The United Nations is notorious for pushing radical gender ideology on member nations, even those who hold to the biological definitions of male and female.

Thankfully, the top UN human rights official for women has a refreshing message for those traditional — and often religious— countries. Reem Alsalem, UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women and Girls, recently presented a report to the UN Human Rights Council calling on governments to use sex-based categories in their language, their data and their policy recommendations. She recommends they not refer to women using gender-neutral language. Her report explained that international law protects women based upon their biological sex, not their self-defined gender identity.

Ms. Alsalem told attendees at the 59th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, “You cannot protect what you cannot define.”

The Center for Family and Human Rights, C-Fam, monitors social policy debate at the UN. A C-Fam publication explains that ”The largest area of UN policy and programming where gender ideology has made an impact is ‘violence against women and girls.‘” But “over the last two decades Western governments have promoted the new category of ‘gender-based violence’ which is not contained in any UN treaty.”

According to C-Fam, Reem Alsalem’s bold report generated “a war of words” at the UN. Switzerland and the Netherlands called her position “regressive.” Columbia, speaking for 37 nations, said “her approach was a step back for human rights.” Many nations were under the mistaken impression that gender-neutral policies are mandated by international law. Such policies include requiring that mothers be referred to as “pregnant or birthing persons” and that the term women be replaced with “bleeders” and “persons who menstruate.”

But Ms. Alsalem says there’s a real danger in “erasing women and women-specific language and needs.” Governments may be led to downplay biological women’s unique vulnerabilities, risking their increased exposure to violence and discrimination.

This is one courageous UN official. May her tribe increase.