International International Achievements in Achievements in Women’s Human Women’s Human RightsRightsWhat they are and why they matterWhat they are and why they matter

BUT WHAT ARE RIGHTS?BUT WHAT ARE RIGHTS?

You can’t make me do that!

Human rights are the rights a person has simply because he or she is a human bring. Human Rights are:

1. Universal: every human has them, no matter what race, age, language, sex, or social distinction

2. Inalienable: you cannot lose them any more than you can cease being human

3. Indivisible: you cannot be denied a right because it is “less important” or “non-essential”

The Universal Declaration of Human

Rights Most important human rights documentMost important human rights document

Was written in 1948, following the horrific Was written in 1948, following the horrific experiences of the Holocaust and World experiences of the Holocaust and World War II War II Many people sought to create a document that Many people sought to create a document that

prevent future human rights atrocities from prevent future human rights atrocities from taking place and to ensure a world in which taking place and to ensure a world in which every human has and knows their rights.every human has and knows their rights.

Fundamental consensus on what rights all Fundamental consensus on what rights all human beings should have human beings should have

Basic human rights:Basic human rights:As articulated by the Universal As articulated by the Universal Declaration for Human RightsDeclaration for Human Rights

Equality:Equality:““Everyone is entitled Everyone is entitled to all the rights and to all the rights and

freedoms set forth in freedoms set forth in this Declaration, this Declaration,

without distinction of without distinction of any kind, such as any kind, such as race, color, sex, race, color, sex,

language, religion, language, religion, political or other political or other

opinion, national or opinion, national or social origin, property, social origin, property, birth or other status.”birth or other status.”

LifeLifeEveryone Everyone has the has the

right to life, right to life, liberty and liberty and security of security of

personperson

Freedom Freedom from from

Slavery Slavery and and

TortureTorture

Freedom Freedom of of

expressioexpression, n,

opinion, opinion, belief, belief, and and

religion.religion.

But what But what about about

women?women?

Do they enjoy Do they enjoy these basic these basic human rights?human rights?

Private vs. Public: Private vs. Public: Threat to Women’s Threat to Women’s

Human RightsHuman Rights The pervasive division of life into "public" and The pervasive division of life into "public" and

"private" spheres has its roots in the desire to "private" spheres has its roots in the desire to limit the jurisdiction of the government.limit the jurisdiction of the government.

In many countries, this has meant that what In many countries, this has meant that what individuals do in the "public" sphere is subject individuals do in the "public" sphere is subject to regulation, while activities taking place in to regulation, while activities taking place in the "private" sphere are thought to be the "private" sphere are thought to be exempt from governmental scrutiny.exempt from governmental scrutiny.

Human rights were traditionally seen as Human rights were traditionally seen as applied only to public sphereapplied only to public sphere

Private vs. Public: Private vs. Public: Threat to Women’s Threat to Women’s

Human RightsHuman Rights Women have traditionally been relegated to Women have traditionally been relegated to

the "private" sphere of the home and familythe "private" sphere of the home and family

the typical citizen has been portrayed as the typical citizen has been portrayed as male,male,

Thus the dominant notions of human rights Thus the dominant notions of human rights have historically had men as the centerhave historically had men as the center

Women have been marginalized in the Women have been marginalized in the human rights discussion because they are human rights discussion because they are seen outside the public sphere seen outside the public sphere

Private vs. Public: Private vs. Public: Threat to Women’s Threat to Women’s

Human RightsHuman Rights Therefore, abuses done to women in the Therefore, abuses done to women in the

name of family, religion, and culture have name of family, religion, and culture have been hidden by the sanctity of the so-called been hidden by the sanctity of the so-called private sphere, and perpetrators of such private sphere, and perpetrators of such human rights violations have enjoyed human rights violations have enjoyed immunity from accountability for their immunity from accountability for their actions.actions.

Examples: rape, wife murder, FGM, Examples: rape, wife murder, FGM, reproductive rightsreproductive rights

Bottom line: women have not historically not Bottom line: women have not historically not enjoyed their due human rightsenjoyed their due human rights

What does it mean that What does it mean that “Women’s Rights are Human “Women’s Rights are Human

Rights”?Rights”?

It’s the revolutionary notion that women are It’s the revolutionary notion that women are human beingshuman beings

It declares, quite simply, that as human It declares, quite simply, that as human beings women have human rights.beings women have human rights.

On the other hand, “women’s human rights” On the other hand, “women’s human rights” is a revolutionary notion: states that women is a revolutionary notion: states that women can no longer be marginalized in the human can no longer be marginalized in the human rights discourse. rights discourse.

What are women’s What are women’s human rights?human rights?

Basic human rights for women:Basic human rights for women: Equality before the lawEquality before the law LifeLife Freedom of expression, political participation, Freedom of expression, political participation,

religionreligion Freedom from torture and slaveryFreedom from torture and slavery

Important women’s human rights issues:Important women’s human rights issues: Violence against women (esp. in conflict)Violence against women (esp. in conflict) Equality under the law and at homeEquality under the law and at home

Women’s Human Rights Women’s Human Rights Achievements—The UNAchievements—The UN

United Nations Decade for Women (1976-United Nations Decade for Women (1976-1985): women from many geographical, racial, 1985): women from many geographical, racial, religious, cultural, and class backgrounds took religious, cultural, and class backgrounds took up organizing to improve the status of women.up organizing to improve the status of women.

The United Nations-sponsored women's The United Nations-sponsored women's conferences: Mexico City(1975,) Copenhagen conferences: Mexico City(1975,) Copenhagen (1980,) and Nairobi(1985, )(1980,) and Nairobi(1985, ) convened to evaluate the status of women and convened to evaluate the status of women and

to formulate strategies for women's to formulate strategies for women's advancement. advancement.

Women’s Human Rights Women’s Human Rights Achievements—The UNAchievements—The UN

The UN issues more “Conventions” or The UN issues more “Conventions” or international treaties regarding women’s international treaties regarding women’s human rights for countries to sign:human rights for countries to sign:

Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) (1979)(1979) Currently, 185 countries - over ninety percent Currently, 185 countries - over ninety percent

of the members of the United Nations - are of the members of the United Nations - are party to the Convention.party to the Convention.

Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women (1995)Against Women (1995)

Women’s Human Rights Women’s Human Rights Achievements—Civil Achievements—Civil

SocietySociety More civil society NGO’s (Non-governmental More civil society NGO’s (Non-governmental

organizations) take on the issue of women’s organizations) take on the issue of women’s human rights.human rights.

Ex: Amnesty International once said that “violence against women is not a human rights issue.” Now they have a Stop Violence Against Women Campaign.

More Women’s Human More Women’s Human Rights Organizations:Rights Organizations:

Human Human Rights for Rights for Women = Women =

Human Human Rights for AllRights for All

Women play a Women play a vital role it vital role it fighting for fighting for

realization of realization of all human all human

rightsrights

This photograph was taken at a demonstration against the White This photograph was taken at a demonstration against the White government, during the singing of the ANC anthem, NKosiSikele government, during the singing of the ANC anthem, NKosiSikele

Africa.Africa.

At one stage, NKosiSikele Africa was banned and singing it publicly At one stage, NKosiSikele Africa was banned and singing it publicly was a criminal offense. Today it is the New South Africa's national was a criminal offense. Today it is the New South Africa's national

anthem.anthem.

Women helped end apartheid in South Africa

Women fight for equal Women fight for equal rights and democracy in rights and democracy in

IranIran

Mary Robinson, Ireland’s first Mary Robinson, Ireland’s first female presidentfemale president

Women bring Women bring peace to peace to Northern Northern IrelandIreland

Threats to Women’s Threats to Women’s Human RightsHuman Rights

religious or cultural fundamentalisms of religious or cultural fundamentalisms of different kindsdifferent kinds

power of ultra-conservative forces within power of ultra-conservative forces within governments and their influence on foreign governments and their influence on foreign and domestic policiesand domestic policies

backlashes in the media, judiciary, public backlashes in the media, judiciary, public opinionopinion

an increase in violence, conflict and waran increase in violence, conflict and war

It’s up to all of us to It’s up to all of us to promote gender equality!promote gender equality!