Hong Kong Watch Welcomes Concluding Observations of UN Committee on Women’s Rights
After reviewing China’s compliance with its legal obligations on women’s rights, the UN Committee on Women’s Rights has published its concluding observations.
Hong Kong Watch has previously made a submission, as well as a joint submission with Freiheit für HongKong e.V. and Hongkongers in Deutschland e.V., and we delivered a statement to the UN on behalf of multiple Hong Kong NGOs.
During the review, the Hong Kong government made statements and published a press release criticising Hong Kong Watch and other NGOs, to which we responded. These are attempts to prevent NGOs from speaking up and submitting relevant additional information to the review.
The Committee raised the following concerns and recommendations for Hong Kong, among others:
“recommends that Hong Kong SAR, China, strengthen the legislative framework to protect women’s human rights” (§64)
“Encourage reporting of all forms of gender-based violence against women, including [...] sexual violence, as well as cyberviolence and stalking, including by establishing special gender-responsive units in police stations to receive and register women’s complaints and by adopting and adequately funding a witness protection programme” and “Adequately fund victim support services and a sufficient number of shelters run by non‑governmental organizations and ensure their accessibility” (§70)
“concerned that not a single Hong Kong woman has been appointed as a permanent Justice on the Court of Final Appeal. It is further concerned that the annual Labour and Women’s Rights and Gender Equality March could not take place in 2023 purportedly for security reasons.” (§73)
“Take into consideration the paramount importance of the right of peaceful assembly and refrain from over-prioritizing public order and security concerns when considering restrictions on democratic manifestations such as the annual Labour and Women’s Rights and Gender Equality March.” (§74)
Anouk Wear, Research and Policy Advisor at Hong Kong Watch stated that:
“The Committe has clearly considered the evidence regarding gender based and sexual violence perpetrated by the Hong Kong Police Force during the 2019 protests and the lack of investigation, safeguards and accountability. The Committee has also addressed how the use of public order and security concerns can infringe on women’s rights. This is clearly a reference to the National Security Law and its violations of women’s rights.
We are grateful that the Committee took into account the evidence that Hong Kong Watch submitted and made these clear recommendations that address violations of women’s rights, and encourage Hong Kong’s compliance with its international legal obligations.”