GENDER AND HUMAN RIGHTS
Universal Declaration of Human Rights , Article 1 :
“ All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and in rights .”
Promoting human rights is a key purpose of the
United Nations and an integral driving force behind UNODC ’ s work as guardian of the UN Protocols on the Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants . A human rights-based approach requires that human right objectives and principles be integrated into all aspects of work . This includes ensuring the participation and inclusion of disadvantaged rights holders , promoting non-discrimination and equality , and strengthening the human rights capacity and accountability of States in fulfilling their human rights obligations .
Human rights and gender equality are intrinsically intertwined because equality among individuals is both a human rights end in itself , as well as a means of achieving other fundamental rights . Gender equality means that the rights , responsibilities and opportunities an individual has should not depend on whether a person is born male or female . In pursuit of this objective , UNODC fights to overcome the barriers and limitations set by harmful gender stereotypes and traditional gender roles and to strengthen or create systems with equitable norms and dynamics .
Gender plays a role in the factors that contribute to vulnerability in the context of both trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants , including through gender-based expectations , gender-based violence and inequitable access to resources , opportunities and protection . But gender issues , including for instance sexual orientation , gender identity and expression , do not exist in isolation from other forms of discrimination or marginalization . Therefore , UN- ODC has adopted an approach that focuses on how gender issues intersect with other characteristics .
Sustainable Development Goal No . 5 :
“ Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls .”
Traffickers and smugglers often target men , women , boys and girls , who are most vulnerable owing to a combination of characteristics such as race , language , political opinion , economic and social situation and ethnicity . Understanding the dimensions that influence vulnerability and using this information to create a more equitable world is a fundamental part of UNODC ’ s work against trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants .
Human rights and gender equality activities implemented with a rights-based and gender-responsive approach are opportunities to achieve sustainable change . By respecting , protecting and fulfilling human rights , human rights become both a means of achieving positive outcomes of UNODC programmes , and , additionally , ends in and of themselves . Examples of UNODC ’ s human rights-based and gender sensitive approaches to its work include :
• Promoting laws that recognize the agency of people in need of protection .
• Confronting stigmatization of those who have faced sexual and other forms of exploitation .
• Incorporating gender-analysis research into training programs for policy makers , law-enforcement officers , prosecutors and judges .
• Advocating for and raising awareness of the strong operational advantages that increased inclusion of women brings to criminal justice teams .