United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women
On 4 March 1994 the Human Rights Council passed Resolution 1994/45 on the question of integrating the rights of women into the human rights mechanisms of the United Nations and the elimination of violence against women. This Resolution established the mandate of the "Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women its causes and consequences". The initial appointment was for a three-year period.[1] As of November 2021[update] the special rapporteur was Reem Alsalem.[2] who is controversial for her anti-trans views and who according to legal scholar Jens Theilen is "using women’s rights as a tool to undermine trans rights."[3][4]
| United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women | |
|---|---|
since August 2021 | |
| Inaugural holder | Radhika Coomaraswamy |
| Website | www |
Mandate
editThe special rapporteur is mandated to seek and receive information on violence against women, recommend ways to eliminate violence against women at national, regional and intersectionality levels, and work collaboratively with the other United Nations human rights mechanisms.[5]
Country visits
editThe special rapporteur is mandated to carry out country visits, often in conjunction with other special rapporteurs, independent experts or working groups.[6]
Reports to the Human Rights Council
editEach year the Special Rapporteur provides a written report to the Human Rights Council outlining the activities undertaken and themes analyzed.[7]
Communications
editThe Special Rapporteur can send communications or letters to governments and other actors regarding human rights violations and concerns relating to bills, legislation, policies or practices that do not comply with international human rights law and standards.[8] In such communications, the Special Rapporteur has, amongst others, violence by corporations and intersectionality.[9]
Post-holders
edit- Radhika Coomaraswamy (1994–2003)
- Yakin Ertürk (2003–2009)
- Rashida Manjoo (2009–2015)
- Dubravka Šimonović (2015–2021)
- Reem Alsalem (2021–present)
References
edit- ^ "Question of integrating the rights of women into the human rights mechanisms of the United Nations and the elimination of violence against women". Archived from the original on 2 December 2005.
- ^ "Dubravka Šimonović, Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, its causes and consequences". ohchr.org. United Nations: Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
- ^ Theilen, Jens (2024). "Intersectionality's Travels to International Human Rights Law". Michigan Journal of International Law. 45 (2).
A stark example of individual politics furthering rather than contesting oppression is found in the work of the current Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences, Reem Alsalem, who is using women's rights as a tool to undermine trans rights; see the protest letter AWID, There Is No Place for Anti-Trans Agendas in the UN (2023)
- ^ "There Is No Place for Anti-Trans Agendas in the UN". Association for Women's Rights in Development. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
- ^ "Preliminary report submitted by the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, Ms. Radhika Coomaraswamy, in accordance with Commission on Human Rights resolution 1994/45". 22 November 1994. Archived from the original on 11 December 2005.
- ^ "Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences – Country Visits". Archived from the original on 18 August 2004.
- ^ "Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences". Archived from the original on 18 August 2004.
- ^ "Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences".
- ^ Nissen, A. (2023). "Gender-Transformative Remedies for Women Human Rights Defenders". Business and Human Rights Journal. 8 (3): 369–393. doi:10.1017/bhj.2023.41. hdl:1887/3716539.
Further reading
edit- Erturk, Yakin; Thompson, Audrey. 15 years of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences (1994–2009) a critical review (PDF).