59th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC59)

From 16 June to 9 July 2025, Graduate Women International (GWI) actively participated in the HRC59, reaffirming of its enduring commitment to global advocacy and collaboration within the United Nations, a role it has proudly maintained since being granted special consultative status with ECOSOC in 1947. Through its participation at HRC59, GWI continues to advocate for the right to quality education and lifelong learning for all women and girls.

HERE you can read some highlights of the key events, discussions, and outcomes that align with GWI’s mission to advance inclusive and lifelong education as a pillar for empowering girls and women, produced by GWI interns Célia Chéreland and Suzanne Nette, who represented GWI at HRC59.

– TABLE OF CONTENTS –

Side event organised by Soroptimist International “Encoding Values, Securing Rights: A Gender-Responsive Framework”

Coverage of the Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur (SR) on education

Side event organised by the Permanent Mission of Croatia, “United against femicide: action to end gender-based murders of women and girls”

Side event organised by the Permanent Missions of Luxembourg and Bulgaria, “Children’s Voices on Free Pre-Primary and Secondary Education”

Coverage of the “Annual full-day discussion on the human rights of women”

Side event organised by UNESCO, Right to Education Initiative, UNICEF and SR on Education “Tools and Guidance for the Implementation of the Right to Early Childhood Care and Education”

Side event organised by the Permanent Mission of Sweden, Permanent Mission of Brazil, the EU, UN Women, ACT Alliance, World Council of Churches, FELM, Norwegian Church Aid, Act Church of Sweden, Lutheran World Federation, World YWCA and Musawah “Holding the Line: Advancing Human Rights and Gender Justice in Shrinking Civic Space”

Side event organised by the Permanent Mission of Malawi “Advancing the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Agenda through Capacity Building for Conflict Prevention and Human Rights Protection”

Side event organised by Plan International, “Girls’ Participation in the Context of the United Nations”

Side event organised by the Permanent Missions of Estonia, Armenia, France, Costa Rica, Chile, Kenya and Japan, “The Role of International Cooperation in Closing the Digital Gender Gap”

Side event organised by the Permanent Missions of Bahrain and Qatar, “Unlearning discrimination: education for empowering women and girls”

– RESOLUTIONS and DECISIONS –

This HRC59 session concluded with the adoption of resolutions and decisions, which will soon be accessible on the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights News website: Human Rights Council News | OHCHR. During this HRC59, three Resolutions focusing on women’s rights and education, particularly relevant to GWI, were drafted and deliberated upon.
1. Resolution A/HRC/59/L.11 on “The right to education” which reaffirms the right to education as a fundamental human right and calls on all states to ensure inclusive, equitable, and quality education for all. It emphasises eliminating discrimination, increasing public investment, protecting education during conflict, and responsibly integrating technology.
2. Resolution A/HRC/59/L.23 on “Empowering women and girls through sports” which highlights sport as a tool for empowering women and girls, promoting gender equality, and combating discrimination. It urges states to ensure safe, inclusive participation in all levels of sport, increase women’s leadership, address violence, and close gender gaps in pay and representation.
3. Resolution A/HRC/59/L.24 on “Accelerating efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls: prevention through the fulfilment of economic, social and cultural rights”. This resolution urges action to promote equality, improve education, healthcare, housing, and employment, and ensure justice and support for victims, while addressing root causes like discrimination and gender stereotypes.
4. Resolution A/HRC/59/L.13 on “Civil society space” which urges States to prevent violence, harassment, and discrimination, both online and offline, against civil society actors, including human rights defenders. They must investigate violations, ensure justice and accountability, end impunity and promote a safe environment for civil society.