WUNRN
SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON HUMAN RIGHTS
DEFENDERS REPORT TO THE UN 2014 + WOMEN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS
Website of UN Special Rapporteur on
the Situation of Human Rights Defenders:
Direct Link to Full 22-Page Special
Rapporteur UN Human Rights Council Report:
E. Special attention for risks and challenges faced by women defenders and those working on women’s rights and gender issues
1. During her mandate, the Special Rapporteur has extensively focused on integrating a gender perspective throughout her work and has paid particular attention to the specificities of the environment in which women human rights defenders operate. She has addressed the heightened risks and challenges faced by women human rights defenders and those working on women’s rights and gender issues; and highlighted the repercussions that such work may have on partners, spouses, and family members of defenders.
2. The Special Rapporteur remains gravely concerned that women defenders are subject to arrests, ill-treatment, torture, criminalization, unwarranted judicial proceedings, stigmatization, attacks, threats (including death threats), sexual violence and killings. Furthermore, in many cases, the family members of women defenders are also targeted. In comparison to male defenders, women defenders are more at risk of suffering certain forms of violence, as well as prejudice, exclusion and repudiation. This occurs because women defenders are often perceived as challenging accepted sociocultural norms, traditions, perceptions and stereotypes about femininity, sexual orientation, and the role and status of women in society.
3. The Special Rapporteur regrets that, in many countries, there are no specific mechanisms in place to protect women defenders and those working on women’s rights and gender issues. In countries where such mechanisms exist, they are often hampered by a lack of gender-sensitivity, implementation or political will. The Special Rapporteur strongly believes that women defenders need specific and enhanced protection and targeted and deliberate efforts to make the environment in which they operate a safer, more enabling and supporting one.
4. In this regard, the Special Rapporteur welcomes the newly adopted General Assembly resolution on protecting women human rights defenders, which she believes is both timely and of utmost importance. In the resolution, the important contribution of women human rights defenders to the promotion and protection of human rights, democracy, rule of law, development, and peace and security is acknowledged. The General Assembly also highlights specific protection measures that States must implement for women defenders to be able to carry out their work safely and without fear of reprisals. It further calls upon States to exercise due diligence in preventing violations and abuses against women human rights defenders and combating impunity by ensuring that those responsible for violations and abuses, are promptly and impartially brought to justice.
CONCLUSIONS
(e) Ensure that violations by State and non-State actors against
defenders, particularly women defenders, are promptly and impartially
investigated, and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice. Furthermore,
provide material resources to ensure the physical and psychological protection
of defenders, including through gender-sensitive polices and mechanisms;
(f) Publicly acknowledge the particular and significant role played
by women human rights defenders, and those working on women’s rights or gender
issues, and make sure that they are able to work in an environment free from
violence and discrimination of any sort;