Did you miss it? Here’s what happened at HRC 55!

Published on April 10, 2024
News
UN Mechanism

The 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council took place from 26 February to 5 April 2024. Due to the ongoing liquidity crisis experienced by the Council, civil society organisations were asked to pay for the use of hybrid modalities for their side events through the WebEX platform for the first time in the Council's history. This puts an additional and significant burden on organisations that have very limited budgets to engage with the HRC, which is deeply concerning.  

Below, you will find information on some of the key sexual rights-related:

 

Featured News

The 55th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council was its longest one, ending on 5 April 2024 after six weeks of meetings. The session also saw the impact of states not paying their dues, resulting in a liquidity crisis for the human rights system. The cash crunch has impacted key deliverables and activities of the human rights system. Israel’s ongoing genocide and its refusal to adhere to the ICJ ruling and the recent Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire was a key flashpoint in the Human Rights Council, directly and indirectly.  The dialogue with Francesca Albanese, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, on her report “Anatomy of a Genocide”, and the adoption of three resolutions on Palestine, including the call to cease the sale, transfer and diversion of arms, munitions and other military equipment to Israel and reaffirming the right of self-determination of Palestinian people are some of the more direct references to ensure accountability and implementation of human rights principles for everyone. That these resolutions were adopted by a vote, continues to shine a light on the double standards of some states when it comes to the implementation of human rights norms and principles.  The implications of this hypocrisy will be vast and long-standing, including on the perception and implementation of human rights and the multilateral system. Despite strong statements from independent experts, some civil society groups and states, the Council failed to take decisive and unified action on holding Israel and its enablers to account. This was out of step with the mass mobilisation and outrage of feminist and queer activists and people across the world who continue to call for an end to genocide and settler colonial apartheid regime. Sexual and reproductive health and rights are indivisible, universal and inalienable - they apply to all people, all of the time. When components of SRHR are sliced off and separated into silos as not-applicable, not-relevant or separate from economic and social justice, the full realisation of these rights becomes a distant dream. 

 

Political Economy of Sexual Rights

SRI Side-event at HRC 55

Sexual rights include a range of entitlements related to the full and unconditional exercise of bodily autonomy and sexual and reproductive agency for all people regardless of gender, caste, class, race and ethnicity, age, profession, ability, and other social, political, or economic status. An asocial understanding of rights as only individual entitlements has resulted in the disarticulation of sexual rights from forces that profoundly affect or even determine them, including the global crises brought on by capitalism through rampant neoliberalism, unchecked extractivism, and climate degradation; violent populism and ethnonationalism; soaring inequality within and between states; and entrenched patriarchal, racist, casteist, classist, and ableist systems of oppression. The side event delved deeper into how colonialism, occupation, neoliberalism, and macroeconomics impact the realisation of sexual rights in different regions of the world and the attempts to capture and instrumentalise sexual rights to maintain and further the capitalist and patriarchal status quo. Missed it? Watch the full recording here. 

 

Sexual Rights-related Resolutions

Combating discrimination, violence and harmful practices against intersex persons – A/HRC/55/L.6

Led by Australia, Chile, Finland and South Africa and co-sponsored by 47 other countries as of 5 April 2024. The resolution was adopted by vote, with 23 abstentions and 25 in favour. No state voted against the resolution. 

The resolution is the first such initiative at the UNHRC. It mandates the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to prepare a report examining discriminatory laws and policies, acts of violence and harmful practices against persons with innate variations in sex characteristics in all regions of the world, and their root causes. It also examines best practices, including legal protection and remedies, especially when addressing the realisation of the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. The resolution also calls for a panel discussion on discrimination against intersex persons and best practices to ensure the realisation of the rights of intersex persons.

The resolution crucially highlights “that persons with innate variations in sex characteristics, that is persons who are born with sex characteristics that do not fit typical definitions for male or female bodies, including sexual anatomy, reproductive organs and hormonal or chromosome

patterns (also known as intersex persons) exist in all societies” and that they face multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination in access to education, health, employment, sports and social security, as well as restrictions on the exercise of legal capacity and in access to remedies and justice. The resolution requests States to enhance efforts to combat discrimination, violence and harmful practices against intersex persons and address their root causes, such as stereotypes, the spread of misconceptions and inaccurate information, stigma and taboo. 

Watch the discussion and adoption. 

 

Adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, and the right to non-discrimination in this context – A/HRC/55/L.12

Led by Finland, Brazil, Germany and Namibia and co-sponsored by 34 other countries as of 28 March 2024. The resolution was adopted by consensus. The resolution focused on the right to housing for persons with disabilities, recognising that for them, choosing where and with whom to live, being part of a community and having access to adequate and accessible housing are central to a life that includes dignity, autonomy, participation, inclusion, equality and respect for diversity of persons with disabilities. The resolution also calls attention to the lack of progress regarding discrimination in the enjoyment of the right to adequate housing affecting women. It underlines the need to urgently act to ensure their security of tenure, irrespective of their family or relationship status.

Watch the discussion and adoption.

 

Rights of the child: realising the rights of the child and inclusive social protection – A/HRC/55/L.18/REV.1

Led by Belgium (on behalf of the European Union) and Uruguay (on behalf of GRULAC, the Group of Latin America and Caribbean Countries), it was co-sponsored by 37 other countries as of 28 March 2023. The resolution was adopted by consensus. This year’s resolution focuses on the realisation of the rights of the child in the context of inclusive social protection, expressing concern about the absence of universal, non-discriminatory, comprehensive, disability-inclusive, and child rights-based inclusive social protection systems in many countries. It also expresses concern that multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination have a disproportionate impact on access to inclusive social protection by some children. 

The resolution states that inclusive social protection remains beyond the reach of more than 1.77 billion children globally, with significant regional disparities, and that this lack of access to inclusive social protection services may undermine the full enjoyment of a vast range of the rights of the child, among other things, the rights to life, to education, to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, including to sexual and reproductive health. 

The text calls for States to adopt measures, with an intersectional approach, to recognize, value and redistribute on an equal and fair basis paid and unpaid care work and to reduce unpaid care work. It also urges States to ensure that social protection coverage is gender-responsive and tailored to the needs of women and girls, including with regard to their right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, including sexual and reproductive health information, education and care services, and menstrual health and hygiene, as well as maternal health, services, such as prenatal and postnatal care and breastfeeding and nutrition services.

A total of 7 amendments were tabled. Two were withdrawn; one was not considered by the Council as it was not co-sponsored by a State member, and the other four were rejected by vote. The amendments are provided below:

  • Insert references to “family-oriented” throughout the text, tabled by Bahrain, Egypt, Nigeria, and Pakistan and withdrawn during the consideration of the resolution.  
  • Replace “child rights compliant” with “child rights perspective” throughout the text, tabled by Russia and rejected by 24 against, 3 in favour and 19 abstentions.
  • Insert references to “rights and duties of parents and legal guardians” throughout the text, tabled by Russia and rejected by 25 against, 13 in favour and 8 abstentions.
  • Delete references to “autonomy of the children” throughout the text, tabled by Russia, which was withdrawn. 
  • Insert a new paragraph with language on the rights and duties of parents, tabled by Russia and rejected by 24 against, 15 in favour and 7 abstentions.
  • Delete references to “sexual and reproductive health” throughout the text, tabled by Russia and rejected by 25 against, 9 in favour and 12 abstentions.

Watch the discussion and adoption.

 

Remote participation modalities for hybrid meetings of the Human Rights Council – A/HRC/55/L.35 as orally revised

Led by Cabo Verde, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Ireland, Malawi, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Panama, and Switzerland. The resolution was adopted by consensus. 

The resolution recognises the clear benefits beyond business continuity that remote participation brings to in-person meetings in the conduct of the work of the Human Rights Council by its Members and observers, particularly on inclusivity for small delegations, in particular, those of small island developing States and least developed countries, as well as of civil society. It acknowledges its disproportionate impact on small island developing states and least developed countries. The resolution requests the General Assembly to consider authorising the Human Rights Council to continue its practice of using remote participation modalities for all its future formal and informal meetings during its sessions, its organisational and intersessional meetings, the meetings of its subsidiary bodies and mechanisms, including the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review.

Watch the discussion and adoption.

 

Postponement of the implementation of certain activities mandated by the Human Rights Council – A/HRC/55/L.27  as orally revised 

The decision was submitted by the President of the Human Rights Council. It lists the activities that will be postponed by the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights due to the ongoing liquidity crisis, which is creating a cash crunch.

 

Other relevant resolutions

  • Mandate of Special Rapporteur on the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment (Costa Rica, Maldives, Morocco, Slovenia, Switzerland) - A/HRC/55/L.1/Rev.1
  • Mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the right to privacy (Austria, Brazil, Germany, Liechtenstein, Mexico) - A/HRC/55/L.2
  • The Right to Work (Egypt, Greece, Indonesia, Mexico, Romania) - A/HRC/55/L.10
  • The Right to Food (Cuba) - A/HRC/55/L.3
  • Mandate of Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights (Cuba) - A/HRC/55/L.4
  • Effects of foreign debt and other related international financial obligations of States on the full enjoyment of all human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights (Cuba) - A/HRC/55/L.5
  • Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (Denmark) - A/HRC/55/L.15
  • The negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights (Uganda, on behalf of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries) - A/HRC/55/L.7
  • Support systems to ensure community inclusion of persons with disabilities (Mexico, New Zealand) - A/HRC/55/L.8/Rev.1


 

Sexual Rights-related Discussions

Annual interactive debate on the rights of persons with disabilities

​Theme: Good practices of support systems enabling community inclusion of persons with disabilities 

The panel discussed good practices of support systems that enable community inclusion of persons with disabilities under the obligations of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, analysing and sharing good practices in the construction and further implementation of legal, policy and institutional frameworks for support and care systems that are human rights-based and that ensure community inclusion of persons with disabilities. It also proposed strategies to consolidate gender-, disability-, age - and -responsive support and care systems.

Watch the debate on UN Web TV or see our highlights in this Twitter thread. SRI made a joint statement during the panel discussion, which you can watch here.



Annual full-day meeting on the rights of the child

​Theme: Rights of the child and inclusive social protection

The panel discussed the rights of the child and inclusive social protection, reflecting on children’s lived experiences of the structural, systemic and legal barriers they encounter in accessing inclusive social protection, focusing particularly on children facing multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination. It has also discussed how States can create more inclusive social protection legislation, policies, and programmes such that child rights are systematically considered in their design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

Watch the debate on UN Web TV or see our highlights in this Twitter thread. SRI made a joint statement during the panel discussion, which you can watch here.



Panel discussion on challenges and good practices to realise the right to social security and to provide quality public services

​The panel discussed critical elements for realising the right to social security and strengthening social security systems, as well as the challenges faced by countries in fulfilling their obligations to realise the right to social security, focusing on the financing of social security systems and the coverage and adequacy of social security benefits, and the ways to overcome such challenges. It also aimed to explore the options to secure sufficient funding for universal social security systems and quality public services and the ways to enhance the impact of social security systems through providing and embedding quality public services.

Watch the debate on UN Web TV or see our highlights in this twitter thread. SRI made a joint statement during the panel discussion, which you can watch here.
 

SRI Oral Statements

 

Joint oral statements

  • Joint statement with CREA, Rising Flame, Transforming Communities for Inclusion Global, Vois and Intersex Asia, also endorsed by disability rights activists Jeeja Ghosh, Janet Price and Renu Addlakha, for the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities, commenting on her report which took stock of the mandate’s work over the past 10 years and described the Special Rapporteur’s vision for her tenure. Watch the discussion on UN Web TV, our video statement with captions on Youtube and see our live coverage of the dialogue on Twitter. 
  • Joint statement with the Center for Reproductive Rights and a group of feminist organisations on International Women’s Day, echoing the global feminist call for the March 8th strike and standing in solidarity with Palestinian feminists and women in Gaza who are facing human rights violations of an unprecedented scale, and with every feminist activist fighting tirelessly for their rights and the rights of others wherever they may be. Watch the statement.
  • Joint statement with the Center for Reproductive Rights, International Service for Human Rights (ISHR), and Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales (CELS), during the General Debate on item 3, commenting on civil society participation at the Council, especially the new requirement to pay to use live online services to organise hybrid side events. Watch the discussion on UN Web TV.
  • Joint statement with the #EmptyChairs Campaign during the General Debate on item 5 (Human rights bodies and mechanisms), commenting on the reports on Special Procedures’ work presented by the Chair of the Coordination Committee of Special Procedures. Watch the Chair’s presentation during part 1 of the general debate on UN Web TV, and the statement being delivered during part 2 of the debate. 
  • UPR outcome of Colombia: joint statement with Akãhatã and Redtrasex. Watch the adoption.
  • UPR outcome of Canada: joint statement with Action Canada, Justice for Migrant Workers, YWCA Hamilton, and the McMaster University Community Research Platform. Watch the adoption.
  • UPR outcome of Canada: joint statement by our partner Action Canada and other Canadian civil society organizations. Watch the adoption.
  • UPR outcome of Azerbaijan: joint statement with Centre Women and Modern World. Watch the adoption.


 

UPR Outcomes

The 55th session included the adoption of the outcomes of countries reviewed during the 44th working group session of the Universal Periodic Review, which took place from 6 to 17 November 2023. The council adopted all 14 outcomes from the reviews of the following countries: Turkmenistan, Burkina Faso​​, Cabo Verde, Colombia, Uzbekistan, Tuvalu, Germany, ​Djibouti, Canada, Bangladesh, Russian Federation, Azerbaijan, Cameroon​ and Cuba​.

Among the 14 outcomes adopted during this session, the SRI collaborated on reports with organisations and activists in preparing reports for the UPR reviews of Canada and Azerbaijan.

We made a joint statement to the adoption of Colombia’s UPR outcome with Akãhatã and Redtrasex. Watch the adoption here.  At the UPR outcome of Canada, we made a joint statement with Action Canada, Justice for Migrant Workers, YWCA Hamilton, and the McMaster University Community Research Platform.  Watch Canada's session here. During the adoption of Azerbaijan’s UPR outcome, we made a joint statement with Centre Women and Modern World. Watch the adoption.

 

SRI Side Event 

Political Economy of Sexual Rights

Sexual rights include a range of entitlements related to the full and unconditional exercise of bodily autonomy and sexual and reproductive agency for all people regardless of gender, caste, class, race and ethnicity, age, profession, ability, and other social, political, or economic status. An asocial understanding of rights as only individual entitlements has resulted in the disarticulation of sexual rights from forces that profoundly affect or even determine them, including the global crises brought on by capitalism through rampant neoliberalism, unchecked extractivism, and climate degradation; violent populism and ethnonationalism; soaring inequality within and between states; and entrenched patriarchal, racist, casteist, classist, and ableist systems of oppression. Although there has been a lot of research and advocacy on the relationship between neoliberal economic policies/practices and health outcomes, such as through sanctions, aid conditionality, illicit financial flows, neoliberal fiscal and monetary policy, privatisation, austerity measures, and debt, as well as on the gendered impact of such policies, there is not enough research or advocacy on how such policies specifically impact sexual rights, and on the role of sexual rights in maintaining unequal power relations, nationally and globally. 

The side event delved deeper into how colonialism, occupation, neoliberalism, and macroeconomics impact the realisation of sexual rights in different regions of the world and the attempts to capture and instrumentalise sexual rights to maintain and further the capitalist and patriarchal status quo.

Speakers: 

  • Omar Khatib, Independent activist, Palestine [using previous video footage due to Omar’s detention by Israel]
  • Jessica Mandanda, The Feminist Macro Economics Alliance, Malawi
  • Andrea Guillem, Feminist activist and member of the International Feminist Association, Ecuador

Moderator

  • Dipika Nath, Independent activist

If you missed the event, you can catch up with the full recording and Twitter highlights from SRI.