"UPR has historically been one of the most accessible and useful tools that human rights defenders have leveraged to hold their governments accountable. I think I would also like to use other mechanisms, for example, treaty bodies are other mechanisms which human rights defenders can use to hold their governments accountable. Special procedures have proven to be a useful mechanism for human rights defenders to hold States accountable via their country visit reports," said Paola Salwan Daher, Senior Director for Collective Action, Women Deliver.
"Prior to my current role I was doing advocacy at Human Rights Council and other such spaces for a long time. I often felt tensions during (intergovernmental) negotiations when it pertained to the right to bodily autonomy of girls or to the agency of girls. So, there is a specific resistance to recognise girls, as rights holders, as human beings that have their own agency, or those who can make their own decisions. Women Deliver is part of a broader community called the "Girls Deliver Community" and through and within this community, girls have written a "Girls' Manifesto" where they articulate their demands and principles around which they want to organise their activism. This manifesto needs to be centred in negotiations and global spaces as well because it comes from them," added Paola. Women Deliver Conference 2026 would be held in Naarm (Melbourne), Australia in April 2026.
Be aware: Use free Health & Rights Observatory
Health & Rights Observatory, designed and created by the Global Center for Health Diplomacy and Inclusion (CeHDI), advances and amplifies the mainstreaming of the right to health in the Human Rights Council processes, treaty bodies and special procedures as a gateway for universal health coverage and global health equity. This platform presents data on the Right to Health within the context of UPR. Check it out on www.cehdi.org
Gender equality and right to health are fundamental human rights. Despite decades of efforts, we are way off the mark on both: gender equality and right to health. This is so unacceptable. It is high time we collectively use and fortify accountability mechanisms and push the governments to deliver on the promises made at the global level.
Shobha Shukla - CNS (Citizen News Service)
(Shobha Shukla is a feminist, health and development justice advocate, and an award-winning founding Managing Editor and Executive Director of CNS. She was also the Lead Discussant for SDG-3 at United Nations inter-governmental High Level Political Forum 2025. She is a former senior Physics faculty of prestigious Loreto Convent College; current President of Asia Pacific Regional Media Alliance for Health, Gender and Development Justice (APCAT Media); Chairperson of Global AMR Media Alliance (GAMA received the inter-ministerial AMR One Health Emerging Leaders and Outstanding Talents Award 2024); and Host of SHE & Rights (Sexual Health with Equity & Rights). Follow her on Twitter/X @shobha1shukla or read her writings here www.bit.ly/ShobhaShukla)
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