Co-sponsored by: Federal Republic of Germany, the Permanent Mission of Mexico to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders and the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants.

Women human rights defenders face considerable risks linked to the issues they support, such as migrant rights and particularly migrant women’s rights. For those defending their rights, may be silenced or belittled, and face intimidation, harassment, slander, physical and sexual violence, criminalisation, and smear campaigns. For migrant women themselves, pervasive gender inequalities, discriminatory migration policies and a lack of access to safe and regular migration pathways mean that they are more likely to be in vulnerable situations particularly when protecting their rights and those of other migrants,  increasing their risks of human rights violations, including gender-based violence and discrimination at all stages of migration.  

Women human rights defenders face considerable risks linked to the issues they support, such as migrant rights and particularly migrant women’s rights. For those defending their rights, may be silenced or belittled, and face intimidation, harassment, slander, physical and sexual violence, criminalisation, and smear campaigns. For migrant women themselves, pervasive gender inequalities, discriminatory migration policies and a lack of access to safe and regular migration pathways mean that they are more likely to be in vulnerable situations particularly when protecting their rights and those of other migrants,  increasing their risks of human rights violations, including gender-based violence and discrimination at all stages of migration.  

Over the years, there has been a rise in anti-rights movements including anti-feminist groups resulting in shrinking space for civil society, a backlash against women’s rights organizations and a rise in attacks against women human rights defenders and activists. Given the gender-specific ways in which restrictions on freedom of expression, assembly and association affect all women human rights defenders, and migrants disproportionately so, it is critical to explore ways in which different stakeholders can strengthen the protection of women human rights defenders working to defend the rights of migrants in all their diversity.  

In November 2022, on the occasion of International Women's Human Rights Defenders Day, UN Women in partnership with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders and the Special  Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants launched a set of recommendations on women human rights defenders at risk in migration contexts. Developed together with Women Human Rights Defenders, their organizations and other experts in the field, these recommendations are the first of their kind and underline the critical role migrant women human rights defenders play in securing the rights of people on the move. The recommendations outline concrete measures to promote and protect human rights unhindered so that migrants in all their diversity can live, work and move safely and with dignity.

Objectives

During this event taking place at the margins of the 53rd session of the UN Human Rights Council,  panellists will discuss some of the main challenges facing women human rights defenders at risk in migration contexts and identify strategies that can be taken by all stakeholders in an effort to move from making recommendations to taking actions to ensure the rights protections of women migrant HRDs. 

The event will bring together Member States, UN entities, Special Procedures mandate holders and  women human rights defenders to the table to achieve the following: 

1) Outline key challenges women human rights defenders face in migration contexts  

2) Discuss and share concrete strategies that can be taken by all stakeholders in an effort to protect and promote all women human rights defenders at risk in migration contexts.  

Format

A brief presentation from UN Women on the recommendations followed by a moderated panel discussion along with a Q&A with the audience. 

Speakers

Moderator: 

Ms. Inkeri von Hase, Global Coordinator, Making Migration Safe for Women, UN Women

Opening remarks:  

H.E. Ambassador Katharina Stasch, Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of the Federal  Republic of Germany to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva  

Panellists: 

• H.E. Ambassador Francisca E. Méndez Escobar, Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of  Mexico to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva  
• Ms. Mary Lawlor, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders (pre-recorded message) 
• Mr. Felipe González Morales, Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants (online)
• Ms. Sringatin, Chairperson, Indonesian Migrant Workers Union and Member of Asia Pacific  Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD) (online) 
• Dr. Alice Nah, Associate Professor, Sociology Department, Durham University, UK (online) 

Closing remarks: 

Ms. Kristine Leilani Salle, Chargé d'affaires, Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the United  Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva