A/HRC/RES/45/29
Recognizing that pre-existing human rights issues are further exacerbated and that new
violations and abuses may arise in humanitarian situations, which include humanitarian
emergencies, forced displacements, armed conflicts and natural disasters, including suddenonset natural disasters and slow-onset events,
Recognizing also that humanitarian situations have the potential to exacerbate preexisting or to create new patterns and structures of discrimination and inequalities, and further
undermine access to health-care services and information, housing, water, sanitation,
education and employment, and may disrupt protection systems, resulting in a
disproportionately negative impact on the enjoyment of human rights by women and girls,
Recognizing further and appreciating the efforts of developing countries, despite
severe resource constraints, to host people in humanitarian situations, in particular refugees,
forcibly displaced persons and persons displaced by sudden-onset natural disasters, and slowonset events, including climate-related events,
Convinced that greater political will and commitment, international cooperation and
technical assistance at all levels are urgently required to address the human rights of women
and girls in humanitarian situations, and welcoming and encouraging the continued
humanitarian support provided by the international community, including Member States,
and by relevant United Nations agencies and humanitarian actors,
Expressing concern that, according to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs in its Global Humanitarian Overview 2020, in 2020, nearly 168 million people will
need humanitarian assistance and protection, and that women and girls face heightened risks
in humanitarian situations,
Recognizing that, in humanitarian situations, the breakdown of infrastructure and
service provision and the weakening of institutions may occur, along with sexual and genderbased violence, stereotypes, stigma, inequalities and multiple and intersecting forms of
discrimination, which can prevent women and girls from having access to justice and
remedies for human rights violations and abuses they have experienced, thus undermining
accountability,
Stressing that addressing the root causes of humanitarian situations is important in
supporting the prevention of violations and abuses of the human rights of women and girls,
Emphasizing the importance of women’s and girls’ meaningful participation,
empowerment and leadership, including that of survivors and victims, in efforts to prevent,
reduce the risk of, prepare for, resolve and rebuild from humanitarian emergencies, and
noting the importance of a comprehensive approach to promoting, protecting and respecting
women’s and girls’ full enjoyment of human rights in humanitarian situations,
Reiterating that all States Members of the United Nations, and in particular the
Members of the Human Rights Council, should cooperate fully with the Council and its
mechanisms, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 60/251,
Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to submit to the
Human Rights Council at its forty-ninth session an analytical report on a comprehensive
approach to promoting, protecting and respecting women’s and girls’ full enjoyment of
human rights in humanitarian situations, including good practices, challenges and lessons
learned at the national, regional and international levels, with input from all relevant
stakeholders, including States Members of the United Nations, United Nations bodies,
agencies, funds and programmes, the treaty bodies, the special procedures of the Council,
national human rights institutions, civil society organizations and women and girls in
humanitarian situations.
38th meeting
7 October 2020
[Adopted without a vote.]
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