A group of UN experts has issued a joint statement reaffirming the importance of gender as a central tool in advancing substantive equality and human rights for all. They stressed that gender-based discrimination must be addressed alongside sex-based discrimination, noting that gender is shaped by evolving social and cultural norms, roles, and power dynamics. The experts warned that legal and policy frameworks which fail to integrate a gender perspective risk reinforcing structural inequalities rather than dismantling them.
The statement expressed concern over attempts to reassert rigid, binary conceptions of sex, which they argued ignore the complex social, historical, and cultural factors that shape gender. Such regressive approaches, they cautioned, threaten to reverse decades of progress in advancing human rights and gender equality. By disregarding the lived realities of women, girls, and gender-diverse persons, these approaches obscure the root causes of discrimination and violence.
The experts also highlighted the importance of addressing intersectional forms of discrimination, including those based on sexual orientation and gender identity. They reaffirmed the guidance of international human rights bodies, such as the CEDAW Committee, which interpret gender-based discrimination broadly and inclusively.
In their call to action, the experts urged states, UN entities, businesses, and other stakeholders to strengthen their commitment to gender equality. They emphasized the need to embed gender perspectives across international law, policy, and practice to ensure meaningful progress. Safeguarding the rights and dignity of all women and girls, in their diversity, they concluded, is essential to maintaining the coherence and integrity of the international human rights system and realizing human rights for all.
