The Commissioner for Gender Equality, Josie Christodoulou, emphasised the need to protect women human rights defenders in a recorded message during an event held on Wednesday in Geneva on the sidelines of the 63rd Session of the Human Rights Council.
The event, titled “Providing Protection and Support to Women Human Rights Defenders in Times of Crisis: Lessons from the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF),” was organised in collaboration with the Republic of Cyprus.
A press release issued by the Commissioner’s Office said that the Commissioner highlighted that we are experiencing a period of shrinking civic space, reduced funding, and increasing pressures on women’s rights. In this context, she stressed that it is essential not only to reaffirm our commitments to gender equality and human rights but also to defend them.
“Referring to the Beijing Platform for Action and UN General Assembly Resolution 68/181, she emphasised their enduring significance for the promotion and protection of women’s rights and the recognition of the role of women human rights defenders,” it is added.
Christodoulou highlighted the crucial role of women’s civil society organisations and women’s rights defenders, especially in times of conflict, displacement, and humanitarian crises. As she noted, they often find themselves on the front lines of defending rights, documenting violations, demanding accountability, and building peace, while they themselves frequently face intimidation, stigma, exclusion, and violence.
“She emphasised that their protection requires legal, institutional, political, and economic conditions that will allow them to act safely and freely, noting that supporting women-led organisations is an investment in resilience, accountability, peace, and human rights,” the press release said.
The Commissioner pointed out that supporting defenders requires specific political action and strong alliances between governments, institutions, and civil society. “We must listen to them, protect them, and empower them, ensuring that they have the space and resources to lead change,” she concluded.