47th Session of the Human Rights Council | Annual Discussion on Women's Rights - Panel 2: Gender-equal Socioeconomic Recovery from the COVID-19 Pandemic
STATEMENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LAW ORGANIZATION
6 July, 2021
Geneva
Delivered by Mark Cassayre, Permanent Observer to the United Nations in Geneva, IDLO
Thank you, Madam President.
We thank the panelists for their thoughtful contributions.
The International Development Law Organization’s report “Justice for Women Amidst Covid-19,” developed with partners including UN Women, UNODC, UNDP, the World Bank and The Elders, shows how despite women’s enormous contributions to mitigating the impacts of the pandemic, the crisis is threatening to roll back decades of hard-won gains on gender equality.
As the only global intergovernmental organization dedicated to promoting the rule of law and access to justice to promote peace and sustainable development, IDLO firmly believes that good governance and the rule of law are central to managing the COVID-19 crisis and promoting a gender-equal socioeconomic recovery.
Greater investments in public institutions and inclusive policymaking can help communities maintain social cohesion and address the consequences of the pandemic.
Legal reviews are key to identify discriminatory laws and policies that hamper women's socio-economic recovery. This requires working with a variety of laws, including those relating to marriage and family relations, land rights, labor and employment, rural development and agriculture, protection from violence, among many others.
It is crucial that law reforms be combined with investment in justice areas that matter most for women’s socio-economic recovery. This includes supporting family courts, legal aid, and small claims tribunals. It also means promoting gender equality and climate justice as we have seen how women and girls are often the first to suffer from crises.
To turn these recommendations into action, we must build a strong multistakeholder coalition for change across society, work with women and women's organizations, and make men and boys partners in the effort.
At IDLO, gender equality and women’s empowerment are at the centre of our new Strategic Plan. We are committed to reducing the justice gap for women and girls, through our research, policy advocacy, and programmes around the world. We look forward to working across sectors to promote the human rights of women and girls in all their diversity.
Thank you.
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The International Development Law Organization (IDLO) enables governments and empowers people to reform laws and strengthen institutions to promote peace, justice, sustainable development and economic opportunity.
