By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
GENEVA
The United Nations Human Rights Council has formally recognised reproductive violence as a distinct form of gender-based violence after adopting a landmark resolution on protecting the rights of women and girls in humanitarian situations.
The resolution, titled Promoting, Protecting and Respecting Women’s and Girls’ Full Enjoyment of Human Rights in Humanitarian Situations, was adopted by consensus during the Council’s 62 session in Geneva.
Under the resolution, reproductive violence is defined to include forced or denial of contraception, forced pregnancy, forced abortion and forced sterilisation, particularly where such acts are committed with the intent to destroy a group.
The Council also urged governments and humanitarian agencies to strengthen measures to prevent such violations and ensure survivors have access to safe, confidential and survivor-centred support services.
According to the Council, the recognition follows growing evidence documented by the United Nations and international human rights bodies showing the use of reproductive violence in conflict and humanitarian crises.
The reported violations have been documented in conflict-affected areas including Gaza, Sudan, Yemen, Syria and Ukraine.
Commenting on the development, Dr. Diana Pulido, the Global Technical Lead for Humanitarian at the International Planned Parenthood Federation, described the resolution as a landmark decision that gives long-overdue recognition to a devastating form of violence affecting women and girls.
Pulido said the recognition should pave the way for stronger protection measures, greater accountability for perpetrators and improved support services for survivors of reproductive violence.
The resolution is expected to strengthen global efforts to address gender-based violence in humanitarian settings by encouraging states and humanitarian actors to integrate prevention, protection and survivor support into emergency response programmes.
