EU Statement – UN General Assembly 3rd Committee: Interactive dialogue on Arbitrary Executions

Chair,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

Every year, tens of thousands of women and girls are killed worldwide because of their gender. The EU is committed to the protection, promotion and fulfillment of human rights, including the right to life and the rule of law. Your mandate and work is, more important than ever. All women and girls should be able to live freely without the fear of being killed.

In order to stop femicides, we need gender-responsive approaches in a number of areas, including in  addressing the root causes of gender inequality. To prevent women and girls from being killed, we must make sure that all acts of sexual and gender-based violence, including technology-facilitated gender-based violence, are sanctioned by law and properly investigated.  

Your report includes a list of important recommendations that all states should consider. As the report suggests, special training for police, judiciary and prosecutors, on femicides as well as gender parity in police forces are some concrete steps to take. We must act in a holistic manner and include prevention strategies such as trainings to the above mentioned stakeholders on the deconstruction of stereotypes, prejudices and unconscious biases.  All work should take into account the multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination that women and girls can face.

The EU would like to extend our full support and cooperation to the independent work of the Special Rapporteur, and call on all states to fully cooperate.

Mr. Special Rapporteur,

As you mention in your report, many states do not or cannot collect data on sexual and gender-based violence, including femicide as its extreme form. How can this be enhanced and how Femicide Watch and other observatory initiatives could be fostered?

Thank you.