The 62nd Session of the Human Rights Council

15 June - 7 July

Item 3: ID with SR on Violence Against Women and Girls

22 June 2026

The Price of Motherhood: Violence, Discrimination, and the Undervaluation of Motherhood

By Martina Galiazzo/GICJ

Executive Summary

On June 22, 2026 an Interactive Dialogue was held with the Special Rapporteur, Ms. Reem Alsalem on violence against mothers and girls, its causes and consequences. The dialogue started following the publication of the report A/HRC/62/49, submitted pursuant to the Human Rights Council resolution 50/7. The report examines violence and discrimination faced by women and girls worldwide due to their status as mothers, and in connection with other grounds of discrimination. 

As the report stated: “motherhood protections naturally arise from the act of giving birth, encompassing measures addressing the biological and social dimensions of motherhood.” Giving birth involves profound biological and psychological changes and therefore needs special protection and concrete measures. 

In the first part of the discussion, the Special Rapporteur Ms. Reem Alsalem made a short introduction presenting her report and the addendum to it regarding her visit to Kuwait from 2 to 9 September 2025. She addressed the situation of violence against women and girls in the country and the legal and institutional measures for the prevention of violence against women and girls.

Following this introduction, the representative of the State of Kuwait expressed his position regarding the situation in his country and his willingness to work together with the Special Rapporteur, however underlining the need to respect the rule of law and to take into consideration the specific realities of the involved states.

Finally participating states had the opportunity to express their opinions and questions regarding the report and the work of the Special Rapporteur.

Click on the image below to read the full report: