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Work in progress, challenges and the way forward 2017, para. 26
- Paragraph text
- Another particularly at-risk group is defenders of the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons. Discrimination and attacks against them are increasing at an alarming rate, partly as a result of the rise of religious fundamentalism around the world. In this regard, the Special Rapporteur welcomes the appointment of an Independent Expert on sexual orientation and gender identity and hopes to be able to collaborate with him to better protect persons working to defend the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- LGBTQI+
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Work in progress, challenges and the way forward 2017, para. 22
- Paragraph text
- The Special Rapporteur set up consultations with women defenders during each of his country visits. In total, over 15 meetings and consultations were held between June 2014 and January 2017 with the active support of women's rights organizations such as JASS (Just Associates) and the Association for Women's Rights in Development. While some may have found it difficult to appreciate the relevance of these exchanges, the feedback that the Special Rapporteur has received from participants has convinced him of the need to maintain this practice so that women defenders can express themselves independently of the representations made, often unconsciously, by some of their male counterparts. The Special Rapporteur therefore wishes to continue that process and make it part of all future field trips. According to JASS (Just Associates): In a context in which women defenders see their political participation threatened by a resurgence of violence and discrimination, the work of the Special Rapporteur Michel Forst has been essential in protecting and recognizing the critical contribution made by such women to the struggle for justice, equality and peace. The consultations held in different regions of the world and the communications issued by the mandate holder have helped to give a voice to hundreds of women defenders and women's rights organizations that are at risk. These consultations have also made it possible to identify the specific risks faced by women defenders and have promoted the establishment of protection mechanisms that incorporate a gender perspective.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Gender
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Women
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Diversity in humanity, humanity in diversity 2017, para. 66h
- Paragraph text
- The work of human rights defenders and the much-needed space for civil society, including for non-governmental organizations and for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex groups and persons, calls for effective safeguards against incursions and reprisals from various protagonists (whether State or non-State actors) who do not comply with human rights. Cooperation with a multiplicity of actors, including community leaders (such as political and religious leaders) and those in the medical and scientific professions, the business sector and the media (e.g. social networks) should be fostered in order to protect against violence and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, with that protection underscored by international human rights law. This is interlinked with the call for broad-based education, awareness-raising and action responsive to issues of sexual orientation and gender identity.
- Body
- Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- LGBTQI+
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Accelerating efforts to eliminate violence against women: engaging men and boys in preventing and responding to violence against all women and girls 2017, para. 8
- Paragraph text
- Continues to express particular concern at the systemic and structural discrimination and violence faced by women human rights defenders of all ages, and calls upon States to fulfil their obligations to prevent violations and abuses against all human rights defenders, including through practical steps to prevent threats, harassment and violence, and to combat impunity by ensuring that those responsible for violations or abuses, including all types of gender-based violence and threats, committed by State or non-State actors, are promptly brought to justice through impartial investigations;
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Gender
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Women
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Embrace diversity and energize humanity 2017, para. 25d
- Paragraph text
- [The Independent Expert underlines the key role of civil society and human rights defenders and the need for more effective action to counter threats and reprisals against them. Of note is a submission to the Human Rights Council by a number of non-governmental organizations earlier this year, in which they called upon States, inter alia:] To ensure that organizations working on issues related to sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics can seek, receive and use funding and other resources from individuals, associations, foundations or other civil society organizations, foreign Governments and aid agencies, the private sector, the United Nations and other entities.
- Body
- Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Gender
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Work in progress, challenges and the way forward 2017, para. 52
- Paragraph text
- Enhanced cooperation with resident coordinators and United Nations agencies and programmes is needed. The Special Rapporteur's interactions with other actors have revealed a lack of visibility and understanding of his mandate and, more generally, a lack of knowledge even within the United Nations about the situation of defenders. He has therefore sought to foster better coordination with institutions such as the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). It would also be useful to develop training and outreach workshops for staff of those institutions and to raise their awareness about the recommendations contained in the Special Rapporteur's reports and the links between them and the issues at the core of those institutions' missions. A noteworthy example would be the recommendations on women defenders or defenders working on development projects or on the protection of ethnic and cultural minorities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Ethnic minorities
- Women
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Embrace diversity and energize humanity 2017, para. 25b
- Paragraph text
- [The Independent Expert underlines the key role of civil society and human rights defenders and the need for more effective action to counter threats and reprisals against them. Of note is a submission to the Human Rights Council by a number of non-governmental organizations earlier this year, in which they called upon States, inter alia:] To ensure the protection of human rights defenders working on issues of sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics, against any violence, threat, retaliation, de facto or de jure discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action perpetrated by the State or non-State actors, in response to their human rights activities;
- Body
- Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Gender
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Embrace diversity and energize humanity 2017, para. 25c
- Paragraph text
- [The Independent Expert underlines the key role of civil society and human rights defenders and the need for more effective action to counter threats and reprisals against them. Of note is a submission to the Human Rights Council by a number of non-governmental organizations earlier this year, in which they called upon States, inter alia:] To remove barriers to the full recognition, registration and/or accreditation of organizations that promote and protect the human rights of persons of diverse sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics at the national, regional and international levels;
- Body
- Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Embrace diversity and energize humanity 2017, para. 59e
- Paragraph text
- The work of human rights defenders and the much needed space for civil society, including non-governmental organizations and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex groups and persons, calls for more effective safeguards from States against incursions and reprisals from those protagonists, whether State or non-State actors, which act inconsistently with international human rights standards. Cooperation with a multiplicity of actors, including the business sector, the medical/scientific sector, religious and faith groups and the media, including social networks, should be fostered on the basis of international human rights law;
- Body
- Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- LGBTQI+
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders 2017, para. 9
- Paragraph text
- Stressing that respect and support for the activities of all human rights defenders, including women human rights defenders, are essential to the overall enjoyment of human rights,
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Women
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Elimination of discrimination against women and girls 2017, para. 5d
- Paragraph text
- [Calls upon States to take steps:] To provide training on a rights-based gender analysis for duty holders in all spheres and meaningful collaboration with civil society, including women’s and community-based organizations, feminist groups, women human rights defenders and girls’ and youth-led organizations;
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Gender
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Work in progress, challenges and the way forward 2017, para. 35
- Paragraph text
- These 693 communications concerned the cases of 1,293 persons, including 278 women human rights defenders. Women were the subject of roughly 22 per cent of communications in 2014 and 21 per cent of communications in 2015. The figure for 2016 has not yet been established.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Gender
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Women
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Embrace diversity and energize humanity 2017, para. 24
- Paragraph text
- The Independent Expert took part in a lecture at a seminar for human rights defenders in Manila, highlighting in particular the channels for activating communications through the United Nations special procedures to seek protection and redress. He attended various European activities in relation to the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia in Brussels, calling for strategic action to overcome violence and discrimination, including the need for human rights-sensitive laws, policies, programmes, case enforcement in the courts, accessible mechanisms and personnel, resources, education and monitoring, data generation, accountability provisions, and networking and mobilization for national reforms to comply with international standards. During the regular session of the Human Rights Council in March 2017, he contributed to a panel on transgender persons, mental health and human rights and advocated the need to engage more strongly with the health sector, particularly on such issues as conversion therapy, forced sterilization, medical diagnosis and counselling, all of which might be interlinked with violence and discrimination, as well as the need for comprehensive health care for all. Concurrently, he helped to train human rights defenders from several parts of the world on the issue of sexual orientation and gender identity in a session organized by a non-governmental organization.
- Body
- Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- LGBTQI+
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Work in progress, challenges and the way forward 2017, para. 88b
- Paragraph text
- [The Special Rapporteur encourages civil society to:] Participate actively in promoting gender equality and combating all forms of discrimination against women human rights defenders, including in their own organizations;
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Women
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Compendium of good practices in the elimination of discrimination against women 2017, para. 107
- Paragraph text
- A key area of concern to the Working Group is the profound level of backlash against women’s human rights gains, which is on the rise both within States and in international spheres. In a climate of rising populism, xenophobia and fundamentalisms, long-established women’s human rights norms are being undermined, heightening the fragility of good practices in this context. In addition, a concurrent attack on women’s organizations, women’s human rights defenders and civil society movements — including feminist, environmental and human rights movements — creates an atmosphere in which these key actors are criminalized, de-funded and even killed, making the question of good practices moot. The Working Group emphasizes the importance of maintaining the autonomy of local and national movements and other civil society actors — including national human rights institutions, public interest lawyers and scholars — as an essential means of protecting and sustaining good practices. Backlashes within intergovernmental forums, as well as at the national level, must be challenged head-on by the international community.
- Body
- Working Group on the issue of discrimination against women in law and practice
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Environment
- Gender
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Women
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Adequacy of the international legal framework on violence against women 2017, para. 34
- Paragraph text
- Civil society organizations called for more support for women’s organizations on the ground, underlining that women human rights defenders faced daily threats and harassment, and needed greater protection. At the same time, more regulations addressing violence against particular groups of women, such as women belonging to minority groups; migrants; lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons; elderly women; women with disabilities; and widows, were also supported.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- LGBTQI+
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Elimination of discrimination against women and girls 2017, para. 7
- Paragraph text
- Expressing profound concern about the backlash against the progress made by civil society, including women’s and community-based organizations, feminist groups, women human rights defenders and girls’ and youth-led organizations, to fulfil women’s human rights,
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Gender
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Preventing and eliminating sexual harassment in the workplace 2017, para. 2d
- Paragraph text
- [Encourages Member States to:] Cooperate with civil society, including women’s and community-based organizations, feminist groups, women human rights defenders, girls’ and youth-led organizations, and unions, in preventing and eliminating sexual harassment, including in the workplace;
- Body
- Commission on the Status of Women
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Gender
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Women
- Youth
- Year
- 2017
Paragraph
Good practices in the protection of human rights defenders 2016, para. 80
- Paragraph text
- The media can also, however, reproduce and reinforce patterns of inequality and marginalization; for example, women defenders and LGBTI activists are sometimes targeted in social media smear campaigns and vilified by mainstream media outlets. Some good practices within the media to combat this phenomenon include proactive training about defenders at higher risk and emerging rights, as well as stronger support within media outlets for defenders and those working on these issues. Women defenders have noted a strong correlation between media outlets hiring and supporting women journalists and improved coverage of women's rights.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- LGBTQI+
- Women
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Protecting human rights defenders, whether individuals, groups or organs of society, addressing economic, social and cultural rights 2016, para. 5
- Paragraph text
- Reaffirming the importance of the Declaration and its full and effective implementation, and that promoting respect, support and protection for the activities of human rights defenders, including women human rights defenders, is essential to the overall enjoyment of human rights,
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Women
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Good practices in the protection of human rights defenders 2016, para. 63
- Paragraph text
- Some defenders work on issues that are political, culturally and socially sensitive - issues that other defenders within the same sociopolitical milieu might not support instinctively. Women defenders and defenders who work on sexual orientation and gender identity rights, for example, often struggle to have their rights recognized in certain contexts. It is important for defenders within the same context to understand and support one another, even if they focus on different rights.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Women
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Contemporary challenges to freedom of expression 2016, para. 48
- Paragraph text
- Women may also face particular restrictions targeting their expression. In 2013, the Human Rights Council affirmed the fundamental role that freedom of opinion and expression plays in the ability of women to interact with society at large, in particular in the realms of economic and political participation, and called upon States to promote, respect and ensure women's exercise of freedom of opinion and expression, both online and offline, including as members of NGOs and other associations (see Council resolution 23/2). Unfortunately, this commitment remains largely unfulfilled in many parts of the world. In 2014, in Saudi Arabia, two advocates for the rights of women were detained for driving. Earlier in 2016, I, along with other mandate holders, raised concerns about the systematic attacks and threats of sexual and physical violence made against three women human rights defenders and two women human rights lawyers in the State of Chhattisgarh, India.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Women
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Protecting human rights defenders, whether individuals, groups or organs of society, addressing economic, social and cultural rights 2016, para. 9
- Paragraph text
- Continues to express particular concern about systemic and structural discrimination and violence faced by women human rights defenders of all ages, and calls upon all States to give effect to the principles and objectives established by the General Assembly in its resolution 68/181 by protecting the rights of women human rights defenders and by integrating a gender perspective into the efforts to create a safe and enabling environment for the defence of human rights, including economic, social and cultural rights;
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Gender
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Women
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Protecting human rights defenders, whether individuals, groups or organs of society, addressing economic, social and cultural rights 2016, para. 4
- Paragraph text
- Urges all States to acknowledge in public statements at the national and local levels, and through laws, policies or programmes, the important and legitimate role of human rights defenders, including women human rights defenders, in the promotion of human rights, democracy and the rule of law in all areas of society, in urban and rural areas, as essential components of ensuring their recognition and protection, including those promoting and defending economic, social and cultural rights;
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Civil & Political Rights
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Social & Cultural Rights
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Women
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Accelerating efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women: Preventing and responding to violence against women and girls, including indigenous women and girls 2016, para. 4
- Paragraph text
- Continues to express particular concern at the systemic and structural discrimination and violence faced by women human rights defenders of all ages, including indigenous women and girl human rights defenders, and calls upon States to exercise due diligence in preventing violations and abuses against all human rights defenders, including through practical steps, to prevent threats, harassment and violence, and in combating impunity by ensuring that those responsible for violations and abuses, including gender-based violence and threats, committed by State or non-State actors, including online, are promptly brought to justice through impartial investigations;
- Body
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Document type
- Resolution
- Topic(s)
- Gender
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Ethnic minorities
- Girls
- Women
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Environmental human rights defenders 2016, para. 54
- Paragraph text
- Many violations against environmental human rights defenders can be directly linked to patriarchy, sexism, racism, xenophobia and chauvinism. This is important in the case of women defenders, who may oppose large-scale development projects but also challenge the systemic power inequality and discrimination deeply rooted in societies. They usually question patriarchy or misogyny, sometimes within their own communities. As activists, they face the same threats as other defenders but they are more likely to face gender-specific violence. Reports have shown that sexual violence is used to silence women human rights defenders in particular. In Latin America, for example, women defenders are among the most threatened environmental human rights defenders owing to the nature of their human rights work and to their gender.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Environment
- Gender
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Women
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Environmental human rights defenders 2016, para. 55
- Paragraph text
- Furthermore, women environmental human rights defenders face a number of challenges, including those related to exclusion from participation in the negotiation and decision-making processes; criminalization used as a political strategy to deter resistance and delegitimize their work; smear campaigns against them in the media; and discrimination and violence against them in their families, communities and human rights movements. Women rights defenders from indigenous communities, with ethnic or racial minority origins or with disabilities can also suffer multiple discrimination. Gender, indigenous status, rural location and other factors can intersect to isolate individuals, groups and communities.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Environment
- Gender
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Ethnic minorities
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Good practices in the protection of human rights defenders 2016, para. 70
- Paragraph text
- In some countries, civil society organizations have established monitoring programmes that document and verify information on attacks against defenders, identifying patterns of violations and abuses. They maintain databases on defenders, monitoring the risks that they face. They make visible the situation of defenders at risk in particular contexts, pressuring States to be accountable for their protection. Gender analysis should be integrated into human rights monitoring programmes, in particular, from the perspective of intersectionality. This would ensure that the specific experiences of women and transgender persons are, along with those of men, understood and incorporated into the design of protection measures.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Humanitarian
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- LGBTQI+
- Men
- Women
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Good practices in the protection of human rights defenders 2016, para. 38
- Paragraph text
- Gender influences the way that defenders experience risks and threats. Discrimination on the basis of gender is linked to other factors, such as ethnicity, religion, class, age, health or sexual orientation. The intersection of these factors produces different vulnerabilities for women. For this reason, it is critical for gender analysis to adopt an intersectionality lens, examining how the combination of such factors has an impact on the rights and security of women defenders.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Health
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Women
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph
Good practices in the protection of human rights defenders 2016, para. 48
- Paragraph text
- As mentioned above, experiences of violence, risk and security are often gender-based. Women human rights defenders report how they suffer more from verbal abuse, sexual violence and rape; how gender stereotypes are used to delegitimize their work; and how other factors, such as ethnicity, age, class and sexual orientation, exacerbate the discrimination they face. They emphasize the need for gender-sensitive protection measures that focus on holistic security.
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Topic(s)
- Equality & Inclusion
- Gender
- Violence
- Person(s) affected
- Activists
- Women
- Year
- 2016
Paragraph