The Elders Urge the UN to Vote to Protect Women's Human Rights Defenders
/Vote yes to protect women human rights defenders say Gro Harlem Brundtland and Hina Jilani on behalf of The Elders
“This vote recognises the courageous women who defy patriarchy every day.”
"Often, [women] come up against entire systems of laws and cultural values designed to silence them."
November 26, 2013
Amid concerns that some UN member states may vote against a resolution to protect women human rights defenders, Gro Harlem Brundtland and Hina Jilani author an open letter urging support for the vote.
Elders Gro Harlem Brundtland and Hina Jilani have published an open letter calling on UN member states to vote in favour of the first ever resolution specifically on protecting women human rights defenders.
Member states have passed previous resolutions on human rights defenders by consensus. This week’s vote at the UN General Assembly represents an effort to recognise the critical role played by women human rights defenders, as Gro Harlem Brundtland and Hina Jilani write:
“This vote recognises the courageous women who defy patriarchy every day, everywhere in the world, to champion human rights. They hold communities together in times of war – and hold the key to building peaceful communities when the guns go silent. In so many male-dominated institutions, they campaign for women’s voices to be heard. They stand with men in public squares to challenge autocratic leaders.”
They also emphasise the particular risks and repercussions that women human rights defenders face in their work:
“They can be harassed and verbally abused. They face gender-based violence including rape. Their children and their families may be targeted. Often, they come up against entire systems of laws and cultural values designed to silence them.”
Despite strong support from civil society groups in Africa and elsewhere, there is concern that not all member states are prepared to support the resolution. The two Elders, along with women Nobel Peace Laureates and human rights organisations worldwide, urge the international community to “do the right thing” and vote in favour of the resolution.
Read the full text of the letter here:
We must protect women human right defenders
On the left, Hina Jilani, pioneering lawyer and pro-democracy campaigner. She is a leading activist in Pakistan's women's movement and international champion of human rights. On the right, first woman Prime Minister of Norway and Deputy Chair of The Elders. She is a medical doctor who champions health as a human right and works to put sustainable development on the international agenda.
The UN General Assembly votes this week on a resolution to protect women human rights defenders.
This vote recognises the courageous women who defy patriarchy every day, everywhere in the world, to
champion human rights. They hold communities together in times of war – and hold the key to building
peaceful communities when the guns go silent. In so many male‐dominated institutions, they campaign for
women’s voices to be heard. They stand with men in public squares to challenge autocratic leaders.
These women embody the commitment made by the international community in 1948 when the world
enshrined the equal rights of all human beings “without distinction of any kind” in the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights.
The UN recognises and protects the vital role played by human rights defenders. But there is a growing
consensus that women who choose to challenge human rights abuses face particular risks and need
particular protection. They can be harassed and verbally abused. They face gender–based violence
including rape. Their children and their families may be targeted. Often, they come up against entire
systems of laws and cultural values designed to silence them.
In the past, resolutions on human rights defenders have passed in the UN General Assembly by consensus.
But we are very concerned that not all countries are prepared to support this week’s vote.
To be clear, a vote to protect women human right defenders is a vote for human rights.
On the other hand, a vote against the bravery, sacrifice and determination of millions of women worldwide
is a vote against the values to which we aspire. It is a vote against dignity and hope.
We urge all Member States of the General Assembly to do the right thing and vote in favour.
Gro Harlem Brundtland is a former Prime Minister of Norway and former Director‐General of the World
Health Organization. Hina Jilani is a lawyer and pro‐democracy campaigner from Pakistan. She was UN
Special Representative on Human Rights Defenders from 2000‐2008.
Both are members of The Elders (www.theElders.org), a group of independent leaders working for peace,
justice & human rights worldwide.
http://theelders.org/article/vote-yes-protect-women-human-rights-defenders
