SRI engages with the UN Special Procedures to influence the content of their thematic work and reports. As independent experts, Special Procedures have a particular role to play in echoing feminist analysis and demands and are sometimes able to do so more freely than other human rights mechanisms. We work in this context to bring an intersectional approach that includes sexual rights and foregrounds a Global South perspective to thematic mandates in their contributions to the development of norms and standards. 

We engage with Special Procedures by making submissions to their thematic reports. We also contribute to the debates, discussions and panels with independent experts at the Human Rights Council. We participate in their consultations and connect them with activists at the national level when they undertake country visits. Finally, we support organisations and activists who want to make a complaint through the communication procedure.

 

Submissions

Intersectionality, Economic Justice and the Right to Development
This publication is a summary of a submission, sent to the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development in June 2023 in response to a call to inform his vision-setting report. In this submission, SRI called for the Special Rapporteur to address inequalities and the right to development from an intersectional perspective, and to provide a thematic report dedicated to gender and the right to development.
Submission to the Special Rapporteur on cultural rights: the right to participate in sports

Prepared in response to the call for inputs issued by the Special Rapporteur on cultural rights to inform her report on the right to participate in sports, this submission advocates for an intersectional approach that examines the colonial, racist, patriarchal and capitalist underpinnings and root causes for violations of the right to participate in sports.

SRI & NSWP Submission to the Working Group on the issue of Discrimination Against Women in Law and Practice on Deprivation of Liberty of Women and Girls

Women and girls’ sexuality continues to be perceived as the dominion of everyone except women and girls themselves. Laws, policies and practices are constantly defined and redefined towards ‘acceptable’ behaviour of women and girls. Acceptable behaviour is then countered with ‘deviancy’ and the need to ‘correct’ this deviancy. Most often ‘deviancy’ is any behaviour or action that does not mirror the dominant community hegemonies including a non-adherence to the stereotypes of gender and sexuality.

Submission to the Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities Sexual Rights Initiative

This submission reviews bioethics and how it has related to the rights of persons with disabilities. It first highlights how bioethics constitutes its own authority and experts to have a say in the lives of persons with disabilities. Secondly it provides a brief overview of a global feminist approach to bioethics and its contributions to a critique of the field. After highlighting the contributions of women with disabilities to the so-called “bioethical discussions,” the submission recommends to move away from bioethics and adopt a human rights-based analysis.

 

Statements

HRC 58: #EmptyChairs campaign Statement to the General Debate on Item 5
The liquidity crisis has led to cuts in Special Procedures’ activities and limited engagement opportunities for rights holders. States cannot continue defunding the Special Procedures system, which they have created, thereby preventing them from fulfilling their essential mandates. States must pay their dues in full and on time. We ask the Coordination Committee and the Secretariat to regularly update and consult with civil society on the impact of the liquidity crisis and other challenges and developments affecting Special Procedures and OHCHR, and to make that information public and easily accessible.
HRC 58: SRI Statement to the Interactive dialogue with the Independent Expert on foreign debt
We welcome the Independent Expert’s report. As it remarks, Global South countries are most affected by a climate crisis they did not cause and by an inequitable global financial system. They are struggling with increasing debt levels, forced to borrow more money, often just to repay existing debts, with IMF- and World Bank-imposed austerity measures, including cuts to public spending and privatization of essential services affecting disproportionately women, children, elderly, racialized and marginalized communities.
HRC 58 Joint Statement: Interactive dialogue with the SR on the rights of persons with disabilities
More action is needed to address the intersectional challenges of women with disabilities living in rural areas, including young and indigenous women and other structurally excluded communities. Investment in developing the leadership of such women is key. We call for urgent implementation measures to combat violence based on gender and disability, including femicides. Even when legal frameworks exist, implementation, access to justice and to crisis centers are extremely limited for women with disabilities.
Intersectionality, Economic Justice and the Right to Development
This publication is a summary of a submission, sent to the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development in June 2023 in response to a call to inform his vision-setting report. In this submission, SRI called for the Special Rapporteur to address inequalities and the right to development from an intersectional perspective, and to provide a thematic report dedicated to gender and the right to development.

 

Thematic work on special procedures

While we cover a range of topics related to sexual rights, our current focus through the Special Procedures currently covers the following themes:

Icon Racism, Colonialism and Neo-colonialism

 

Racism, Colonialism and Neo-colonialism

Icon Right to Health & Sexual and Reproductive Health

 

Right to Health & Sexual and Reproductive Health

Link to Economic justice section. Image of woman with baby and handbag

 

Economic justice / Poverty and economic inequality

 

Latest news on Special Procedures

Opportunities for feminist engagement in the UN human rights system

You'll find in this post the most recent opportunities for feminist engagement in the UN human rights system from February to April 2024.

Published on February 08, 2024

2023 In Review

Last year, our work continued to highlight how sexual rights are profoundly impacted by the interrelated global crises brought on by capitalism through rampant neoliberalism, unchecked extractivism and climate degradation, violent populism and nationalism, soaring inequality within and between states, and entrenched patriarchal, racist, classist and ableist systems of oppression. Read below for our highlights of 2023.

Published on February 12, 2024

 

What are Special Procedures?

UN Special Procedures are human rights experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council to investigate, analyse and report on thematic or country-specific human rights concerns.

UN Special Procedures can take the form of Special Rapporteurs, Independent Experts, or Working Groups. The Special Procedures submit annual reports to the Human Rights Council, respond to communications of urgent human rights violations, undertake country visits, and contribute to developing international human rights norms and standards.

To learn more about the Special Procedures, please visit their website or watch this video produced by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.