Opening remarks by Ms. Jane Connors Director, Research and Right to Development Division: Annual discussion on the integration of a gender perspective in the work of the Human Rights Council

15 September 2014

Excellencies, distinguished delegates, colleagues and friends,

Our annual discussion on the integration of gender perspectives in the work of the Human Rights Council will focus on country-specific work. I am delighted to welcome several renowned experts with long-standing experience on this issue who have agreed to participate.

The panel provides us with an important opportunity to discuss how the Human Rights Council can integrate a gender perspective in promoting human rights in concrete country situations.

The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism, the country-focussed work of special procedures of the Council and that of independent commissions of inquiry and fact-finding missions provide us with a wide range of opportunities to analyse gender-based discrimination and make recommendations on how to progress towards gender equality and women’s human rights on the ground.

Often we see something only if we look for it. Human rights violations have a differential impact on individuals, depending on their sex, sexual orientation, age, class, ethnicity, religion and a host of other factors, including whether they have a disability. Likewise, the effective enjoyment of human rights by all requires a framework of laws, policies and mechanisms to ensure the achievement of substantive equality or the practical realization of these rights and fundamental freedom for all individuals. It is only when we consciously apply gender analysis that protection and implementation gaps become clearly visible.

Excellencies,

The Human Rights Council has repeatedly demonstrated its commitment to integrating a gender perspective throughout its work since Resolution 6/30 was adopted six years ago. It has increasingly requested, in resolutions establishing or renewing the mandates of special procedures that the human rights of women and a gender perspective be taken into account. Resolution 23/25 on “Accelerating efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women” also requests that fact-finding missions and commissions of inquiry devote specific attention to violence against women and girls.

It is also encouraging that recent reports of the various Human Rights Council mechanisms increasingly integrate a gender perspective.

Several commissions of inquiry and fact-finding missions have highlighted how discrimination against women intersects with other human rights violations, placing women and girls in a position of vulnerability. They have, for instance, considered how patriarchal attitudes and stereotypical gender roles have contributed to restricting on women’s access to and enjoyment of economic social and cultural rights, such as rights to health, food or education, and also on their civil and political rights, ranging from participation in the political and public life to access to justice. These mechanisms have also highlighted the different ways women, men, girls and boys experience conflict, with young men becoming the first targets of military operations and women suffering the consequences of displacement and lack of adequate nutrition during pregnancy and lactation, but also more generally because they feed their children first.

Reports by country and thematic mandate-holders also indicate that there are efforts to integrate an analysis of how gender issues impact on human rights enjoyment in their reports. Examples include analysis of the reasons behind the low level of literacy among youth, which may include the heavy burden imposed on girls, in particular from rural areas, to perform domestic responsibilities, lack of adequate sanitation in schools to meet the needs of menstruating girls; early marriage or pregnancy; and gender-based violence and harassment, including in schools. Others have looked at how the perpetuation of gender roles – often justified under the cover of culture, religion or tradition, contributes to limiting women’s full economic empowerment and participation in the political and public spheres and places limitation on governments’ obligation to protect women’s full enjoyment of their civil, political, social, cultural, and economic rights. On a practical level, country and thematic mandate holders increasingly meet with civil society actors including women human rights defenders, women’s groups, and lesbian, gay, transsexual, bisexual and intersex (LGTBI) persons during their country missions to hear about their views and concerns which are then reflected in their analysis and recommendations.

The UPR often translates the Council's work on gender into specific recommendations to States. Out of the 35469 recommendations made to States under review between the 1st and 18th UPR sessions, 7108 - or some 20% - were related to women’s rights and gender equality. Some recommendations focus on effective enjoyment by women of their human rights, suggesting the introduction of specifically designed legislative and policy measures that would eliminate sex and gender-based discrimination, or the design and conduct of awareness-raising campaigns aimed at combatting stereotypical attitudes concerning the role of women in society. Others focus on men and boys, for instance in respect of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes.

But the Council's record on integrating gender into its country-specific work is uneven. Reports on country situations submitted by geographic and thematic special procedures mandates, commissions of inquiry and fact-finding missions are not consistent when it comes to gender integration. Sex-disaggregated data are lacking. References to women and girls are overwhelmingly focussed on sexual and gender-based violence. Consistent gender analysis of the specific impact of human rights violations on women, men or others throughout reports is lacking. Few of the country-focused mechanisms consider the gender perspective when making recommendations to enhance human rights enjoyment on the ground. Seldom do they outline concrete measures to be taken by States to ensure that human rights are analysed from a gender perspective in order to allow their full enjoyment by all individuals.

Excellencies,

Today we should reflect on ways to integrate a gender perspective into the whole spectrum of country-focused work of this Council and its mechanisms fully. Here I have the following suggestions: I would highlight the need to acknowledge that "gender" is not confined to what are often considered women's issues and sexual and gender-based violence. Gender refers to socially constructed identities, attributes and roles for all human beings, and a proper gender analysis allows to uncover the specific impact of human rights violations women, men and others and to develop laws, policies and measures for the effective implementation of human rights norms for the equal enjoyment of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights by all.

I would also emphasize the need to ensure that women’s human rights, and gender, are adequately addressed in all country-specific resolutions. These include resolutions to renew or establish special procedures mandates, commissions of inquiry and fact-finding missions. Each should be encouraged to devote consistent and specific attention to gender issues in their reports and recommendations.

Indeed, all mandates of the Council, without exception, could be encouraged to devote specific attention to gender issues and women’s rights during country missions, including by paying attention to the multiple forms of discrimination that expose women to heightened risks of violence. I would also suggest that they systematically and regularly meet with women, LGBTI persons and civil society actors defending their rights.

Sex and age-disaggregated data should be used systematically in order to identify and highlight the varying degrees to various subgroups are enjoying all their rights and fundamental freedom – or not.

The Council should further encourage the consistent use of gender-sensitive language. Women should not be categorized solely as a “vulnerable” group. Specific causes of vulnerability affecting women and girls should be identified and investigated and measures to overcome them recommended. Also, specific attention should be paid to dismantling harmful gender-stereotypes, including by highlighting the positive role played by women, men, girls and boys towards the realization of specific rights, as well as their contribution to society at large. Also, while a separate section on women’s rights may at times be appropriate and necessary to highlight specific concerns, this should not replace an analysis of the effective enjoyment of human rights by women and girls throughout the reports.

The Council's country-focused work is of critical importance in improving the lives of people in all countries of the world. As it deepens its integration of gender perspectives and this becomes more sensitive and more insightful, it will become more effective in promoting human rights for all.

Thank you.