RES/32/17 Addressing the impact of multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and violence in the context of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance on the full enjoyment of all human rights by women and girls

GE.16-12305(E)

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Human Rights Council Thirty-second session

Agenda item 3

Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council on 1 July 2016

32/17. Addressing the impact of multiple and intersecting forms of

discrimination and violence in the context of racism, racial

discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance on the

full enjoyment of all human rights by women and girls

The Human Rights Council,

Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations,

Reaffirming the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,

Recalling the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of

All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Convention on the Rights of the Child,

the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and

other relevant human rights instruments,

Reaffirming the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, which recognized

that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated,

Reaffirming also the commitments of States concerning the elimination of racism,

racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and the recognition that the

human rights of women and girls are an inalienable, integral and indivisible part of

universal human rights and that the eradication of all forms of discrimination on the

grounds of sex are priority objectives of the international community,

Recalling the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome

documents of its review conferences, in which Governments expressed their determination

to intensify efforts to ensure equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental

freedoms for all women and girls who face multiple barriers to their empowerment and

advancement because of such factors as their race, age, language, ethnicity, culture, religion

or disability, or because they are indigenous people,

Stressing the importance of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action,

which recognized that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance

reveal themselves in a differentiated manner for women and girls and can be among the

factors leading to a deterioration in their living conditions, poverty, violence, multiple

forms of discrimination and the limitation or denial of their human rights,

Bearing in mind that the General Assembly proclaimed 2015-2024 as the

International Decade for People of African Descent and the commitments undertaken by

States to mainstream a gender perspective when designing and monitoring public policies,

taking into account the specific needs and realities of women and girls of African descent,

Recognizing and deeply regretting that many women and girls, including those

belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, face multiple and

intersecting forms of discrimination and are disproportionally affected by aggravated forms

of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance,

Acknowledging the persistence of the challenges faced by all countries throughout

the world to overcome inequality between men and women and to integrate a

comprehensive approach that properly addresses the needs of women and girls affected by

racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in the design of public

policies,

Mindful of the fact that the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women

and girls requires the consideration of their specific socioeconomic context, including their

increased vulnerability to certain patterns of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and

related intolerance, and that the non-participation of all women and girls in decision-

making contributes to the feminization of poverty and hampers sustainable development

and economic growth,

Emphasizing the importance and the need that States take measures to protect all

women and girls from discrimination and violence in the context of racism, racial

discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and to ensure their meaningful

participation in decision-making at all levels,

Emphasizing also the need for States and all segments of society, including civil

society organizations, women’s groups and networks and other non-governmental

organizations and community-based organizations, the private sector, media and other

relevant stakeholders, to take meaningful steps to promote the empowerment of all women

and girls in order to achieve gender and racial equality and to strongly condemn and

address attitudes and behaviours that perpetuate multiple and intersecting forms of gender

discrimination, racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and

related violence,

Deeply concerned by the multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and

violence to which all women and girls continue to be exposed all over the world,

1. Expresses grave concern about the impact of multiple and intersecting forms

of discrimination and violence in the context of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia

and related intolerance on the full enjoyment of all human rights by women and girls;

2. Recognizes the need to integrate and mainstream a gender perspective into

relevant policies, strategies and programmes of action against racism, racial discrimination,

xenophobia and related intolerance in order to address multiple and intersecting forms of

discrimination suffered by women and girls;

3. Calls upon States to develop and strengthen comprehensive gender-

responsive, multisectoral policies and programmes involving relevant authorities, in sectors

such as justice, health, social services, education and child protection services, as well as

relevant non-State actors with a view to promoting the human rights of women and girls

affected by multiple and intersecting forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and

related intolerance, and related violence;

4. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to

prepare a report on the impact of multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and

violence in the context of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance

on the full enjoyment of all human rights by women and girls, with a view to identifying

challenges and good practices, including, as appropriate, the contributions of the universal

periodic review, and to present it to the Human Rights Council at its thirty-fifth session;

5. Decides to convene, at its thirty-sixth session, a panel discussion in order to

discuss, inter alia, the findings of the report and to examine possible recommendations;

6. Requests the High Commissioner to organize the above-mentioned panel

discussion in consultation with States, relevant United Nations bodies, funds and

programmes, treaty bodies, special procedures and regional human rights mechanisms, and

also with civil society, non-governmental organizations, national human rights institutions

and specialized national equality bodies, as appropriate with a view to ensuring their

participation in the panel discussion;

7. Also requests the High Commissioner to prepare a summary report on the

panel discussion and to submit it to the Council at its thirty-seventh session.

43rd meeting

1 July 2016

[Adopted without a vote.]