A/HRC/47/38 44. Cultural and traditional values are persistently invoked to justify resistance to women’s political and public roles, and similar ideology is used to deny women and girls their sexual and reproductive health rights. It is imperative that States ensure the participation of women and girls in political and public life on an equal basis with men and boys, as well as the integration of women and girls into decision-making processes relating to crisis prevention, management and recovery,87 encompassing the formulation of laws and policies, monitoring, implementation and accountability. 7. Lack of engagement and accountability of men and male allies 45. Men hold a disproportionate level of decision-making authority in the public and private spheres. In times of crisis, the lack of male support for prioritizing the sexual and reproductive health rights of women and girls is a major obstacle. 88 States have an obligation to direct a cultural shift to change patriarchal mindsets and attitudes by reinforcing men’s accountability for gender equality and engaging them as allies in prioritizing gender equality in decision-making, including in relation to sexual and reproductive health rights. 46. States must also take steps to address toxic masculinity. 89 That can be done by eliminating sexism and misogyny in the public discourse and violence against women and girls. Social norms and gender stereotypes around toxic masculinity promote risky sexual behaviours and discourage boys and men from seeking access to sexual and reproductive health-care services. Moreover, many men consider sexual and reproductive health to be the exclusive responsibility of women and fail to recognize when their partners and their families are in urgent need of sexual and reproductive health care. 90 The Working Group notes as a promising practice the efforts of some male parliamentarians and activists in promoting positive messages on how men and boys can be active participants in fostering non-violent masculinities and encouraging positive behaviours among men in times of crisis, as has been done during the COVID-19 related lockdown measures.91 8. Ideological and religious opposition to sexual and reproductive health rights 47. Religious fundamentalists and their political allies have led an organized and wellfunded global political backlash against gender equality by invoking religious freedom and traditional values.92 The backlash has been particularly visible since consensus was achieved among Governments to promote and advance women’s reproductive rights at the International Conference on Population and Development, and it has increased since sexual rights were recognized at the Fourth World Conference on Women. The Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief has noted the increased use of religion or belief by certain actors in all regions of the world to advocate for the imposition of laws and policies that are directly or indirectly discriminatory against women and girls.93 The Working Group reiterates that arguments framed in terms of cultural diversity and freedom of religion cannot be invoked to justify discrimination against women. Discriminatory, repressive and violent practices against women must be eliminated, whatever their origins, including those founded in certain interpretations of culture or religion.94 48. In recent years, the backlash has been propelled by some Governments, including at the Human Rights Council, by challenging the universality of human rights. 95 That development is central to the Working Group’s concerns about the neglect and deprioritization of the sexual and reproductive health rights of women and girls in all situations, including in times of crisis. A core strategy of the organized opposition has been to undermine women’s sexual and reproductive health rights as a whole by using their 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 A/HRC/23/50, paras. 36 and 41. Submission by Somali Gender Justice. See A/75/289. Submission by MenEngage Alliance. Ibid. See A/HRC/38/46. See also Working Group, “Women’s autonomy”; and Working Group, “Gender equality and gender backlash”, position paper, 2020. See A/HRC/43/48. See A/HRC/29/40. See A/HRC/29/40. 13