Woman and Human Rights - Essay Example

? Women and Human Rights The major provisions in International Law for the promotion and the protection of the rights of women There are four main documents in International Law directed on protection and promotion of the rights of women. The first document is Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. It was acclaimed in New York on18 December 1979 (Haan, 2010). This document proclaims that women should be protected by the government against discrimination. Numerous aspects connected with gender discrimination are considered in this document. Another regulative document is Declaration on the Protection of Women and Children in Emergency and Armed Conflict acclaimed on 14 December 1974 (Haan, 2010). This document guarantees protection of women and children rights in armed conflicts. Thus inhuman acts violating the rights of women and children are considered to be destructive in this document. Very often civilians suffer from armed conflicts for liberation or a struggle against an enemy. This issue is considered in the document in detail. Another document is Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women acclaimed by General Assembly resolution 48/104 on 20 December 1993 (Haan, 2010). This document propagates that “the rights and principles with regard to equality, security, liberty, integrity and dignity of all human beings” are practically and legally applied to women. Basically, the violence against women is understood as violation of rights and basic freedoms of women. As far as this document propagates non-violation against women it can be claimed that this document would practically help a ‘full advancement’ of women. Factors hindering promotion and protection of women’s rights abroad In spite of the fact that International laws and regulations protect rights of women there are numerous challenges in the practical implementation of these documents. All over the world, employers violate women rights and aspirations for leading positions in the company; they often do not want to hire unmarried women or women with little children; sexual oppression and violence is also often practiced against women (Haan, 2010). On the one hand, a modern society is well-developed, but on the other hand, an overall oppression of women’s rights is an evidence of underdeveloped human consciousness. In accordance with world’s analysts, “unless we empower and render justice to women we stand little chance of making a dent on the problems of conflicts, underdevelopment and injustice” (Women Gaining Voice). Therefore there is a need to focus attention of the International Commission on human rights and other related organs on the necessity to centralize women interests and rights. On their behalf, Women’s organizations around the world should proclaim their rights and appeal to the society to support all women in the world. The situation is better in EU and America, but the countries of the Third World experience even greater complexities connected with women’s rights regulations (Pillai et al, 1999). For example, in Africa there is a fast development of women’s movement directed on development of women’s partnership with media, educational and training institutions etc. Thus, it is evident that hindering factors of promotion and protection of human rights in Africa are facilitated by active participation of women’s organizations in that country. The African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET) is a non-governmental organization though it has a strong goal: “to participate effectively the development of our continent and …ensuring that African women voices influence decisions made at different levels that impact of their lives” (Women Gaining Voice). Therefore it is evident that a struggle against oppression of human rights in Africa conducted locally is a sign of advancement of ‘women’s empowerment, development, equality and peace in Africa’ (Women Gaining Voice). Basically, reforms of women’s attitudes to their rights and freedom occurred not only in Africa, but in other underdeveloped countries as well. A usual trigger of active participation of women in the process of their rights’ protection is mediated by different local or global political events and reforms. At the same time, the process of promotion of women’s rights may be halted in the political context of a certain country. Authorities of the countries of Eastern world and the underdeveloped countries do not want to put women on equal footing with men. Consequently, not only a particular country, but the international society suffers from oppression of women’s rights. A perfect example of women’s rights development challenging is the expression by a councilor in the city of Rawalpindi (Pakistan): “The women elected in the union council work as rubber stamps. Women are unable to do any work. They are compelled to vote for the parties according to the will of their clan chiefs” (Haan 2010, p. 57). Of course, women’s inability to vote voluntarily undermines democratic principles of the modern world. Pakistan is only one country out of many, where such kind of violations may occur. The most important women’s rights defined in international law treaties With regard to the abovementioned laws and regulations on women’s rights, we could see that there are numerous violations of women’s rights in practice. A separate consideration about women’s right and not human rights in general is also rather complicated issue. It may be argued that it would be less controversial if the “equal rights of men and women …” were obliged by the society at once. This statement was proclaimed in the preambles of both the UN Charter of 1945 and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 (Haan, 2010). Unfortunately, this statement is often violated and there is a necessity to develop and support laws and regulations defending women’s rights. The most important international documents on women’s rights protection are the UN Convention of Elimination of Discrimination Against Women of 1979 (CEDAW). Racial, sexual, religious discrimination against women hinders their career advancement, gaining of respect among colleagues and basically prevents women from being active participants of any society (Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, 1999). What is more frightening, is the fact that international world is full of military conflicts that violate the rights of women and subject them to death dangers. Civilian women are often raped by enemies, their children also suffer from repression. Moreover, daily trafficking of innocent girls and women is the growing industry of underworld. At this point the importance of Declaration on the Elimination of Violence is also underlined. The most scaring tendency is that norms and provisions of these regulating documents are not always obliged. With this regard, feminists often criticize the male bias of the regulations operation. Thus, international regulations often do not protect women’s rights in reality. Conclusion As far as we can see, women’s rights protection and promotion is rather challenging area. In case international regulations and laws on women’s right protection are obliged than democratic processes in the world really exist. In reality, a present state of women’s right in the international society is often violated by military conflicts, political events and repressive authorities. Works cited 1. Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, 1999. Promoting Women's Rights as Human Rights. New York: United Nations. 2. Haan, Francisca De, 2010. A Brief Survey of Women's Rights from 1945 to 2009. UN Chronicle, March, pp. 56+. 3. Pillai, Vijayan K., and Guang-Zhen Wang, 1999. Women's Reproductive Rights, Modernization, and Family Planning Programs in Developing Countries: A Causal Model. International Journal of Comparative Sociology 40:270+. 4. Tinker, Irene and Gale Summerfield, eds, 1999. Women's Rights to House and Land: China, Laos, Vietnam. Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner. 5. Women Gaining Voice. [online]. Available at: Read More