Attempts to control what women and girls say, think and wear as well as to deny women access to sexual and reproductive rights are on the rise, the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) heard today, as it commenced its debate on the advancement of women.
In opening remarks, Åsa Regnér, Deputy Executive Director for Policy, Programme, Civil Society and Intergovernmental Support, United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), highlighted impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the urgency of climate change and the rise of violent conflicts. Warning against alarmingly high rates of violence against women and girls, she noted that over 380 million women and girls globally were in extreme poverty, living on less than $1.90 a day. It may take another 286 years to remove discriminatory laws and close gaps in legal protections for women and girls, she said.
Turning the Secretary-General’s reports, she underscored the urgency of addressing women and girls in digital contexts, adding that 38 per cent of women globally have experienced violence in digital space. Moreover, women and girls make up 92 per cent of the victims of trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation, which was the most detected form of trafficking in 2020. Despite a decline in prevalence of female genital mutilation worldwide, she warned that the displacement of women and girls caused by climate change and conflicts could increase the likelihood of undergoing such harmful practices.
In the ensuing interactive dialogue, delegates focused on conflict-related sexual violence and mechanisms for improving accountability and supporting survivors, with Latvia’s delegate voicing concern over Moscow’s war against Ukraine that had been inflicting suffering on women and girls. Echoing his concerns, the observer for the European Union pointed to sexual and gender-based violence resulting from Moscow’s aggression against Ukraine.
Along similar lines, the representative of China, highlighting the link between climate change and violence against women, stressed the importance of the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities through financial aid and technical assistance to developing countries to cope with climate change.
Also today, the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, Reem Alsalem, drawing attention to countries most affected by environmental degradation, said the impact of climate change aggravated all types of gender-based violence against women and girls. In the aftermath of natural disasters, the risks of physical violence were particularly pronounced, mainly for those who were displaced or in emergency shelters, she emphasized.
The loss of livelihoods and limited resources tied to the aftereffects of large-scale natural disasters or slow onset environmental degradation forced women and girls in different parts of the world into sexual exploitation in exchange for food and natural resources, including water or fuel, she said. Moreover, water scarcity from droughts pushed women and girls to travel longer distances into unfamiliar areas or without usually available safeguards, such as travelling in a group or during daylight.
Also briefing the Committee were Diene Keita, Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA); Gladys Acosta Vargas, Chairperson of the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW); and Dorothy Estrada-Tanck, Chairperson of the Working Group on discrimination against women and girls.
Turning to their general debate, delegates recognized the role of women as the driving force of social development, with many expressing concerns that challenges women and girls faced had been amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and conflict.
“Where women and girls are unable to reach their potential, whole countries suffer,” said the representative of the United Kingdom. Stressing that women and girls continued to be disproportionately impacted by crises, he noted that an estimated 20 million girls would never return to school due of COVID-19. He also warned against increasing authoritarianism that is undermining democratic values and human rights, voicing concern over the situation in Ukraine, Iran, and Afghanistan.
The representative of Nigeria, speaking on behalf of the African group, detailed challenges in eliminating violence against women and girls on the African continent. Harmful practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation prevented girls from full enjoyment of their human rights, he cautioned, describing female genital mutilation as a serious threat to women and girls, including their sexual, reproductive, and psychological health.
Along similar lines, the representative of Colombia highlighted the role of indigenous and Afro-descendant women as key agents in combatting food insecurity and poverty as well as transforming the rural environment. Calling for a “gender-transformative approach”, she drew attention to her government’s feminist foreign policy that would tackle the root causes of gender inequality in the country.
Also speaking were representatives of Pakistan (on behalf of the “Group of 77” developing countries and China), Bahamas (on behalf of the Caribbean Community), Thailand (on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations), Dominican Republic (on behalf of the Central American Integration System), Switzerland, Russian Federation, Kenya, Lichtenstein, South Africa, Singapore, China, Finland, Namibia, Philippines, India, Cameroon, Panama, Lebanon, Ireland, Iran, Netherlands, Honduras, Cuba, Canada, Malaysia, Thailand, Armenia, Senegal, Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Viet Nam. The observers for the European Union and Holy See as well as the youth delegate of Mexico also spoke.
Source: UN General Assembly