Presented By:Sykat MondalID: MSS 151621MSS 1st term,Sociology Discipline,Khulna University, Khulna.

UN Structure of Human Rights and Gender Equality

Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms that belong to every person in the world. Moreover, human rights are both inspirational and practical. Human rights principles hold up the vision of a free. Human rights also empower people with a framework for action when those minimum standards are not met, for people still have human rights even if the laws or those in power do not recognize or protect them. Because of this UDHR (Universal Declaration of Human Rights) was to set a standard of rights for all people everywhere. Women is also receiving there fictitious rights. All people have the same rights and all rights are equally important. The UDHR clearly says that girls and women and boys and men have the same rights.

UDHR (Universal Declaration of Human Rights) Introduction

Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, whatever our nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, language, or any other status. We are all equally entitled to our human rights without discrimination. These rights are all interrelated, interdependent and indivisible.

President: H.E. Mr. Choi Kyonglim Established: December 10, 1948Headquarter: SwitzerlandMembership: 192 Countries.Moto: A Dignified Life.

History Behind UDHR

Ideas about human rights have evolved over many centuries. But they achieved strong international support following the Holocaust and World War II. To protect future generations from a repeat of these horrors, the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. For the first time, the Universal Declaration set out the fundamental rights and freedoms shared by all human beings.

On December 10, 1948 Mr. H. V. Evatt, the President of the UN General Assembly, adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights with 48 votes in favor of the document, zero votes against, and 8 abstentions.

Wobbelin work camp in Germany where prisoners were neglected and starved.

H. V. Evatt

UDHR and Gender Equality

There is a strong commitment to equality between women and men in international human rights law. The various actors within the treaty system who are tasked with elaborating on the meaning of human rights in international law have given close attention to gender equality. There are ten human rights treaty bodies in UDHR. Among them six treaty bodies work on gender equality.

International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD) Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women

(CEDAW), Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment

or Punishment (CAT) Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)

Human Rights Principles and Themes

CORE PRINCIPLES Human Dignity Equality Non-discrimination Universality Interdependency Indivisibility Inalienability Responsibilities

THEME Dignity & Justice Development Environment Culture Gender Participation

Categories of Human Rights

Human rights are traditionally categorized in the following five types

Political Rights

Civil rights deal with standards of judiciary and penal systems

Political rights deal with specific components of participation in political power.

Economic Rights deal with the sphere of human beings working, producing and servicing.

Social Rights deal with standard of living and quality of life for all persons, including those not participating in economic activities.

Cultural Rights deal with the cultural sphere of life including ethnic culture, subcultures, arts and science.

Civil Rights

Economic Rights

Social Rights

Cultural Rights

Formal state Obligations for Each Human Right

Obligation Meaning

Respect The state must not interfere directly with people realising their rights

Protect The state must stop others from interfering with people’s rights

Fulfil The state must build the legislation, institutions, norms to realise the right

Non discrimination The state must not discriminate in meeting its obligations

Adequate progress Progress must occur at a rate that show commitmentParticipation People must be able to participate in realising their rightsEffective remedy There must be a remedy for violations of obligations

Treaty Bodies on Gender Equality

Treaty Bodies speak on gender equality. They are following

ICCPR

Article 3: to ensure the equal right of men and women to the enjoyment of all economic, social and cultural rights set forth in the present Covenant. Article 7.a (i): Equal pay for equal work10.2: Special protection should be accorded to mothers during a reasonable period before and after childbirth. (16th December 1966 )

Article 3: to ensure the equal right of men and women to the enjoyment of all civil and political rights.Article 39. 2 (a): Voting rights. (23 March 1976)

5. d. (viii): The right to freedom of opinion and expression.General Assembly resolution 1904 (XVIII) Elimination of all forms of discrimination(21 December 1965 )

ICESCR

CERD

Treaty Bodies on Gender Equality Contd.

Rights of Women in UDHR:It is an important agreement about equality between girls or women and boys or

men. CEDAW says all discrimination against girls and women must end. the United Nations accepted CEDAW on 18 December 1979.

Article 1: Definition of discrimination against girls and women.Article 2: Policy measuresArticle 3: Guarantee of basic human rights and freedoms.Article 4: Special measures, Article 5: Roles based on stereotypes Article 6: Trafficking and prostitution, Article 7: Political and public lifeArticle 8: Participation at the international levelArticle 9: Nationality, Article 10: Education, Article 11: EmploymentArticle 12: Health, Article 13: Economic and social lifeArticle 14: Rural girls and women, Article 15: LawArticle 16: Marriage and family lifeArticle 17-22: These articles set up the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (the CEDAW Committee) to review what progress has been made by countries. These articles say how the Committee works.

CE

DAW

Treaty Bodies on Gender Equality Contd.

Article 23-30: These articles deal with the administration (or management) of the Convention. The articles say how the United Nations and governments should work together to make sure rights of girls and women are protected. The articles also say how disagreements between governments about girls’ and women’s rights can be settled.

Article 10 (2): Each State Party shall include this prohibition in the rules or instructions issued in regard to the duties and functions of any such person. (26th June,1987)

CAT

CRC and CEDAW

CRC and CEDAW together works better for the rights of girls and women at all stages of their lives. Girls have a right to education, health and nationality. All forms of violence against girls and women, such as tricking and

prostitution, must end. Discrimination and being treated unfairly because of being a girl must end. Both parents are responsible for raising their children. Play, rest and leisure are important for all children. These rights are applicable in family life as well. Governments must do all they can to make sure girls’ rights are protected.

Treaty Bodies on Gender Equality Contd.

Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women (20th December 1993)Article 1: Violence against women means any act of gender-based violenceArticle 2: Physical, sexual and psychological violence occurring in the family, Community and state.Article 3: Fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field.

Declaration on the Protection of Women and Children in Emergency and Armed Conflict (14th December 1974)Bearing in mind the need to provide special protection of women and children belonging to the civilian population at the time of war.

(Source: OHCHR, 2016)

Achievement of UDHR in Gender Equality

The principle of equality is a central commitment in international human rights instruments. Achievement of UDHR Women’s Political Empowerment Women’s Economic Empowerment

The average working woman in the 1950s earned 60% of the average working man’s salary.

Women went to college to find a husband. The right to initiate divorce proceedings and “no fault” divorce. The right to have access to contraceptives and abortion. The right to own property The right to vote More equitable wages Access to university education

Achievement of UDHR in Gender Equality Contd.

2012 World Economic Forum report on gender equality Indicators: Economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and

survival, and political empowerment. The US placed on the 22nd position (behind Cuba and Canada) in 2011 – the 17th positionThe Time Magazine Almost 40% of American wives make more money than their husbands. Almost 60% of college students are female. The wage gap: women earn 81% of what men do.U. S. Census Bureau In 2010 women became half of all workers Small rise in management positions (35 to 38% in the last 20 years).

In Sri Lanka, there has been an increase from 2 to 20 percent in the number of women candidates present on 10 political party. By the end of 2014, 17% rural women to gain access to their economic rights and productive resources and managing those taking into account rural and indigenous women’s perspectives to achieve sustainable development.

Criticism of UDHR in Gender Equality Contd.

Criticism:Theoretically equal rights,Need to join the role of a housewife and an employee,Women getting pregnant are often fired,No legal guarantee of paid maternity leave,Need for equality in workplace to make use of feminine skills, e.g. negotiation skills.

Human Rights Instruments

Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein. On the other hand, human rights can ensure through the awareness of our citizens in all our communities.

Reference (S)

OHCHR. 2016. Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR), Accessed on 01.03.2016 Retrieved from [http://www.ohchr.org/]UNICEF, 2011. Convention on the elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), United Nations Children’s Fund, New York Christina Johnson, 2015. Gender Equality and Human Rights. Research and Data Section, UN WomenPicture, 2016. Picture of this presentation. Accessed on 28.2.2016 Retrieved from [https://www.google.com/#q=picture]