Gender Equality And Reproductive Rights—EU Priorities in Human Rights Forums

“A broad-based assault on international law”

On January 26, the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union published a document addressed to the Committee of Permanent Representatives operating within the EU, containing proposals for setting the Union’s human rights priorities across various UN forums. It addressed a range of issues related to the broadly understood field of human rights, including matters such as respect for international law, “sexual and reproductive rights,” migration, and the situation in selected countries. These proposals were approved by the Council of the EU on January 30.

At the outset, the authors of the document emphasized the importance and significance of human rights, noting that they are, among other things, universal, indivisible, and interrelated. They also stressed that respect for them is essential to human dignity, equality, democracy, the rule of law, and sustainable development. In this context, they also drew attention to the European Union’s “unwavering commitment” to upholding and respecting human rights.

On the other hand, the document notes that there is currently a “broad assault against the rules-based international order, human rights, internationally agreed norms, and the institutions we have established to enforce them runs counter the EU’s strategic interests” (p. 2). There is also a clear declaration that the European Union will continue to take a firm stance and play a leading role in upholding and promoting international law and human rights, drawing on its unity to support interregional partnerships that strengthen global norms and peace. The authors of the document further commit to continue their cooperation to promote respect for international law and human rights. “We will use every opportunity in multilateral fora to counter the pushback against human rights,” the document states (p. 2).

Advocacy for “gender equality”, “sexual and reproductive rights”, and countering disinformation

The European Union also announces plans to take further measures aimed at “equality.” In this context, the promotion and intensification of activities for “gender equality,” “progress,” and the full enjoyment of all human rights by all women and girls, as well as their empowerment, were mentioned. The EU will continue to promote the full integration of the “gender perspective” in peace and security initiatives.

The publication includes a promise to protect “sexual and reproductive health and rights.” “”The EU will also remain vigilant regarding attempts to remove, alter or misconstrue language related to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), as identified in paragraph 34. of the European Consensus on Development,” the document states (p. 17).

Similar wording appears later in the publication. Its authors emphasize that the EU remains committed to issues of “sexual and reproductive health and rights,” and is also making efforts to “reaffirm its commitment to the promotion, protection and fulfilment of the right of every individual to have full control over, and decide freely and responsibly on matters related to their sexuality and sexual and reproductive health, free from discrimination, coercion and violence” (p. 18). They also highlight the need for universal access to high-quality, affordable, comprehensive information on “sexual and reproductive health,” education (including comprehensive sexuality education), and health care services.

There are also promises to take actions aimed at strengthening “information integrity and societal resilience,” including the right of access to relevant, reliable, and accurate information, as well as an unspecified pledge to use the “full range of tools available to protect, prevent, deter, and respond to disinformation activities, in particular by supporting free, independent media and focusing on critical media literacy” (p. 19).

Respect for international law and human rights, and support for “civic space”

The Council of the European Union document contains clear indications of continued cooperation in support of human rights with various regions and within the UN system. It also underscored the need to ensure independence and adequate resources for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, with the aim of strengthening the United Nations system, and the need to incorporate a human rights perspective into the activities of all organs of that international organization.

Later in the document, its authors indicated that efforts should continue to put an end to impunity and ensure accountability for all violations and abuses of international law, including international human rights law and international humanitarian law, regardless of where they occur. Such actions aim to protect human rights and ensure lasting peace and security. In this context, the authors of the document affirm their “unwavering support” for the international criminal justice system, in particular for the International Criminal Court (ICC), as well as their commitment to upholding the Rome Statute and safeguarding the ICC’s independence and integrity. “The EU recalls that crimes under the Rome Statute, which threaten the peace, security and well-being of the world, should not go unpunished” (p. 4).

According to the authors of the publication, significant problems also include “increased funding constraints” and “an alarming increase in incidents of harassment, threats, and attacks” directed against civil society organizations and human rights defenders. In this context, there are also reports of “transnational repression” and “increasingly restrictive legislations” that are intended to target such entities. Therefore, it contains a pledge by the EU to support a “strong and resilient civil society” and a declaration to promote and enable its participation in UN structures.

The war in Ukraine and human rights in Russia

The document devotes considerable attention to issues concerning Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, as well as to human rights in Russia itself and in Belarus: “The EU will continue to condemn in the strongest terms Russia’s illegal, unjustified, unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine” (p. 7). Similar statements are made regarding Russia’s violations of international law relating to human rights and international humanitarian law in Ukraine, which include executions of prisoners of war and civilians, arbitrary detentions, the systematic and widespread use of torture and other forms of ill-treatment, including rape and other forms of sexual violence. Attention is also drawn to issues related to the abduction of children, the forced displacement of the population, and attacks on the civilian population carried out by the Russians.

The text contains announcements of continued monitoring and condemnation of human rights violations that are taking place in Russia itself. The authors write that “the EUremains deeply concerned about the closed civic space, both online and offline, and will condemn the systematic crackdown on civil society, dissenting voices and independent media in Russia alongside transnational repression” (p. 8). In a similar vein, human rights violations in Belarus were assessed, noting that the EU will continue to call on that country to immediately and unconditionally release and rehabilitate all political prisoners, ensure the termination of judicial proceedings following their release, and cease all forms of harassment or pressure that could result in their forced departure, deportation, or deprivation of consular assistance.

Policy toward refugees

The European Union announces it will intensify efforts to uphold international law and to promote and protect human rights in the context of refugees. The document also contains declarations concerning the protection of the right to seek asylum and the principle of non-refoulement (which stipulates that a person who has been denied refugee status must not be deported to a country where they would face persecution). “The EU will continue to offer opportunities for legal pathways to

migration in line with national competences” (p. 27). At the same time, the EU confirms its commitment there to combating illegal migration and to countering the exploitation of migrants for political purposes.

The EU also condemns, among other things, human rights violations in Afghanistan, citing the gender-based violence occurring in that country , the extreme gender-based discrimination against women and girls ) by the Taliban, and the difficult situation of “LGBTI persons.” The document announced measures such as supporting the UN peace mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and supporting Afghan women and girls to ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The authors of the text also address the situation in Venezuela, emphasizing that the European Union will cooperate with the United States in the process of Venezuela’s democratic transition, thus reflecting the will of the Venezuelan people. The EU also calls on Venezuela to cooperate constructively with all bodies responsible for the protection of human rights, including the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.

There are also announcements regarding, among other things, continuing efforts to uphold the rights of persons with disabilities and intensifying efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change. According to the declaration contained therein, the European Union will “advocate for the bold and urgent measures needed as part of the green transition to be just and inclusive” (p. 25).

Assessing the document published at the end of January by the Council of the European Union, one can conclude that the European Union’s broadly conceived human rights policy—here situated in the context of the work and activities of various bodies operating under the auspices of the UN—will not undergo significant change. It included a number of demands and proposals that, for many years, have aligned with the left-liberal concept of human rights advanced by EU institutions. Human rights understood in this way include, among other things, the so-called right to abortion, in this particular case concealed under the general term “sexual and reproductive rights.”

Patryk Ignaszaczak – analyst at the Ordo Iuris Center for International Law.

Read also:

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