A/HRC/40/60
United Nations
General Assembly
Distr.: General
10 January 2019
Original: English
Human Rights Council
Fortieth session
25 February–22 March 2019
Agenda item 3
Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil,
political, economic, social and cultural rights,
including the right to development
Situation of women human rights defenders
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights
defenders
Summary
In the present report, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights
defenders, Michel Forst, reviews the situation of women human rights defenders, covering
the period since the issuance, in 2011, of the last report by the mandate holder on this topic
(A/HRC/16/44 and Corr.1). He focuses in particular on the additional gendered risks and
obstacles women human rights defenders face and recognizes their important role in the
promotion and protection of human rights. The Special Rapporteur refers to the relevant
normative framework for the work of women human rights defenders, describes the
challenging environments in which they operate and analyses the impact of patriarchy and
heteronormativity, gender ideology, fundamentalisms, militarization, globalization and
neoliberal policies on the rights of such defenders. He also refers to the situation of specific
groups of women human rights defenders.
The report contains recommendations and examples of good practices to support the
building of diverse, inclusive and strong movements of women human rights defenders,
and recommendations addressed to all stakeholders to ensure that women defenders are
supported and strengthened to promote and protect human rights.
GE.19-00438(E)