WUNRN
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/WomenHRDefenders.aspx
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UN CAMPAIGN HONOURS WOMEN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS – REFLECT2PROTECT
12 December 2014 - Campaign Honours Women Human Rights
Defenders“Women’s rights are human rights” was the rallying cry nearly 20 years
ago of women human rights defenders in Beijing as they pushed Governments to
recognize that violence and discrimination against women are fundamental human
rights concerns.
To recognize the work that the defenders have done in the 20 years
since the adoption of the Platform for Action, the UN Human Rights Office hosts
#reflect2protect. This campaign will highlight some of the work currently being
undertaken by women’s human rights defenders. In addition, the campaign also
encourages all people to express their solidarity with women’s human rights
defenders through social media channels and including mirror selfies of
themselves. There is also a video to introduce the campaign. In 1995,
Governments made commitments to improve women’s rights and achievements with a
Platform for Action – an ambitious vision for achieving women’s rights and
equality. The plan covers 12 areas of concern on diverse issues such as armed
conflict, poverty, girl child, violence against women, and health.
Yet, while many countries have taken actions to improve women’s
basic human rights, nations still fall short in the achievement of universal
human rights for women, said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad
Al Hussein. Today, there is even more of a responsibility to protect the gains
of the last 20 years, while still pushing for further change, he said. “We must
recognize the vital role of women who defend human rights, often at great risk
to themselves and their families precisely because they are viewed as stepping
outside socially prescriptive gender stereotypes” said Zeid said in an opinion
piece in early December. As part of its commemoration of the twentieth
anniversary of the Beijing Conference, the UN Human Rights Office has also
launched a publication entitled “Women’s Rights are Human Rights.” This
resource is a primer for anyone seeking to understand the basics of women’s
human rights – the legal standards, the political commitments, and specific
issues of particular importance to women and girls’ empowerment and rights.
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/WHRD/Pages/WomenHRDefenders.aspx
Website Link Includes Video.
Honouring Women Human Rights Defenders
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About this campaign
2015 marks
the 20th anniversary of the United Nations’ Fourth World Conference on Women,
held in Beijing, which laid out a vision for ensuring women’s human
rights and achieving gender equality around the world. The Beijing Declaration
committed States to protecting and promoting the human rights of women and
girls and acknowledged the importance of “the voices of all women
everywhere”, taking note of the diversity of women, their roles and
circumstances, and honouring the women who inspired hope and paved the way
ahead for the world’s youth.
On this
occasion, OHCHR wishes to honour such individuals by showcasing their stories,
struggles, and dreams for the future, and by giving them a platform to express
the support they seek in order to safely continue their work.
Starting on Human Rights Day, 10 December 2014, and up until International
Women’s Day on 8 March 2015, OHCHR is releasing a series of 12 short video
profiles of women's human rights defenders via social media and this web page.
Each video
will highlight one of the 12 areas of concern of the Beijing Platform for
Action, which includes themes such as poverty, education, health, violence
against women, armed conflict, economy, power and decision-making,
institutional mechanisms for the advancement of women, human rights, media, the
environment, and girls.
How to participate
In
addition to these short videos, OHCHR is coordinating a social media component
of the campaign under the hashtag #reflect2protect. To
participate, all people who defend and support the human rights of women
and fight against inequality based on gender are invited to send or tweet a
picture of themselves reflected in a mirror and sharing their own reflection on
their role as a defender of the human rights of women and gender equality.
Who are women’s rights defenders?
Women’s human
rights defenders (WHRDs) are both female and any other human rights defenders
who promote and protect women’s rights and gender equality, including women
working on any issue related to human rights and fundamental freedoms,
individually and in association with others in any region of the world.
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