Mr. President,

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of members of the Group of Friends of the Responsibility to Protect.

Since women and girls are uniquely affected and targeted in many situations where atrocity crimes are being perpetrated, the systematic application of a gender lens by HRC mechanisms and procedures would enhance holistic atrocity prevention strategies and improve the effective implementation of the Responsibility to Protect (R2P).

We therefore thank the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences for her continuous leadership on mainstreaming a gender perspective into the UN human rights system, and her tireless efforts to provide targeted and action-oriented recommendations on how to achieve this.

We would like to use this occasion to encourage all UN member states to support the Special Rapporteur in this endeavour, including by:

· Ensuring the inclusion of a specific reference to gender analysis and sexual and gender-based violence, including recommendations for prevention and response, when establishing or renewing mandates of HRC mechanisms and procedures;

· Regularly including gender-related questions and reflections when participating and delivering interventions at interactive dialogues at the HRC, including those addressing situations where atrocities are, or are at risk of, occurring;

· Giving visibility and providing a platform across HRC discussions and initiatives to women leaders and their organizations.

Madam Special Rapporteur, how can we further strengthen the capacity of HRC mechanisms and procedures to identify risk factors for atrocity crimes, specifically affecting women and girls, and take preventive action for situations at risk?

Thank you.

Africa

1. Botswana
2. Côte d'Ivoire
3. Ghana
4. Liberia
5. Mali
6. Morocco
7. Mozambique
8. Nigeria
9. Rwanda
10. Senegal
11. Sierra Leone
12. South Sudan
13. Tanzania

Asia

14. Bangladesh
15. Japan
16. Qatar
17. Marshall Islands
18. Republic of Korea

Latin America

19. Argentina
20. Chile
21. Costa Rica
22. Guatemala
23. Peru
24. Mexico
25. Panama
26. Uruguay

Europe

27. Belgium
28. Bosnia-Herzegovina
29. Bulgaria
30. Croatia
31. Czech Republic
32. Denmark
33. European Union
34. Finland
35. France
36. Germany
37. Hungary
38. Ireland
39. Italy
40. Liechtenstein
41. Luxembourg
42. Netherlands
43. Norway
44. Portugal
45. Romania
46. Slovakia
47. Slovenia
48. Spain
49. Sweden
50. Switzerland
51. United Kingdom

Oceania

52. Australia
53. New Zealand

North America

54. Canada
55. United States