The Impact of Gender Identity Debates on International Efforts to Protect Violence Survivors

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:49:00 +0200

The recent debate over gender identity at the 70th session of the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women illustrates a broader international struggle over defining gender in policy. A U.S. delegate proposed a resolution aligning gender with 'men and women,' provoking criticism from other nations who saw it as regressive. Inclusive approaches to gender, now embraced by international bodies like the U.N. Refugee Agency and the International Criminal Court, recognize transgender individuals and focus on socially constructed roles, aiming to better address the vulnerabilities of all people affected by conflict and violence. The Trump administration's reversal of previous U.S. stances and withdrawal from LGBTQ+ international groups has fueled pushback. Additionally, reports such as that by U.N. special rapporteur Reem Alsalem have suggested that recognizing gender identity may erase sex-based discrimination against women, sparking further controversy. Critics argue this narrow view risks ex