WUNRN
SUPPORTING WOMEN HUMAN RIGHTS
DEFENDERS - UN
30 July 2012 - “Women human rights defenders have always been a part of the human rights movement as well as other social movements, although their role and contribution has not always been recognized,” says Mona Rishmawi, UN Human Rights Chief of Branch, on behalf of UN Human Rights Deputy High Commissioner Kyung-wha Kang, during a panel discussion on women human rights defenders at the latest session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.
The panel discussion was part of a full-day gathering on
women’s human rights with leaders and experts in women’s rights, human rights
defenders, and Member States. While the first panel focused on remedies and
reparations for women who have been subjected to violence, this particular
panel was dedicated to exploring the situation of women human rights defenders
and recommendations to ensure their protection.
“Although much progress has been made in realizing women’s
rights, we must acknowledge that we still live in a world where women face
serious inequalities in all spheres of life—at home, at work, in communities
and in politics,” Rishmawi said on how women human rights defenders find
themselves working within this reality of inequality.
On behalf of Kang, Rishmawi highlighted the work of the UN
Human Rights Office (OHCHR) to adopt a comprehensive framework to strengthen
its work to protect all human rights defenders with specific measures to assist
women. She noted that all OHCHR staff should “take into account gender dimensions
in assessing risks and integrate gender perspectives in all measures at all
levels designed to protect civil society actors under threat.”
“This includes taking appropriate measures to respond to
violence against women. OHCHR will remain committed to working with women human
rights defenders, and ensuring protection of these defenders in their important
work,” Rishmawi said.
Margaret Sekaggya, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights
defenders, said that women face several gender-specific threats in conflict
areas such as “violations ranging from verbal abuse based on sex, to sexual
abuse and rape.” Sekaggya also added that women face gender discrimination and
gender stereotypes. “Quite often States use their security agencies to quell
demonstrations, violence, and in many instances, violence against women is very
prominent,” she added.
Sunila Abeysekera, from the International Coalition for
Women Human Rights Defenders, presented several key areas where women human
rights defenders are faced with challenges. Abeysekera stated that there were
brutal violations suffered by those who worked on issues of people’s right to
land, water and a clean environment. There were also violations confronted by
women human rights defenders who worked on reproductive rights and on rights
related to sexuality. The defenders who organize and mobilize communities, as
well as the women who participate in rebuilding societies and their structures
of governance are exposed to repeated violations.
Jose De Jesus Orozco, the Special Rapporteur on human rights
defenders of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, said that women
face more risks than other human rights defenders and the situation is
increasingly worsening in some countries.
The panel offered recommendations for helping women human
rights defenders. Abeysekera suggested that the “fight against impunity was
critical in combating violence against women and protecting women human rights
defenders.”
Sekaggya stressed that “States should recognize good
practices and examples from programs implemented at the domestic level to avoid
duplication, and stressed the need for closer cooperation and consultation with
human rights defenders themselves in the design of policies.”
Nayar Abdelgadir, of the Geneva Institute for Human Rights,
said that countries in transition should implement protective measures so that
women human rights defenders could continue working without the risk of
violence.