HRC passes resolution on gender preferences

            On Saturday the HRC passed a resolution to improve gender equality and awareness in countries such as India and China, which face issues of cultural gender inequality that is manifested in gender-selective abortions and infanticide.  This issue poses serious threats in terms of future demographic changes in these countries, with men outnumbering women to a large extent among the younger sectors of the population.

            The successful Resolution 2.1, headed by Hungary, Cuba, Belgium, Philippines, Bangladesh, and Cameroon, was passed through a compromise after India voiced a need to combine two similar working papers into one coherent course of action.  The resolution provided for sex education and individual, therapeutic counseling for both genders in these countries in order to foster greater understanding.

            The delegate from Hungry said that this effort would be a “very domestic-based operation,” which was believed to be more effective than any uniform, comprehensive programs put forth at the international level.  However, this resolution only suggested that its measures be implemented in countries that currently experience these specific problems of gender inequality, potentially limiting its effectiveness.

HRC delegates from Saudi Arabia, Hungary, and Cuba form an alliance to create Resolution 2.1.

 

            Saudi Arabia, Peru, Guatemala, and Nigeria formed a working paper in opposition to Resolution 2.1 that sought to ban all abortion and impose severe penalties for its practice. The paper stated that if abortion were outlawed altogether, there could be no issue of sex-selective pregnancy termination.

            Of course this paper faced strong criticism from the body, notably from the delegates from Hungary and Cuba.  Hungary stating that these suggestions were an “infringement on national sovereignty” and an “imposition of culture.” The delegate went further by saying that the HRC could not base its efforts on “bronze age” ideas concerning gender and social norms.

            Cuba also challenged the idea that these fetuses were human beings, but this statement only sidetracked debate from the key issue. Delegates also criticized that the resolution did not address the problem of infanticide, but Saudi Arabia replied that it was open to any proposals on the issue.  Ultimately, this resolution did not pass due to its strictly conservative ideals as well as its other flaws.

            Mexico presented a working paper that sought to equalize income for men and women, solely focusing on countries where gender inequality occurred in the economic realm.  However, this working paper did not pass, since many delegates thought it did not directly address the topic at hand.

            Indonesia also put forth a paper that was similar to the Resolution 2.1 in that it sought improvements in education.  Instead of sex education, this paper suggested societal education that Indonesia said would cause countries to accept “that the woman is equal to the man.”  Many delegates were confused as to the exact intentions of the paper, ultimately resulting in its failure as well.