Human Rights Council 47th session
Item 3: Working Group on discrimination against women and girls – Report on “Women’s and girls’ sexual and reproductive health rights in crisis”
Nordic-Baltic Intervention delivered by Denmark
25 June 2021
I have the honor of delivering this statement on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic countries.
Crises, conflicts and humanitarian emergencies have dire consequences for all affected, but particularly for women and girls. But human rights do not end, when crisis strikes.
Just as,
- Pregnancies do not end, when crisis strikes.
- Sexual and gender-based violence does not end, rather it increases, when crisis strikes.
- At times of crises, women and girls face particular risks of human rights violations and abuses.
The full enjoyment of sexual and reproductive health and rights is indispensable to all women and girls’ ability to exercise their rights and for the achievement of gender equality. Access to sexual and reproductive health services, goods, and information is essential at all times, but particularly in times of crisis.
In your report, you draw attention to the widespread failure of States to adequately recognize, respect, protect and fulfil SRHR, both before and during times of crisis. We cannot turn a blind eye to this. States have a duty to continue to meet their core obligations when crisis strikes. The failure to ensure SRHR is discriminatory and constitutes a major crisis in itself.
What concrete measures would you recommend to ensure SRHR is integrated into crisis prevention, response, and recovery plans?
I thank you.