Human Rights Council 51st session: Intersecting forms of discrimination against women and girls seek to silence their voices.

By Jennifer Tapia Boada.

“Women and girls are subjected to intersecting discrimination”, said Ms Peggy Hicks, Director of the Thematic Engagement, Special Procedures and Right to Development Division of the OHCHR during the opening statement of the Annual Discussion on the Integration of a Gender Perspective.

The discussion revolved around existing gender-based barriers to freedom of opinion and expression. Ms Hicks maintained that freedom of expression is the foundation of every democratic society. However, women and girls often face harassment that seeks to silence them.

The Annual Discussion was held on 26th September, during the 23rd meeting of the 51st session of the Human Rights Council, and it rendered the presentations of four subject matter expert panelists.

The panel highlighted that the effective exercise of the right to freedom of expression is essential for women’s empowerment. However, women and girls continue to face structural and legal barriers to the realisation of their rights, resulting in the suppression, censorship, or punishment of their voices.

States and NGOs also noted that women human rights defenders, politicians, and journalists are especially targeted by acts of sexual violence, gender defamation, and the restriction of access to information. The gender divide in accessing digital technologies also undermines women’s full enjoyment of their rights.

𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐚 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 (𝐆𝐈𝐂𝐉) echoes the reaffirmation by the Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression, Ms.Khan, that gender equality and the right to freedom of expression are mutually reinforcing. GICJ calls for States to eliminate all existing discriminatory legislation against women across States, to ensure the principles of gender equality are upheld.

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