Women’s Rights Panel Discussion at the 53rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council

04-07-2023

Ecenur Uyanık

Women’s Rights Researcher, 

Global Human Rights Defence.

On the 1st of July, GHRD’s Geneva Team covered the Annual Full day Panel Discussion on Women at the 53rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council. The objective of the panel discussion was to confer about promising examples of measures to address gender-based violence against women and girls in public and political life, in accordance with States' human rights obligations to prevent, investigate and punish such violence and promote women’s participation (UN Human Rights Council, 2023). The discussion consisted of two panels. The theme of Panel 1 was “Gender-based violence against women and girls in public and political life”, while Panel 2 was about “Social protection: women’s participation and leadership” (UN Human Rights Council, 2023). 

Discussing challenges to women’s rights including conflict, poverty, oppressive legal frameworks and deep structural discrimination, High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk stated that “If we want to dismantle the patriarchy, we must dismantle these barriers”. States and Civil Society actors engaged with discussion to this end while also highlighting the need to bridge the digital divide focusing on progress through education and socio-cultural awareness. 

Swiss Parliamentarian Yvonne Apiyo Brändle-Amolo also stressed on the need for tangible and specific solutions in order to tackle the intersectional and multifaceted challenges that women face globally.

Sources and further reading

UN Human Rights Council (June 30, 2023). Panel discusion on Women's Rights - 17th Meeting, 53rd Regular Session of Human Rights Council. UN Web TV. Retrieved on July 4, 2023 from https://media.un.org/en/asset/k1b/k1blga58tp 

UN Human Rights Council (June 30, 2023).  53rd session of the Human Rights Council (19 June to 14 July 2023). UN OHCR. Retrieved on July 4, 2023 from https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/hrc/regular-sessions/session53/regular-session