
Commission on the Status of Women
Reaffirming
the important and constructive role played by National Human Rights
Institutions[1][1] and their
function in remedying human rights violations and in the dissemination of human
rights information and education concerning human rights, as recognized in the
Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action;
Recognizing
that National Human Rights Institutions have a crucial role to play in
promoting and ensuring the indivisibility and interdependence of all human
rights as stated in the resolution 2005/74 of the Commission on Human Rights;
Reaffirming
that National Human Rights Institutions have been recognized as a objective and
reliable information source regarding the human rights situation in their
countries, according to resolutions 60/251 of the General Assembly and 5/1 of
the Human Rights Council;
Emphasizing
that the participation of and consultation with National Human Rights
Institutions, are based on arrangements, including Economic and Social Council
resolution 1996/31 of 25 July 1996 and practices observed by the Commission on
Human Rights, as well as any decisions that the Human Rights Council may take,
while ensuring the most effective contribution of these entities;
Recognizing
that National Human Rights Institutions are an important part of the national,
regional and international institutional framework and accountability
mechanisms for the advancement of women;
Recognizing
that National Human Rights Institutions are important national machinery in
advancing the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action
as affirmed in the Agreed Conclusions of the 53rd Session of the
CSW; and
Recognizing
that National Human Rights Institutions have independent participation status
in international fora[2][2] and are critical to ensuring that
women’s rights are fully respected as human rights.
However,
recognizing also that National Human Rights Institutions do not currently have
independent participation status at the UN Commission on the Status of Women
(CSW), the primary intergovernmental mechanism on women’s empowerment and
gender equality.
National Human Rights Institutions represented
at the 54th Session of CSW:
Urge the CSW to formally recognise the independent role of
National Human Rights Institutions in promoting women’s empowerment and gender
equality at the national, regional and international level;
Encourage Member States to support a resolution enabling the
independent participation of National Human Rights Institutions at the CSW,
consistent with other UN bodies;
Urge Member States to show leadership in the strengthening of the
international gender architecture by ensuring that NHRIs have an independent
status at CSW;
Encourage Member States to consider how National Human
Rights Institutions could fully engage with the proposed new gender entity as a
national partner; and
Request civil society to support efforts to secure
independent participation status for National Human Rights Institutions at
CSW.
This joint statement is issued by the
representatives of the National Human Rights Institutions of
Enquiries regarding this joint statement can be
directed to Ms Pip Dargan at pipdargan@asiapacificforum.net
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Thank you.
[1][1] National Human Rights Institutions established in
accordance with the Principles Relating to the Status of National Institutions
(referred to as the Paris Principles) which were adopted by the Commission on
Human Rights (1992/54) and General Assembly in 1993 (48/134).
[2][2] UN Human Rights
Council, the Committee on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination Against Women, the UN Human Rights Committee, the UN Committee
on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and other international human rights
bodies.