HRC59: Addressing Gender-Based Violence in Conflict and Promoting Women’s Participation in Peace Processes
The 59th Session of the Human Rights Council
16 June – 09 July 2025
Annual full-day discussion on the human rights of women
24 June 2025
By Stefania Plougarli / GICJ
Executive Summary
Amidst globally increasing conflict, women remain at the forefront of egregious human rights violations, facing multiple challenges at the intersection of gender, peace and security. For this reason, on the annual full-day discussion on the human rights of women on 24 June 2025, the UN’s 59th session of the Human Rights Council focused on gender-based violence (GBV) against women and girls in conflict, post-conflict, and humanitarian settings; as well as the important role of women in diplomacy and peacebuilding processes. Building on last year’s discussion focused on economic violence as a form of GBV, and the human rights economy, this event continued the conversation about gender equality and discrimination.
The first panel highlighted sexual violence as a systematic weapon of war, used to destabilise communities and exert patriarchal control. Experts, including the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Ms. Pramila Patten, and survivors' advocates exposed the horrific scale of this violence. They underscored the urgency of prosecuting gender persecution as a stand-alone crime and the necessity of survivor-centered reparations, while confronting the structural nature of impunity.
The second panel shifted the focus to women’s political participation, peacebuilding, and representation in global diplomacy. Experts and stakeholders argued that without women’s meaningful participation, peace is not sustainable.
Civil society voices echoed these concerns, warning of a growing anti-women backlash that is deepened by authoritarianism, digital misogyny and the erosion of international accountability. Women in conflict zones (particularly Indigenous women, refugee women, and feminist defenders) remain at the intersection of multiple threats and therefore susceptible to increased violence.
Geneva International Centre for Justice (GICJ) strongly condemns the use of sexual violence against women and girls in conflict settings as a weapon of war, and remains committed to amplifying survivor’s voices, ensuring accountability under international law, and ensuring women’s participation in all parts of decision-making processes.
Background
The annual full-day discussion on the human rights of women at the Human Rights Council serves as a platform to reaffirm the importance of upholding women’s human rights and promote gender equality. Moreover, it is an opportunity for the international community to address various forms of violence and discrimination against women and girls at a large-scale event. In light of current unprecedented attacks on the rights of women and girls, and intensified violent conflict and war, for example in the context of Gaza, Sudan, Haiti, or the DRC, it is of utmost importance to shine a light onto the gender-based violence in conflict, post-conflict and humanitarian settings; as well as the role of women in diplomacy and peacebuilding processes.
Summary of Annual Discussion 2024
The human rights council discussion on the rights of women, held on the 28 June 2024, provides important context for this year’s annual discussion by highlighting the multifaceted nature of women's rights issues The discussion was structured into two main panels: the first one focusing on economic violence as a form of gender-based violence (GBV) against women and girls; the second one addressing the human rights economy and women’s human rights.
Economic Violence
In his opening statement, Mr. Volker Türk, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, praised the women’s rights movement for significant human rights progress, noting that it is hard-won and fragile. He then emphasised the role of GBV as a threat to such progress, specifically when it manifests in a more “unseen and unregulated” form such as economic violence. While defining different forms of economic violence (economic control, economic sabotage, and economic exploitation), he highlighted concerning numbers that made the scale of economic violence visible: globally, around 3.9 billion women face legal barriers affecting their economic participation, and they are paid 77 cents for every dollar paid to men. In order to address economic violence and achieve economic equity, Mr. Türk called for a complete overhaul of discriminatory laws and practices, along with their effective implementation, including ensuring access to decent work, equal pay, quality education, and the full realisation of sexual and reproductive health and rights.
The first panel consisted of high-ranking experts on GBV, namely Ms. Esther Waweru (Senior Legal Adviser at Equality Now), Ms. Genoveva Tisheva (Vice-Chair of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women), Ms. Agata Szypulska (National Expert in Gender-Based Violence at the European Institute for Gender Equality), and Ms. Anne-Sophie Parent (Chair of the Older Women’s Network).
During her presentation, Ms. Esther Waweru identified family inequality and retrogressive patriarchal norms as root causes of economic violence, stating that 1.4 billion women globally live in countries where economic violence is not legally recognised. She further highlighted that it is specifically discriminatory laws and practices that give rise to and exacerbate economic violence; e.g. legal pluralism in marriages and child marriage that deny girls education and career opportunities. In her recommendations she stressed that States must enact comprehensive laws to criminalise intimate partner violence (including economic violence) and fully implement international conventions like the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) or the Maputo Protocol.
This was in line with Ms. Genoveva Tisheva’s presentation, who also stressed the importance of the CEDAW as a cornerstone of women’s rights which prescribes clear obligations for States to eliminate economic violence. She argued further that economic violence often involves coercive control that limits women’s access to justice, and frequently manifests as non-payment of child support and broader domestic violence.
Ms. Agata Szypulska on the other hand observed in her presentation that economic violence against women and girls remains largely overlooked because of a lack of clear concepts and definitions; therefore stressing the urgent need to fill these knowledge and research gaps in order to understand the prevalence and impacts on various marginalised groups.
Lastly, Ms. Anne-Sophie Parent focused on examples of economic violence against older women who are at risk of economic deprivation in old age due to pension reforms and financial domestic violence.
In response to the experts’ presentations, multiple delegates acknowledged that economic violence is an underaddressed form of GBV hindering women’s economic independence. Speakers also identified that child marriage is both a driver and a consequence of gender-based economic violence. Although positive advancements were noted, significant challenges persist and delegates sought guidance on effective policies and strategies.
Human rights economy and women’s rights
At the beginning of the second panel, Ms. Nada Al-Nashif, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, highlighted the growing global inequality and poverty, while noting that women and girls were among those disproportionately affected. By connecting to the panel before, she stated that existing economic, legal, and policy frameworks hinder gender equality, with gender-discriminatory laws severely impacting women's economic rights, as women globally enjoy only about 64% of the economic rights of men. Ms. Al-Nashif concluded by advocating for a shift in the economic paradigm towards a human rights economy – one that centers people and the planet in economic, social and environmental policies.
In her presentation, Ms. Hyshyama Hamin (Campaign Manager of the Global Campaign for Equality in Family Law) stressed that inequality often begins within the family - addressing discriminatory family laws can therefore help eliminate poverty, as women's lack of economic rights is often linked to unequal family laws. She further recommended ensuring that family laws align with key human rights treaties (e.g. CEDAW), prohibiting child marriage, and guaranteeing women’s full autonomy in marriage and divorce.
Ms. Emanuela Pozzan (Senior Specialist, Gender Equality and Non-Discrimination, at the International Labour Organization - ILO) noted the importance of an intersectional understanding of gender equality, care, and decent work. During her presentation, she discussed the ILO resolution on decent work and the care economy, which affirmed that care, both paid and unpaid, is fundamental to human well-being, sustainable development, and is the foundation of society and economy.
Ms. Savi Bisnath (Senior Director of Global Policy at the Institute on Race, Power and Political Economy at The New School) discussed that economic inequality is rooted in political systems where marginalised communities experience multiple discriminations. She advocated for human rights-enabling economic policies that center people and the planet.
In their statements and responses many representatives confirmed that lack of women’s representation in economic decision-making are hindrances to (economic) gender equality. Many States further expressed commitment to moving towards the proposed human rights economy by dismantling structural barriers, placing women’s and girls’ rights at the center of fiscal policies. Good practices shared by States included gender-mainstreaming, setting quotas for women in leadership, and investing in equal education.
Summary of the Annual full-day discussion
First panel
Opening Remarks
The annual full-day discussion on the human rights of women was inaugurated by Mr. Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. In his opening remarks, Mr. Türk highlighted the topic of the first panel, which dealt with gender-based sexual violence in conflict, post-conflict and humanitarian settings, calling it a “shameless repudiation of the basic rules of warfare”. He further acknowledged the courage of the survivors who report these violations, while simultaneously criticising that accountability for them is not widespread and most perpetrators remain unchecked. Some of the key issues the High Commissioner pointed out included funding cuts and the failure to provide adequate medical care and psychosocial help to victims. Lastly, he stressed that meeting the minimum requirements to protect women is crucial, and it is not enough to merely commemorate an annual day. Protecting women needs to be of "utmost importance every day of the year".
Overview of Presentations
As part of the expert panelists, Ms. Pramila Patten, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, spoke out about the current unprecedent assault on the human rights of women and girls worldwide. She argued that today marks the highest numbers of conflicts since World War II, detailing brutal forms of sexual violence, including gang rape, sexual slavery, and torture being used as weapons of war and terrorism.
Ms. Patten further emphasised that it is especially displaced refugee women that face a heightened risk of sexual violence, most commonly in settings like Burkina Faso, DRC, Haiti, Libya, and Sudan, as trafficking networks exploit displacement to their benefit. The Special Representative called for using all tools to confront conflict-related sexual violence and to address its root cause: gender inequality and discrimination. She stressed that rape was not an unpreventable consequence of war, but rather can be prevented with a strategic approach.
Her final recommendations included prioritising justice and accountability, strengthening investigations, assisting states to harmonise laws with international standards, and introducing prevention networks through the UN. She lastly mentioned the UN Security Council's promise of prevention which necessitates ensuring that international law is not merely an empty promise for women.
Ms. Grace Achan, Co-founder of the Women's Advocacy Network Uganda, similarly described sexual violence in conflict as a grave violation of human rights that leaves long-lasting trauma on women, families and societies. She pointed out that a concerning one-third of women in conflict zones experience sexual violence, often used as a systematic weapon of war.
In her recommendations, she advocated to amplify the voices of survivors and to support their organisations, further calling for a survivor-centered approach that includes prioritising human dignity and respect, as well as reparations. Furthermore, she emphasised the integration of gender-sensitive approaches in peacekeeping strategies and encouraged men and boys to act as allies to women’s rights efforts.
Ms. Nahla Haidar, Chair of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, also noted the devastating reality unfolding for women and girls today, tracing how violence against them escalates during crises, manifesting as forced marriages, torture, and sexual trafficking. Ms. Haidar specifically criticised the “pervasive culture of impunity” that allows perpetrators to escape justice, while women endure and suffer in silence. Because of this, there needs to be a shift onto a survivor-informed approach.
She further highlighted new and complex challenges, such as AI-fueled violence and deepfakes. In order to combat the mentioned impunity, she advocated for recognising sexual violence as torture and prosecuting gender persecution as a stand-alone crime, along with collective community-based reparations. Moreover, she mentioned how the Human Rights Council plays a pivotal role in reinforcing adherence to relevant human rights treaties like CEDAW.
Lastly, her call to action included "collective unwavering action," zero tolerance, accountability, survivor-centered justice, strengthened legal frameworks, bridging funding gaps for female-led organisations, enhancing documentation, and addressing emerging digital threats.
The last of the experts to speak was Ms. Clara Sandoval, Director of Programmes at the Global Survivors Fund, who focused on enabling access to reparations for survivors of sexual violence in conflict. She clarified that more than just a word, reparations involve physical and mental rehabilitation and serve as a promise to the next generation that what happened will not happen again. Although the right to reparation is embedded in human rights frameworks, she noted that survivors are often denied this right. She emphasised that reparations "must be delivered in a survivor-centered" process, prioritising the needs, wishes, dignity, and respect of survivors, who must be part of every stage of the reparation process. Ms. Sandoval further argued that "without reparation, peacebuilding work and transitional justice loses its meaning".
Statements by Representatives and Observers
Multiple states issued statements that expressed concern, condemnation, and commitment to addressing conflict-related sexual violence.
The representative of the European Union welcomed the annual discussion, stressing the importance of a transformative approach that includes addressing the root causes and risk factors of sexual gender based violence against women and girls. The EU further pledged to renew their efforts to fully implement the UNSC resolution 1325, which reaffirms the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, peace negotiations, peace-building, peacekeeping, humanitarian response and in post-conflict reconstruction.
Similarly, the delegate of Ghana, speaking on behalf of the African Group, expressed deep concern for the use of GBV in conflict settings, criticising its widespread and unpunished use across the African continent.
Aware of this, the African Union introduced several initiatives based on a gender sensitive perspective, and reaffirmed its support for the full participation of women and girls in decision-making and peace processes.
Other countries highlighted the disproportionate impact of sexual violence in conflicts on women and girls.
The delegate of Uruguay criticised that GBV in conflict settings is one of the most dangerous phenomena disproportionately affecting women and girls - yet, it is not spoken about enough. In this light, Uruguay listed forced marriage, forced pregnancy, and sexual slavery as some of the human rights violations that women and girls are subjugated to, while simultaneously reaffirming its full support for survivors.
The representative of Belgium, aligning itself with the statement delivered by the EU, criticised that despite decades-long efforts, women’s participation and gender equality remains limited. Belgium argued that the reason behind this trend is rooted in broader misogyny.
The representative of UNICEF, speaking on behalf of UNFPA and UN WOMEN, stressed that under globally increasing attacks on gender equality, girls suffer the most. They strikingly highlighted that 1 in 8 girls are raped before the age of 18; this number nearly doubles in conflict settings. Further, they noted that the biggest risk comes from armed forces who are responsible for around 70% of sexual abuse and rape.
The delegate of Cyprus, speaking on behalf of Albania, Chile, Iceland, Malawi and Panama, linked gender based violence to patriarchal society. They highlighted femicides as the most extreme form of violence against women, usually perpetrated by intimate partners, but also beyond the domestic sphere by gangs, organised crime or human traffickers. Due to this alarming situation, states need to urgently do more to prevent, investigate, and punish femicides.
The delegate of Switzerland, on the other hand, stressed that where women’s rights are protected, peace is more sustainable. Given that women’s participation is a prerequisite for peace, the work of different institutions needs to be synchronised in order to achieve the best possible results and reach the goal of full participation.
Further issues discussed included the need for sanctions and remedies, emerging threats through technologies and climate change, and sexual violence perpetrated by Russian soldiers in Ukraine.
Statements by NGOs and Civil Society
Civil society and NGOs on the other hand focused on the high risk of violence faced by Indigenous women that often goes underrecognised, and that strengthened collaboration and intersectionality is crucial. They also noted that women often cannot rely on the state or law, and highlighted issues like religious dogma legitimizing sexual violence, as well as an increased risk of violence for female sex workers.
Responses and Concluding Remarks
In their closing remarks, the panel speakers reiterated several points. Ms. Achan focused on providing holistic reparations, which was supported by Ms. Sandoval who concluded by asserting that reparation is both a form and a precondition of justice. In turn, Ms. Haidar pointed to the critical issues of armament and impunity as biggest challenges, while also stressing the importance of the HRC's leading position to bridge the gap with the UNSC. Lastly, Ms. Patten warned against the "luxury of looking away" or merely condemning without real action, given that women and girls worldwide are paying the price of militarism, impunity and the weight of history in the face of funding cuts. She concluded by stating that "how we meet this moment of crisis is the true test of our resolve”.
Second Panel
Opening Remarks
Ms. Nada Al-Nashif, Deputy High Commissioner of Human Rights, delivered the opening remarks of the second panel, commemorating the International Day of Women in Diplomacy. She highlighted the grave global context in which the annual discussion was taking place, given multiple existential threats to diplomacy and peace worldwide. In her introduction, she emphasised the importance of representation, especially the role that diplomats play in representing their societies and the lived experiences of all of their citizens – concurrently, she noted that women constitute only 20% of Ambassadors worldwide. She further stressed how women’s participation has shown to significantly increase the probability of peace agreements lasting longer, therefore proving that when women have strong roles in peace negotiations, agreements are more likely to be successful and advantageous to society as a whole.
Ms. Al-Nashif expressed concern about the continued male dominance in peace and war negotiations, advocating to all member states to ensure women’s meaningful participation and parity at all levels of decision-making in peace and security.
Overview of Presentations
Ms. Amrita Kapur, Secretary-General of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), took the floor first to deliver her statement to the Council. First, she highlighted the work that women throughout history have done – and continue to do – to carve out and fight for their space in peace processes. It is not enough for women’s participation to be purely a tokenized act, or for them to be reduced to the status of observers without influence; women’s participation needs to be embedded into the system as a standard.
Ms. Kapur emphasised that it is crucial to address the underlying root causes of conflict, including militarism, cycles of power, unequal systems, lack of accountability, and the patriarchal society in order to break down the barriers hindering women’s participation. According to Ms. Kapur, when women participate meaningfully, they raise early warnings of violence, help prevent the outbreak of violence and support de-escalation – thereby making peace more sustainable and lasting for all.
In order to support women’s efforts and safeguard their inclusivity in the face of global anti-women backlash, she further urged member states and the UN to integrate Women, Peace and Security (WPS) frameworks across UN structures, and to reallocate military budgets to provide money for women’s rights organisations working at the grassroots level.
Following Ms. Kapur, Ms. Negina Yari, Executive Director of Window for Hope and human rights defender from Afghanistan, took the floor. She conveyed a powerful statement from an Afghan woman, in which she harshly criticised the international community for their inertia in supporting women in Afghanistan who are “being erased, eradicated”, and who are “surviving without any human rights”; which in her words amount to a “complete global failure”.
Ms. Yari further highlighted the issue of no clear mandate existing in regard to the situation of women in Afghanistan, which has led to the systematic ignoring of their human rights at the UN. In her concluding remarks, she offered the following recommendations:
- Make women's participation a precondition for all political and peace-related processes;
- Strengthen coordination between different "silos" at the UN;
- Ensure safe pathways of migration and asylum for civil society leaders and feminist activists;
- Emphasise that Afghan women must not be forgotten;
- Call for diplomatic pressure on the Taliban to change their laws;
- Establish a flexible fund for women's organisations operating in exile or underground.
Next, Ms. Genith Quitiaquez, Peacebuilder and Spokesperson of the National Coordination of Indigenous Women of Colombia (CONAMIC), presented her insights. As an indigenous woman, she highlighted ancestral belief as a foundation for diplomacy, offering a path for healing and listening, and leading to transformative political acts.
She further noted that Indigenous women have had to work disproportionately hard to be included in debates and negotiations, despite being the ones making peace possible in their regions.
Similar to the speakers before her, she articulated that there needs to be a different way of conducting peace politics, not based on war or solely silencing guns, but rather by changing root causes like social exclusion, land grabbing, the climate crisis, and systematic racism.
Lastly, she also emphasised that climate justice was inseparable to women’s liberation and justice, therefore advocating for an intersectional approach to peace and security.
Finally, Mr. Itonde Kakoma, President and Chief Executive Officer of Interpeace, took the floor. He pointed out an increase in conflicts and war, and that women and girls are disproportionately affected by their ravages, partly due to a growing non-adherence to the rules of international law.
He stressed that there is a need to move beyond current approaches that lack a human-centered focus, towards more transformative and durable peace.
In his concluding remarks, he further emphasised that men and boys must be engaged too; specifically, they need to be educated to understand the human rights instruments in order to use them appropriately and justly when in positions of authority.
Statements by Representatives and Observers
Various countries engaged in the discussion following the presentations by the experts.
The United Kingdom’s Special Envoy for Women and Girls acknowledged the need for more progress, highlighting that women and girls suffer most in wars and conflict, and are actively silenced when speaking up. The Envoy noted their determination to champion women's space in decision-making and resisting anti-women misogynist backlash.
Similarly, the representative of the European Union expressed its commitment to gender equality and including gender and human rights agendas in its policies.
The delegate of Bahrain stressed the importance of women’s full and meaningful participation in diplomatic decision-making processes. Bahrain further expressed worry about possible negative impacts and obstacles to women’s participation, mainly citing digital (sexual) violence as an emerging threat.
Several other states such as China, Kuwait, Denmark, Malaysia, Guatemala, Spain, Japan, Morocco, and Brazil made statements. Common themes included the need to increase women's participation, preventing all forms of violence, adopting legal frameworks for participation, paying tribute to women's contributions, and reaffirming stances on WPS agendas or feminist foreign policy.
The delegate of Denmark specifically noted that despite the landmark UNSC resolution 1325 which acknowledged the disproportionate impact of armed conflict on women and girls, and required parties in a conflict to prevent violations of women's rights, implementation is still lacking.
Statements by NGOs and Civil Society
National Human Rights Institutions and NGOs expressed concern about rising authoritarianism and a global anti-women backlash that undermines democracy, emphasising the need for initiatives to be locally-led rather than initiated by foreign interventions. Multiple NGOs criticised cultural gender norms as major barriers to women’s meaningful participation, noting that gender equality and peace efforts begin in the classroom with education; which is why children and the youth need to be active participants in peacebuilding processes.
Concluding Remarks
In their concluding remarks, the speakers emphasized the urgent need to rethink global approaches to conflict, peacebuilding, and participation. Ms. Amrita Kapur reflected on the persistence of protracted and increasingly complex conflicts, urging that peace be seen not merely as the absence of war, but as a transformative process rooted in inclusive participation and the protection of civil society. She called for support to feminist activists, allowing them to define their own frameworks for justice and peace. Ms. Negina Yari stressed that women’s participation must be a non-negotiable precondition in all political and peace processes. She highlighted the plight of Afghan women, calling for safe migration pathways, sustained diplomatic pressure on the Taliban, and flexible funding mechanisms for women’s organizations in exile or operating underground. Ms. Itonde Kakoma underscored the importance of upholding the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and called for inclusive dialogue spaces, with attention to who is included in peace processes, and emphasized the need for mediation readiness, gender-sensitive conflict analysis, and engaging men as active learners and allies in the fight for gender justice.
GICJ position
Geneva International Centre for Justice (GICJ) expresses its gratitude to the Human Rights Council for this important discussion and aligns itself with the exceptional panel speakers and experts.
GICJ is deeply concerned by the intensified sexual violence against women and girls in conflict, post-conflict, and humanitarian settings, which amounts to serious violations of women’s human rights. We echo the alarm that one-third of women in conflict zones experience sexual violence, yet survivors often remain invisible. We therefore urge immediate attention to these grave violations, emphasising the need to amplify survivors' voices and adopt a survivor-centered approach with holistic reparations.
GICJ stresses that the pervasive culture of impunity must end immediately. This requires strengthening investigations, prosecuting gender persecution as a stand-alone crime, and ensuring accountability. We recognise that the root cause of sexual violence is deep-seated gender inequality and discrimination, exacerbated by funding cuts that weaken women-led organisations. Women's meaningful participation in all peace processes is crucial for lasting peace, and can be a pathway in ensuring future justice and peace.
GICJ reaffirms its commitment to confronting these injustices and ensuring that the rights and dignity of women and girls are not sidelined in moments of crisis. Upholding international law must mean more than symbolic gestures; it must deliver real justice and transformative change.
