23/04/2024 Equality and Non-Discrimination
In adopting the report by Petra Bayr (Austria, SOC) on 16 April, the Committee on Equality strongly condemned the frequent attacks perpetrated against women human rights defenders, and called for an end to impunity for perpetrators of violence.
The report emphasises that women human rights defenders – which include activists, NGO members, health workers, private sector actors, researchers, lawyers, students, teachers, artists, trade unionists, bloggers and journalists – act “in a peaceful and legal way to promote and protect human rights”.
According to the report, they face attacks and specific threats, both on and offline, and are often victims of intersecting forms of discrimination, when working on access to sexual and reproductive health and rights, fight against gender-based violence, combating discrimination on the grounds of gender identity and sexual orientation, and the protection of migrants' rights.
In this context, the committee called on member states to “repeal laws, policies and practices that affect women human rights defenders, in all their diversity, and unduly restrict their activities”. It also recommended guaranteeing their protection, by ensuring a secure and enabling environment in which to carry out their activities, and prosecuting the perpetrators of attacks and threats, including members of police forces.
Finally, the committee called on national parliaments to support women human rights defenders through practical actions and the introduction of new policies.