This article explores the discourse of ‘UN humanism’ with regards to the way gender and culture are conceived, contextualised, and universalised. Addressing the long-standing tension between culture as shared humanity and culture as a pivotal basis of difference, the article also draws on research relating to UNHCR’s gender policies and initiatives against violence towards refugee women in camps. The article poses strategies in the context of emerging transnational feminist practices to decipher avoiding authenticating categories of difference, but also avoiding treating gender and culture as simply variables.