A/HRC/RES/23/7
Bearing in mind that international human rights treaties, including the Convention
on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social
and Cultural Rights, prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender and include guarantees
to ensure the enjoyment by women and men, and girls and boys, of their civil, political,
economic, social and cultural rights on a basis of equality,
Recognizing that the full participation of women in all spheres of life, on an equal
basis with men, is essential for the full and complete economic, political and social
development of a country,
Mindful of the fact that the elimination of discrimination against women and girls
requires the consideration of their specific socioeconomic context, and recognizing that
laws, policies, customs and traditions that restrict their equal access to full participation in
development processes and public and political life are discriminatory, and that the nonparticipation of women in decision-making contributes to the feminization of poverty and
hampers sustainable development and economic growth,
Mindful also that women and girls account for more than half of the world
population, that equal rights and opportunities are key factors in achieving sustainable
economic, political and social development and lasting solutions to global challenges, and
that gender equality benefits women, men, girls and boys and society as a whole,
Bearing in mind the challenges still faced by all countries throughout the world to
overcome inequality between men and women,
Reiterating the need to intensify efforts to eliminate all forms of discrimination
against women and girls throughout the world,
Deeply concerned by the fact that stigmatization, harassment and various forms of
violence against women, including targeted attacks and sexual violence, have been used to
silence and discredit women engaging in political and public life,
Recognizing and deeply regretting that many women and girls face multiple forms
of discrimination and are still subject to significant disadvantage as the result of
discriminatory laws and practices, and that de jure and de facto equality has not been
achieved,
Acknowledging the work undertaken by the United Nations Entity for Gender
Equality and the Empowerment of Women, the Commission on the Status of Women, the
Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, the special procedures
mandate holders of the Human Rights Council and other relevant United Nations bodies,
agencies and mechanisms to eliminate discrimination in law and in practice throughout the
world, and noting the work undertaken by the Office of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights on the issue,
Recognizing that gender responsiveness is an essential part of the role played by
national human rights institutions as established by the principles relating to the status of
national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (the Paris Principles)
adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 48/134 of 20 December 1993,
Considering that periods of political transition provide a unique opportunity to
advance women’s equal participation and representation in economic, political and social
spheres but can also raise challenges in that regard,
Recalling Human Rights Council resolutions 5/1, on institution-building of the
Council, and 5/2, on the code of conduct for special procedures mandate holders of the
Council, of 18 June 2007, and stressing that the mandate holder shall discharge his/her
duties in accordance with those resolutions and the annexes thereto,
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