I am Zeid Ra'ad al Hussein, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
[Reflections of Courage: Defending Human Rights for Women]
[Zeid Ra'ad al Hussein, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, on Human Rights of Women]
We see in so many cases, women being the targets of physical abuse
intimidation, threats to their person, to their families.
The date which marked the start of the work of this office
coincides with the Beijing Conference
so we were twinned at birth basically
the work that we do in promoting and defending women's rights
of course is central to the overall mission pursued by this office
it's very much core to everything we do and believe in.
In every part of the world, more can be done to ensure that women's rights,
access to employment, health, control over their lives, decisions in all aspects of their lives
are safeguarded and supported.
We have to do all we can to make sure that those authorities understand
that they need to focus on the issues at hand
whether it be women's health, whether it be employment opportunities
whether it be legal provisions within their domestic codes that discriminate against women
in all of these aspects, we expect the authorities to talk about the issues
and not to attack the very brave, courageous women, who stand up for their rights
In certain situations, the threats they face would be similar to their male counterparts
but in others, it would be more pronounced.
The society makes the fight more difficult from the beginning
it doesn't mean that the human rights defenders are deterred by this
but it creates an extra barrier for them to overcome.
Many years ago, when I was still representing my government
I was asked to be a member of UNIFEM's consultative committee
UNIFEM being the UN Development Fund for Women
And then within about 10 days, I realized the extent to which most countries are only paying lip service to the rights of women
it was very clear to me that this was a real cause that had to be championed by women and men.
Real change doesn't happen unless women and men fight for these rights
and at the forefront are women human rights defenders.
The world would, I think, look different if the structural prejudices were removed
so women would enjoy the same opportunities in life as men.
It's us together, all of us, together.
Men, women, boys, girls -- we all have to do this.
Let's be clear about this, it's very basic.
You have to be a defender of women's rights if you wish to be counted amongst those who defend human rights.
[In 1995, governments commited to a comprehensive framework for the achievement of equal rights for women]
[Twenty years later, women`s human rights defenders across the globe continue to fight for the full realisation of the human rights of women]
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