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CHR A2016 005 PDF
CHR A2016 005 PDF
G E N D E R OMBUD ADVISORY
CHRA2016-005
Background
P a r Q: G B V i n c o n t e x t o f a r m e d c o n f l i c t a n d e m e r g e n c y
F o r par. 9, i t is r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t a n o t h e r sentence be a d d e d t o h i g h l i g h t
heightened risks of gender-based violence, and of the exacerbation of existing
forms of G B V i n certain situations:
Basis:
I t is i m p o r t a n t t o r e i t e r a t e t h e o b l i g a t i o n s o f S t a t e s u n d e r G R 2 8 as i t
relates t o addressing violence i n cases o f states o f e m e r g e n c y a n d a r m e d
conflict. T h e C o m m i t t e e has previously stated t h a t such situations have a
"deep impact o n and broad consequences for the equal enjoyment and
exercise b y w o m e n o f t h e i r f u n d a m e n t a l rights.s" D r a w i n g attention to such
heightened risks t o G B V obligates States t o "adopt strategies a n d take
measures addressed to the particular needs of w o m e n ^ " i n such contexts. I n
t h e submissions o f t h e C H R P d u r i n g t h e 6 4 * session, t h e C H R P has raised
the "multiple and intersecting f o r m s of discrimination experienced by
indigenous and M o r o w o m e n i n the context of displacement, development
ggression, and/or conflict7." T h e C o m m i t t e e i n the concluding observations
has reiterated G R 3 0 (2013) o n w o m e n i n prevention, conflict a n d post-
conflict situations, a n d o f t h e State's o b l i g a t i o n t o apply zero tolerance t o
fight i m p u n i t y , a n d p r o v i d e n e c e s s a r y s u p p o r t t o w o m e n a n d g i r l s w h o a r e a t
r i s k o f o r v i c t i m s o f s u c h v i o l e n c e as w e l l as i n t i m e s o f a r m e d conflict^.
P a r . 11: G B V a n d i n t e r s e c t i n g f o r m s o f d i s c r i m i n a t i o n
F o r P a r . 11, i t i s r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t t h e G R i n c o r p o r a t e i n i t s d i s c u s s i o n o f
i n t e r s e c t i o n a l i t y o f d i s c r i m i n a t i o n , t h e " c o m p o u n d e d effects o f m o r e t h a n
one f o r m o fdiscrimination a n d t h e "need for solutions that respond t o the
aggravated f o r m s o f discrimination9." I t is proposed t o read:
's.
Basis:
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G e n e r a l Obligations o f State parties
• 14. (c)
(c) A t t h e J u d i c i a l level
Recommendation:
W o m e n a n d G i r l s w i t h disability: W o m e n a n d g i r l s w i t h d i s a b i l i t y
experience institutional a n d systemic violence f r o m t h e family, t h e
c o m m u n i t y , a n d b y State a n d non-State institutions. Gender-based violence
against w o m e n w i t h disabilities, w h i l e serious, are often invisible a n d m a r k e d
w i t h impunity^o. W o m e n a n d children w i t h disabilities are at heightened risk
to experience sexual o r domestic violence for various reasons, including their
l o w status i n c o m m u n i t i e s , t h e i r social isolation, t h e i r dependence o n others
a n d lack o f knowledge about their rights^i.There is little i n f o r m a t i o n available
a b o u t t h e v i o l e n c e t h e y e x p e r i e n c e a n d i t s e x t e n t ^2. M e a s u r e s t o e n s u r e
accessibility has been largely absent, a n d a t m o s t uneven, w i t h m a n y w o m e n
a n d girls w i t h disability unable t o report G B V . F u r t h e r relevant t o this
p r o p o s e d section w o u l d b e t h e v i e w s o f t h e C o m m i t t e e i n t h e case o f R vs. t h e
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Philippines as i t articulates State Obligation i naddressing G B V against
w o m e n a n d g i r l c h i l d r e n w i t h disability. I n said case, t h e C o m m i t t e e
r e m i n d e d States t o ensure t h e free a n d adequate assistance o finterpreters a t
all stages o f legal proceedings, w h e n e v e r needed a n d t o ensure a l l
proceedings involving rape a n dother sexual offences a r e conducted
impartially a n d fairly a n d free f r o m prejudices a n d stereotypes related t o
gender, ageand disability's.
W o m e n w i t h diverse S O G I E : W o m e n o f d i v e r s e s e x u a l o r i e n t a t i o n a n d
gender identity a n d expression ("SOGIE") a r e subjected t o gender-based
violence f r o m t h e family, t h e c o m m u n i t y , a n d f r o m State institutions. T h e
s t i g m a t h a t w o m e n w i t h diverse S O G I face i n p r i m a r i l y h e t e r o n o r m a t i v e a n d
p a t r i a r c h a l societies expose t h e m t o different a n d o f t e n e x t r e m e f o r m s o f
d i s c r i m i n a t i o n a n d gender-based violence. W h i l e states have acknowledge
the different forms o f violence based o n SOGI, there remains t o b e a lacuna
o n data a n d m o n i t o r i n g f r o m States a n d t h e responses have n o t been as
directed i n i m p l e m e n t i n g effective legislative a n d o t h e r preventive a n d
protective measures that address these f o r m s of violence.
Migrant Women: B y t h e n a t u r e o f t h e i r w o r k , m i g r a n t w o m e n a r e l a r g e l y
recognized as being exposed t o greater risk o f violence w i t h very l i m i t e d
access t o justice i n t h e c o u n t r y o f d e s t i n a t i o n , as w e l l a s countries o f o r i g i n .
The kinds a n d nature o f employment, t h ecountry o f destination a n d t h e
status o fthe migrant contribute t o the vulnerability and risks t o violence for
m i g r a n t w o r k e r s . I n t h e case o f d o m e s t i c w o r k e r s w h o s e n a t u r e o f w o r k i s
largely i n t h e private sphere, violence i s p r i m a r i l y invisible t h e
interverventions o f b o t h o r i g i n a n d destination States largely absent. F o r
undocumented m i g r a n t workers, increased vulnerability to violence is linked
to the existing laws i n destination countries that bar undocumented migrants
w o m e n f r o m accessing State authorities. I n the report o f the S R V A W , there
are also laws excluding u n d o c u m e n t e d i m m i g r a n t w o m e n f r o m accessing
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State shelters f o r domestic violence exposing t h e m t o arrest, a n d further
vulnerable to a range o f violations24. (p. 27)
W o m e n living w i t h H I V s : W o m e n l i v i n g w i t h H I V s f a c e n o t o n l y t h e
stigma b o r n e b y the v i r u s b u t also various f o r m s o f G B V w h i c h a r e often
invisible a n d unaddressed i n the policies a n d measures o f the State. T h e
S R V A W i n its report has w o r k e d o n this a n d has previously l i n k e d gender
inequality a n d t h e additional a n d specific f o r m s o f stigma b o r n e b y w o m e n
u p o n contracting the virus's. T h e S R V A W h a s cited, for instance, h o w i t
increases t h e experience o f stigma a n d results i n desertion a n d
i m p o v e r i s h m e n t w i t h i n t h e f a m i l y a n d t h e c o m m u n i t y , i n t e r m s o f social
ostracism, w i t h d r a w a l o f f a m i l y / c o m m u n i t y care, disentitlement f r o m
s u c c e s s i o n a n d p r o p e r t y r i g h t s , a n d , i n m a n y cases, violence, m o r e o v e r ,
H I V / A I D S f u r t h e r i m p e d e s w o m e n ' s access t o h e a l t h care a n d justice'^. W i t h
this, t h e C H R P r e c o m m e n d s t h a t G R 19 provide specific gudiance t o State
actors i n addressing a n d countering stigma a n d for enhanced measures for
p r e v e n t i o n policies to combat the enhanced d i s c r i m i n a t i o n a n d violence t h a t
H I V - p o s i t i v e w o m e n experience.27
Additional Comments:
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a) Violence committed by and through the digital space/ through ICT -
P a r t o f t h e c o n t i n u u m o f G B V is t h e p e r p e t r a t i o n o f G B V t h r o u g h digital
spaces. I n t h e P h i l i p p i n e s , gender-based violence p e r p e t u a t e d t h r o u g h
I C T intersect w i t h cases o f p r o s t i t u t i o n , t r a f f i c k i n g o f w o m e n a n d girls,
and sexual harassment, and violence i n intimate relationships, a m o n g
others. I n addition to the recognition of these f o r m s o f G B V i n the draft
G R 19, a n d i n recognition o f the a n o n y m i t y and often i m p u n i t y
involved i n these kinds o f violations. State obligation i n providing
redress m e c h a n i s m s a n d e n s u r i n g access t o j u s t i c e i n s u c h cases i s
r e c o m m e n d e d . A s t e c h n o l o g y a n d I C T a r e likewise sites o f
e m p o w e r m e n t for w o m e n a n d girls, i n the areas o f prevention, the use
of digital spaces a n d I C T t o c o m b a t a n d prevent G B V , a n d i n changing
stereotypes a n d attitudes m a y be developed.
d ) F/Aonomic Violence - I n t h e w o r k o f S R V A W , t w o m a n d a t e h o l d e r s h a v e
x a m i n e d t h e impact o fsocial a n d economic policies as w e l l as the
relationship o f political economy to w o m e n ' s h u m a n rights'^. I n this
sense connections have been m a d e o n macroeconomics w i t h violence
against w o m e n . However, consultations of the C H R P raised once again
issues o f economic violence i n the family, including i n abandoned
families. Poverty and its link w i t h gender based violence have been
discussed i n relation to rural a n d indigenous w o m e n , particularly those
i n the context o f development aggression. W i t h this, measures o f
A/HRC/32/42/Add.2, p. 3