UN Study on Freedom of Religion or Belief and the Status of Women from the Viewpoint of Religion and Traditions

The UN Study on the Status of Women, Freedom of Religion or Belief, and Traditions, on which WUNRN, The Women’s UN Report Network, is based, was requested by then UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, to the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Abdelfattah Amor of Tunisia. The Study was introduced at a UN Human Rights Commission (now Council) High Level Panel in Geneva in 2003. The landmark Study Report was presented to a standing-room-only audience. In a meeting thereafter, Lois A. Herman was specifically asked to “give this Study Report life,” so that it would have a continuing impact on women’s and girls’ human rights. The following year, 2004, WUNRN, The Women’s UN Report Network, was officially launched in a High Level Panel at the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva; and our program has continued to grow exponentially.

 

The United Nations then translated the Study into the six official UN languages, shown on the WUNRN website: French, English, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, and Chinese. The UN Study basis of WUNRN continues to be a valued reference on the Status of Women, Freedom of Religion or Belief, and Traditions.