As a champion of women’s human rights and a former judge on the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) who led the landmark trial establishing rape and sexual assault as acts of genocide, Pillay confirmed the critical need for the Human Rights Council to address gender discrimination as a major root cause of violence against women. “Gender discrimination makes the Universal Declaration’s promise an empty pledge for millions of women and girls. No effort should be spared to persuade countries to repeal laws and practices that continue to reduce women and girls to second-class citizens,” said Pillay.

The UN High Commissioner also stressed the need to recognise the 'critical role of women in development, and the role of women in peace and security,' evoking Secuity Council Resolution 1325 and the newly amended Security Council Resolution 1820, which historically draws a strong link bewteen sexual violence,peace and security." I believe that gender equality will contribute to development and security, as well as human rights," declared Pillay.

As a young woman who grew up in the midst of apartheid in South Africa, Pillay shared her personal story of growing up in a country fraught with tension and conflict. ““I grew up as a second-class citizen with no legal recourse. In my lifetime, however, I had the privilege to witness a complete transformation. Today, South Africa has one of the strongest constitutions in the world. While it struggles as many countries do to turn legal rights into reality, watching the course of change over the span of a single decade and through a relatively peaceful evolution leads me to believe that solutions are possible.”

World YWCA Advocacy Intern Leanne Baumung attended the opening of the 9th UN Human Rights Council and was inspired by the address of the new Commissioner. “Her story bears a message of hope for young women everywhere. The critical condition of human rights for women and girls worldwide can sometime seem overwhelmingly hopeless and I think many young women worry that the full realisation of their human rights may not seem achievable or even foreseeable in our lifetime. But then there are stories like that of Ms. Pillay that enable us to believe and inspire us to never stop believing. As a young woman, I am proud, hopeful, and excited as Navanethem Pillay takes up her term as High Commissioner for Human Rights.”

Pillay shared some of her work plans for her term as High Commissioner, which included expanding OHCHR field operations to promote and protect human rights on the ground, and encouraging universal ratification of UN treaty bodies as well as urging Member States to increase interaction with the HRC Special Procedures mechanisms.

In closing, Pillay offered words of support for non-governmental actors in the quest for human rights. "Civil society should be constantly vigilant and jealously defend its prerogatives and rights. In doing so, it should take advantage of the human rights mechanisms which can assist individuals and organisations in this vital task."

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