Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. The UN Women’s Rights Committee has reaffirmed its position on protecting girls from prostitution and sexual exploitation Human Rights
The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women affirmed that States have a responsibility to protect girls from all forms of exploitation, violence and harmful practices, emphasizing that this remains central to its mandate.
The statement was published following an amendment to the concluding observations following the consideration of the report on the status of women in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Committee clarified that references to “sex work” in this document reflected the national legal context and do not constitute a change in its position on prostitution and sexual exploitation. The Committee therefore issued the following statement: “The Committee reiterates its unequivocal position on protecting the rights of girls. States parties have an obligation to protect girls from all forms of exploitation, violence and harmful practices. The Committee reiterates that its categorical demand to protect survivors of exploitation, especially girls, remains central to its mandate.”
In continuation of this position, the Committee noted that, in accordance with the sixth article Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, All Forms of Exploitation prostitution is incompatible with the rights of women and girls, and called on states to strengthen protections against trafficking.
The Committee also stressed that the use of the term “sex work” should not be construed as an endorsement of the industry involved. It is a rights-based approach that aims to ensure protection, dignity and access to justice for all women. They also noted that the Convention, like other international human rights treaties, is a “living instrument” and must be applied in the light of contemporary conditions. discrimination against women. The committee consists of 23 women’s rights experts from around the world.
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women is a tool that helps women around the world change their daily lives. In countries that have ratified the Convention, it plays an important role in combating the consequences of discrimination, including violence, poverty, lack of legal remedies, denial of inheritance rights, property rights and access to credit.