Take action Donate

Protection in practice for women human rights defenders: CSW side event

Location: ,
Date:

On the occasion of the 59th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women in New York, ISHR, in partnership with the Missions of Norway and Tunisia, together with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Amnesty International, AWID, ICAN, JASS Associates, the Nobel Women's Initiative and the Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition, is delighted to present:

'Protection in practice for women human rights defenders'

Monday, 9 March 2014 1:15 to 2:45 pm (with a light lunch served from 1.00pm)

Conference Room 7, United Nations HQ, New York

This exciting event will commence with an introduction by Hans Brattskar (State Secretary, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs), followed by a panel discussion moderated by Ivan Šimonović (Assistant Secretary General, OHCHR) and featuring:

  • Cristina Hardaga Fernández, Strategic and Political Coordinator, JASS Mesoamerica
  • Mary Akrami, Chair of Board of Directors, Afghan Women’s Network
  • Reine Alapini-Gansou, African Commissioner and Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders in Africa
  • Mozn Hassan, Director, Nazra for Feminist Studies

Closing remarks will be delivered by Mohamed Khaled Khiari, Tunisian Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York.

RSVP: Required to [email protected] by 6 March. The event is open to anyone with a UN badge and NGOs registered for CSW.

Background: The first ever UN resolution on the protection of women human rights defenders (WHRDs) was passed by the UN General Assembly in December 2013. Since the adoption of the resolution, there have been many initiatives, including at national and regional level, to ensure its practical implementation in support of WHRDs. This event will provide an opportunity to reflect on these initiatives, discuss challenges to and good practice regarding protection mechanisms and other measures to create an enabling environment for defenders all around the world. We invite member states, the UN and civil society to attend the event and particularly those who are or work with and for women human rights defenders.

You can follow the event on Twitter using the hashtags #ProtectWHRDs and #WHRD and by following the accounts of @NorwayUN, @UNrightswire, @ISHRGlobal, @AWID, @WhatTheWomenSay, @AmnestyUN, @jass4justice and @NobelWomen.

Please download and share the flyer for the event available here.