19TH REGULAR SESSION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body established in 2006 within the United Nations system and made up of 47 States responsible for the promotion and protection of all human rights around the globe.

With the Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR), it reviews regularly human rights in Member States with the full involvement of individual governments and supported by expert assistance from the Human Rights Council.  All 193 Member States participated in the first round of UPR, including South Sudan, the most recent nation to join the UN. In the second round of the UPR, beginning next May, States will be reporting on progress in implementing the recommendations made after the first assessment.  Many see this as the “moment of truth” (UN website).

Among other themes, discussions will take into consideration various aspects involving gender issues; here below some reports related to women human rights  gender identity and equality

A complete list of reports presented ans speeches can be found here:

http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/RegularSessions/Session19/Pages/ListReports.aspx

Among others, including specific country reporting exercises, we point out the following documents and reports on Gender:

-        Report of the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, and on the right to non-discrimination in this context, Raquel Rolnik

-        Discriminatory laws and practices and acts of violence against individuals based on their sexual orientation and gender identity

-        Report of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women on the activities of the United Nations Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate Violence against Women

-        The protection of human rights in the context of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)

On women’s rights, also read the Introductory statement by the President of the Human Rights Council, Mrs Laura Dupuy Lasserre, President of the Human Rights Council, at the High-level Panel on “Capitalizing on women’s potential in times of crisis"_

Excellencies,
Distinguished panelists,
Ladies and Gentlemen

It is my great pleasure to address you at the occasion of this high-profile event to celebrate the International Women’s Day 2012, “Capitalizing on women’s potential in times of crisis”. I welcome this initiative of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, illustrating once again the Office’s commitment to women’s rights and gender equality.

The United Nations theme for International Women’s Day 2012 is “Empower Rural Women – End Hunger and Poverty”. In line with this theme, The High Commissioner for Human Rights has focused this panel discussion on impact of the current crisis on women and how capitalizing on their potential can lead to more sustainable and just societies. This theme builds on our deliberations over the past several months when considering the consequences of the global financial, economic, food and climate crisis on human rights.

This day is also about pausing to question ourselves, and to question our leaders, about why, after decades, even a century, of activism, we are not closer to achieving women’s equal rights. Women’s poverty and widespread violence against women are some clear indicators that we are nowhere close to our goal of equality. In the area of politics, where so much is decided about the enjoyment of human rights, women are still vastly underrepresented. The Inter-Parliamentary Union reports that worldwide, women constitute less than 20 per cent of Parliamentarians.

On International Women’s Day, as we reflect on progress made but also the remaining challenges in ensuring the full enjoyment by women of their human rights in all spheres of endeavor; I wish to recall that in proclaiming the observance of International 8 March 2012

Women's Day, the UN General Assembly emphasized that securing peace, social progress and the full enjoyment of human rights requires the active and equal participation of women and men and the acknowledgement of the contribution of women in the strengthening of international peace and security.

This Council has adopted measures and initiatives to contribute to the realization of women`s human rights and advance the achievement of gender equality. In resolution 6/30 the council reaffirms its commitment to effectively integrate the human rights of women as well as a gender perspective, in its work and that of its mechanism in a systematic and transparent manner including in all phases of the Universal Periodic Review, the Advisory Committee and the review of mandates.

In this regard, in 2010, the full day discussion on women rights culminated in 2011 with the establishment of the Working Group on Discrimination against Women in law and in practice. It is our hope that the work of the working group will go a long way in removing key obstacles that hinder progress in ensuring the full enjoyment of women’s human rights.

We place high expectations on the Working Group and the UN system as a whole, as well as other relevant actors to promote a proactive role of the Council in advancing the rights of women. The Council will continue to actively pursue these efforts.

We have heard on 28 February during our panel on human rights mainstreaming, how empowering rural women would greatly reduce hunger and poverty worldwide, for its positive impact not only on women but also on children, and ultimately on the development of the country.

I therefore invite you to reflect on the challenges we are faced with, for the wellbeing of our societies.

Thank you