Gender and Rights

14 June 2011 - A statement issued by OHCHR, UNFPA, UNICEF, UN Women and WHO reviews the evidence behind the causes, consequences and lessons learnt regarding “son preference” or sex selection favouring boys in many parts of South, East and Central Asia, where ratios as high as 130 boys for every 100 girls have been observed.
“Sex selection in favour of boys is a symptom of pervasive social, cultural, political and economic injustices against women, and a manifest violation of women’s human rights,” the statement notes, citing one man’s testimony that “the birth of a son enhances my status, while that of a girl lowers my head.”

• See statement