A/HRC/11/6 page 7 17. In 2008 and until 31 March 2009, I issued, often jointly with other Special Rapporteurs, press releases on various occasions, including on: International Women’s Day on 8 March in 2008 and 2009; United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture (26 June 2008); with regard to the serious human rights violations in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (28 November 2008); in relation to the ongoing crackdown on women’s rights defenders in the Islamic Republic of Iran (27 November 2008); with regard to the situation in Zimbabwe in the aftermath of the 29 March parliamentary and presidential elections (29 April 2008). II. POLITICAL ECONOMY OF WOMEN’S HUMAN RIGHTS A. Introduction 18. The current report follows from my report on “The due diligence standard as a tool for the elimination of violence against women” (E/CN.4/2006/61), where cultural discourses and global economic restructuring were identified as major challenges to the achievement of gender equality and to the elimination of VAW. Cultural discourse was the theme of my report in 2007 entitled “Intersections between culture and violence against women” (A/HRC/4/34), which argued that a viable strategy in addressing the issue of culture and VAW must include a political economy perspective in order to understand the link between culture and relations of power and domination. The present report aims in part to respond to that need.2 The report is also relevant in the context of the current global economic crisis, which is predicted to have a disproportionate negative impact on women and girls. 19. Using a political economy approach, the report aims to analyse the challenges of the neoliberal policy environment and go beyond mere distributional aspects of the differential access to economic and social rights, and to identify discriminatory policies, practices and entitlement structures that determine the gendered manifestations of these rights. The report also addresses the long-standing feminist critique of the dichotomization between the “first generation” and “second generation” rights as contained in the twin Covenants.3 20. The political economy approach avoids the compartmentalization and selective treatment of VAW that disconnects the problem from its underlying causes and consequences. It provides a framework for States and other actors to realize their obligations to prevent violations and protect and fulfil women’s human rights whether in good times or bad. 2 The report draws on: a comprehensive review of literature; relevant reports of the previous Special Rapporteur on violence against women (E/CN.4/2000/68; E/CN.4/2001/73); reports from United Nations and other international institutions, civil society organizations and research institutes; on an expert consultation and online discussion forum; and responses to questionnaires sent to Governments and non-State actors. See Annex for lists of Governments and persons/organizations who participated in the questionnaire or consultations. 3 Romany, Celina, “State responsibility goes private: A feminist critique of the public/private distinction” in Cook, Rebecca J. (ed.), Human Rights of Women, University of Pennsylvania Press, 1994, pp. 85-115.