Let the UN Special Rapporteur on VAWG deliver her mandate

Nearly 800 representatives of women’s-rights and human-rights organisations have sent a letter to the United Nations Human Rights Council in support of Reem Alsalem, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women and Girls.

It urges the United Nations to give Alsalem the protection and the facilities she needs to do her job. 

In her role as Special Rapporteur, Alsalem has drawn attention to the intimidation and threats made against women for expressing the opinions that women are female and need female-only services and protection from sex-based discrimination. Now she is being subjected to the same abusive treatment – including a recent open letter coordinated by the Association for Women’s Rights in Development.

She raised concerns about the Scottish Government’s proposal to enable sex change by self-declaration.

For this, she has been intimidated, attacked, and threatened with dismissal.

The letter says:

“An attack on her is an attack on us, and it is an attempt to silence us through silencing her.”

Initiated by the European Network of Migrant Women, the letter is endorsed by the representatives of nearly 800 civil society organisations, groups and national platforms, as well as more than 2,600 individuals, from 60 states. Alsalem is speaking at the 53rd session of the council in Geneva on 22nd and 23rd June, and the International Council of Women plans to present the letter during today’s session.