The adoption of a political declaration on gender equality at the UN yesterday, despite relentless opposition from a handful of states, is a win for human rights. Now governments must put words into action and ensure that those commitments translate into real changes for women and girls whose rights are violated and abused around the world, said Amnesty International at the start of the 69th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).
The political declaration, made after more than a month of negotiation, is based on the vision and promise laid out 30 years ago in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the UN’s most comprehensive blueprint for gender equality and the rights of women and girls. During negotiations, certain states including the USA and Argentina, attempted to challenge even the most basic and accepted terms around gender and gender equality. However, these attempts were thwarted and the final text contained strong references to the rights of all women and girls, in addition to the multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination they can experience.
This year’s text broke new ground with an explicit reference to survivors of sexual and gender-based violence in conflict and the need to ensure they have access to healthcare services and justice. The text also calls for “gender-responsiveness” (i.e. addressing structures and systemic barriers to gender equality) in several new areas, including in budgeting across all sectors as well as in social protection systems. In addition, it commits governments to promoting access to funding for civil society.
Securing a political declaration and a renewed commitment by states to uphold the rights of all women and girls in the current hostile climate is a positive outcome.
Fernanda Doz Costa, Director of Gender, Racial Justice, Refugees and Migrants Rights Program, Amnesty International
“Securing a political declaration and a renewed commitment by states to uphold the rights of all women and girls in the current hostile climate is a positive outcome. It’s a testament to the work of courageous women human rights defenders (WHRDs) everywhere who continue to hold their governments accountable to their commitments. However, the concerted and coordinated efforts to hold back, and even roll-back, progress is extremely concerning,” said Fernanda Doz Costa, Programme Director of Amnesty International’s Gender, Racial Justice and Refugees and Migrants Programme.
The text comes amid mounting threats to sexual and reproductive rights, including increased efforts, led by conservative groups, to roll back on access to contraception, abortion, comprehensive sexuality education, and gender-affirming care across the world. An increasing number of women and girls are also living in crisis, conflict and post-conflict situations, and are facing a range of human rights violations including the denial of essential healthcare, as well as sexual violence, trafficking and even killings. There are additional threats to the lives and basic rights of women and girls around the world due to the devastating impacts of the refugee crisis as well as climate change. This situation is further compounded by the abrupt termination of USAID funding that is already causing devastating harm to millions of people around the world.
“The daunting barriers that women and girls in all their diversity sometimes face when trying to access their rights as well as justice and reparations, is sending the dangerous message that abuses are allowed and that human rights are merely optional,” said Fernanda Doz Costa.
“The daunting barriers that women and girls in all their diversity sometimes face when trying to access their rights as well as justice and reparations, is sending the dangerous message that abuses are allowed and that human rights are merely optional,
Fernanda Doz Costa, Director of Gender, Racial Justice, Refugees and Migrants Rights Program, Amnesty International
“It is now time for governments to put their commitments into practice and work alongside civil society to fully implement laws that are already in place, bring their national laws in line with international standards, and work to dismantle the systems of patriarchy, colonialism, and other intersecting oppressions that enable and sustain these violations of human rights.”
Amnesty International has documented an upsurge in surveillance and harmful narratives that impact the work and safety of WHRDs. Amid the urgent need to defend the human rights of all women, girls and LGBTI people, the organization calls on states to recognize the vital work of women human rights defenders and implement concrete measures to protect and empower them. Instead of targeting, silencing, or turning a blind eye to the increasing wave of attacks against WHRDs, all governments must support their work and protect their rights.
“Saudi Arabia, the chair of this year’s Commission of Status of Women must also set a positive example for other states by protecting and promoting the work of WHRDs instead of silencing them. Manahel al-Otaibi, a women’s rights defender and fitness influencer who is serving an 11-year sentence for tweeting about women’s rights must immediately be released,” said Fernanda Doz Costa.
Amnesty International calls on states to strengthen human rights protections for women, girls and gender diverse people, ensuring they have access to justice, unrestricted access to health services, including comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services, and all the support they need. The organisation calls on states to particularly support the needs of women, girls and LGBTI people caught up in crisis situations and armed conflicts. Finally, states should also step up and plug the gaps left by the abrupt termination of US funding for essential humanitarian and aid programmes impacting women, girls and LGBTI people across the world.
Background
The 69th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women marked the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women and adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995). Thirty years ago, 189 governments came together to adopt the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a groundbreaking blueprint for strengthening women’s rights endorsed by thousands of activists.
Every five years since the adoption of Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, member states negotiate and agree to a Political Declaration to signal their renewed commitment to the global agreement.