Opening statement by the Deputy High Commissioner during the Side event "International Women’s Day “Women and the Arab Spring: Partners in Revolution, equal in transition?

8 March 2012

Excellencies,
Distinguished Panelists,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am very honoured and pleased to participate in this important event to mark International Women’s Day this year in Geneva. I thank FIDH and the co-sponsors for organizing the discussion around the topic of women and the Arab Spring. This issue is certainly of particular relevance and timeliness in the Arab world today, but the implications for women, our rights and for our societies, regionally and globally will be far-reaching and long-lasting.

That the topic should be formulated with a question mark is a clear sign of both the hope and the concern with which we follow the developments in the countries of the Arab world that have been shaken at the roots by the people’s revolution for human rights and dignity. Day to day, in the reports coming out of the countries, through the media and information we register directly from civil society actors on the ground, there seems to be more reason for concern than for hope. But in the longer term perspective, both looking back and forward, we can and should be hopeful, not least because much of the future will depend on what each of us, gathered here and on the ground, do today.

The role of Arab women in demanding change has been an inspiration for many people around the world. Even before the Arab Spring, countless women-leaders and civil society actors in Arab countries had endeavoured assiduously for equality and rights. With courage, they fought and refused to give up against difficult and at times seemingly insurmountable odds, laying the ground for the role of women in the revolution and transition today. Many had collaborated with our Office to bring international human rights standards to the ground in Muslim countries.

During the Arab Spring, they took that courage to another level. They have been at the forefront of protests and stood up against dictatorship and tyranny. They have done so at considerable risk, often facing violent and gender-specific responses for publicly claiming their rights. Sexual violence and gender specific threats have been reported by women who participated in protests and demonstrations in the region, including brutal beatings during protests and degrading and ill treatment and even torture in detention. These human rights violations and assault to dignity must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. Accountability must be sought for these and other serious crimes.

Beyond women’s role in the protests and the political processes, the transitions currently underway in several Arab countries must be seized as an opportunity to address broader discrimination against women in these societies. There has been less discussion about discrimination in the everyday spheres of life, which then prevent women’s effective participation in public leadership. If women’s rights to education, health, housing, basic services and freedom of movement are not realized, they are unlikely to be able to effectively introduce their concerns into the political debate. Negative social attitudes and stereotypes about women’s role in public life also need to be vigorously countered. The indivisibility and interrelatedness of human rights must be constantly borne in mind if full respect for women’s human rights is to be achieved.

The international human rights framework provides a strong foundation for empowerment of women and accountability for full respect of women’s rights. Mechanisms at the international level should be utilized by Governments, UN agencies and civil society to inform and enrich dialogue and formulate action on these issues.

The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) provides the overarching framework for achieving substantive equality between women and men. This time of transition should be a moment to reaffirm the commitment to the provisions of CEDAW, and to remove reservations to the treaty, many of which run counter to the object and purpose of the treaty anyhow. The Optional Protocol to CEDAW is also an important mechanism through which individual women may claim their rights, and I encourage States in the region to ratify this important instrument.

In 2010, the Human Rights Council established the Working Group on Discrimination against Women in Law and Practice. The Working Group focuses this year, and aptly so, on the elimination of discrimination against women in public and political life, including in times of transition.

I can also ensure you that the High Commissioner and our office will continue to speak out against violations of women’s rights and urge the authorities in transition countries to take bold steps forward for women’s rights and gender equality.

Through our presences in the region, including our new country office in Tunisia, we hope to work closely with the new Governments to assist in introducing systems of governance and implementing law reform fully compliant with human rights obligations, including and in particular on women’s rights. Having our staff on the ground in the region is also critical to keeping us attuned to the concerns of women in the region. Our Office has launched a project to work with national human rights institutions in the Middle East and North Africa region in order to enhance protection and promotion of women’s human rights.

OHCHR will continue to follow and engage with the developments in the region with respect to protection of women’s human rights as part of the High Commissioner’s overall mandate. We are committed to ensure that the hope and promise of the Arab Spring does not leave women behind. In this regard, we are encouraged that the 1st session of the newly established Independent Permanent Human rights Commission of the OIC, meeting in Jakarta last month, included women’s rights as a key part of its 1st work program.

Allow to to conclude by reminding you that tonight from 6-8 pm in room XX at Palais des Nations, the High Commissioner is hosting an exciting event on the occasion of International Women’s Day, which is focused on “Capitalizing on women’s potential in times of crisis.” The theme of this event was to a great degree inspired by the courage and determination of women in the Arab region. Indeed, Ms. Maryam Alkhawaja, a remarkable young human rights defender from Bahrain will be one of the panelists. I invite you all to join us in the Human Rights Council room for this event at 18:00 tonight.

Thank you again for the invitation to be with you today.