6th Session of the Human Rights Council

As a result of the concerted and coordinated efforts of a group of NGOs from around the world (including IWRAW Asia Pacific), the Council tabled a ‘Discussion on the Integration of a Gender Perspective in the Work of the Human Rights Council’ on 20th September during its 6th Session. The discussion aimed to create space for the newly formed Human Rights Council to reflect on and discuss the practical ways in which it can integrate gender into all aspects of its work. This objective was very clearly articulated by the Chair at the beginning of the session to ensure that discussions of panellists, states and civil society remained focused on the methods and means of integrating gender rather than on substantive issues related to women’s human rights. This was the first discussion of its kind in the Human Rights Council which also created significant space for civil society input including through the participation of a civil society representative on the panel (Charlotte Bunch from the Centre for Women’s Global Leadership) and statements and contributions from the floor. The session began with presentations made by four panellists: Kyung-wha Kang (Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights), Radhika Coomeraswamy (S-G Special Representative on Children in Armed Conflict), Mr Miloon Kothari (Special Raporteur on Adequate Housing), Charlotte Bunch (civil society representative, CWGL). The Kenyan Ambassador, Ms Maria Nzomo chaired the meeting.

The panellists and pursuing discussion during the interactive dialogue focused on the practical methods through which gender integration could be integrated into the Human Right Council working methods and procedures including the agenda and programme of work of the Council, the Universal Periodic Review process and recommendations, and the Special Procedures. Some of the key recommendations that came out of the panellists presentations and interactive dialogue which followed included:

- Gender should be fully integrated into the Universal Periodic Review process including through the involvement of expertise on gender and women’s rights in the reviewing team and in the recommendations arising from the review. These recommendations should include consideration of the effectiveness of the State in responding to the concluding comments of treaty bodies relating to gender and women’s rights, particularly the committee on the Women’s Conventions;
- On-going discussion on gender integration as well as substantive discussions on women’s human rights concerns should be tabled in the Human Rights Council’s regular programme of work;
- The Special procedures (including Special Rapporteurs, Special Representatives and Working Groups) should have gender expertise and their mandate should explicitly mandate them to reflect women’s specific human rights concerns in relation to the focus of their mandate.
- Civil society should be more fully involved in all aspects of the Human Rights Council’s work including ensuring that women who reflect the diverse concerns and needs of women are consulted for information during the Universal Periodic review process.

The responses made by 21 States were all positive and constructive furthering discussion through posing questions and points for reflection to the panellists. Civil society also contributed to this process suggesting means and ways through which the Council could effectively integrate gender into various areas of its work many of which were mirrored by panellists and states. While the event was scheduled for a half day on 20th September (3-6pm) it was extended to the morning session of 21st September (10-1pm) by the President given the overwhelming number of States and civil society interested in contributing and continuing the discussion. This enabled far greater discussion, responses from panellists and interventions from civil society.

The council is just concluding the 6th session today (28 September) and outcomes from the meeting are being compiled.

IWRAW Asia Pacific made a joint statement with Asian Forum for Human Rights in Development (FORUM- ASIA), Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD) and International Movement Against Racism (IMADR) which was delivered by Sunila Abeysekera (Information Monitor – INFORM). The statement called for de facto gender and women’s rights integration based on the principles of equality and non-discrimination found in CEDAW. It addressed the requirements for the Universal Periodic review to be able to reflect and address women’s human rights concerns and called on greater civil society participation in all aspects of the Council’s work. Click here for the joint statement made to the HRC on gender integration.

The next development to look forward to is the tabling of a discussion on a specific women’s human rights concern, namely ‘violence against women and children’ which will most likely be tabled for the 8th Session of the Human Rights Council in March 2008. We will keep you updated on developments as they arise.

For further information on the discussions please visit our website www.iwraw-ap.org and also visit the website of International Service for Human Rights who issued daily summaries of the Council discussions (Human Rights Monitor) www.ishr.ch

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This page was last updated on Oct 02, 2007

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