The 33rd session of the UN Human Rights Council, the foremost international body for the promotion and protection of human rights, took place from the 12th to the 30th of September 2016.

Firstly, the Council adopted by consensus its biannual resolution on preventable maternal mortality and morbidity. The resolution represents an advancement to women’s human rights on several counts: it highlights the linkages between human rights obligations related to ending preventable maternal mortality and morbidity and the SDGs and the UN Secretary General’s Global Strategy for Women's, Children's and Adolescents' Health and also recognizes the obligation of States Parties to the International Convention on Economic Social and Cultural Rights to take steps to achieve the full realization of the right to health, including sexual and reproductive health as an integral part of this right.

You can find the Resolution here A/HRC/33/L.3/Rev.1

Furthermore, the Council adopted the resolution on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation. It includes the following reference to menstrual hygiene and stigma: “Deeply concerned that the lack of access to adequate water and sanitation services, including for menstrual hygiene management, especially in schools, contributes to reinforcing the widespread stigma associated with menstruation, which negatively affects gender equality and women’s and girls’ enjoyment of human rights, including the right to education and the right to health."

You can find the resolution here A/HRC/33/L.19

The UNHRC remains an important venue to develop and advance sexual rights as a critical part of the international human rights framework.

While these resolutions represent progress, the number of amendments put forward and their acceptance by the Council members illustrates the challenges to the advancement of rights to equality.

The fight for justice continues!