Geneva Gender Champions Impact Group on the Composition of Delegations

ITU, 18 April 2016

Tracking gender balance at the

Human Rights Council

Saori Terada

Adviser on gender integration

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

Why important?

Gender parity as a fundamental matter of rights

Transformative tool towards gender equality

Visible equality breaks gender stereotypes

Equal representation builds law and policies on the

experience of the entire population

Data as the first step for awareness raising

Methodology

Overall participation based on interventions

2010-2015

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

80.00%

2010 (HRC14 andHRC15)

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Men

Women

Gender balance number of interventions (per

each HRC session – 2010-2015)

Gender balance among dignitaries 2003-2015

Gender balance among panelists

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

Men

Women

Gender balance among panelists in panels on women, gender and children 2008 - 2015

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

Men

Women

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Men

Women

Gender balance among panelists in all other panel discussions 2008-2015

Challenges:

gender in the HRC resolutions

Gender balance ≠ more gender-sensitivity

An analysis of some 800 resolutions adopted by the HRC since its

establishment shows that about 55% are of a thematic nature. Of them:

Only 4% make explicit reference to women’s rights and gender

Among those that referenced women and gender

45% were in women specific resolutions (violence against women,

maternal mortality, etc.)

55% were in resolutions not specific to women or gender

(administration of justice, right to food, enforced disappearance,

etc.)

Looking ahead

Lessons learnt from the Intl Labour Conference:

Need to make data public

Set targets

Communication and advocacy to member States

Advice and capacity building

Use the Geneva Gender Champions

Sharing of good practices re. methodology and challenges

Holding member States accountable for their commitments

Connecting with impact group on intl fora

Thank you!

Contact:

Saori Terada, adviser on gender integration

OHCHR Women’s Rights and Gender Section

sterada@ohchr.org, +41 22 928 9203