The Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) is a comprehensive international treaty, created to advocate for the rights of women 's. It is a highly ratified treaty since one hundred and eighty-six of the UN’s 193 members have agreed to apply its principles to their nation states and to protect and fulfil its terms and conditions (Wakefield 2010, p.22). The aim of the essay is to demonstrate the strengths of CEDAW in promoting gender equality, whilst simultaneously study its weakness in order to determine success of the Convention. This essay will argue that CEDAW has proven to be a successful Convention over the years as it has become part of the global system of law due to its positive influence across national and local system of laws of the states that decides to ratify it. The Convention has also become a good venue for states, NGOS and women 's movements to use in order to explore issues relating to discrimination against women, as reflected in the case study of Afghanistan. However, this is to a certain extent, as the essay will reflect that factors such as lack of enforcement, overdue of reports, minimal individual complaints, issue of reservations, culture e.tc. has impeded its potential and disappointed a lot of activists who had high expectations (Merry 2003, p.942). Human rights became known to the world in the 20th century, when it was established that human beings should be treated with dignity and respect anywhere,
The first women 's rights convention is held in Seneca Falls, New York. After 2 days of discussion and debate, 68 women and 32 men sign a Declaration of Sentiments, which outlines grievances and sets the agenda for the women 's rights movement. A set of 12 resolutions is adopted calling for equal treatment of women and men under the law and voting rights for women.
Although the issue of women’s rights has attracted international recognition and support, women still face many inequalities and barriers. Gender-based violence and economic discrimination are problems in many parts of the world.
Human rights can be summarized as the activities and freedoms that all human beings are entitled to enjoy and only by virtue of their humanity. These conditions are generally guaranteed in the constitution of the land. They are widely felt in the area as they are divided and not limited to political, social economic and cultural rights. Some of the main principles of human rights include the fact that they are inherent, inalienable and indivisible as well. In this relation, human rights can never be taken away from an individual whereby the enjoyment of one right should not infringe the enjoyment of other. They must all be respected and maintained.
Gender discrimination and violence against women were not part of the Human Rights Agenda until the 1990s when feminists began to push for this change (p84/book). One of the slogans of their campaign was that “Women’s Rights
Women rights movement’s dates back to the nineteenth century as the female gender was seeking to have a place in the society where they have their rights and entitlement fairly given to them. It was instigated by the fact that the male population by making them feel as less beings in the society. This is because they were not entitled to having their views brought out. However, in the 1970’s efforts to secure equal rights for women by eradicating gender discrimination put by institution, laws and various behavioural pattern meet serious activism (Barrett. 2014). The reforms enjoyed currently concerning women empowerment is as a result of all the atrocities that they went through at this time. It is, therefore, evident to say that the challenges faced by women in the 1970’s rights movement gave birth to new opportunities such as coming up with severe laws on gender discrimination, pushed for the Title IX law and defining rape as a crime.
Introduction: The human rights were created in 1948 as a result of the experience of the second world war. These human rights meant that everyone has equality. Or though these human rights were created as a law not everyone sticks to them and many people actually end up going completely against them. Since this happens many people take social actions to gain human rights back. Two of the most important in my opinion are the March on Washington and the Montgomery bus boycott.
Human rights seem to be one of the most undervalued rights that people are given. Although not tangible, or even visible, in the end they are one of the most significant aspects of life (Universal 1). They keep us civil. As the
y story starts in Philadelphia where I was born June 26, 1812. My mother and father, Mary and William Master, were both quakers and raised me as a quaker. I married Richard Hunt and we moved to Waterloo, New York where I would have my first child, William Master Hunt. I would have three more children there, the last one sadly didn’t make it through childbirth. My husband Richard was one of the richest of men in seneca county, and our house can prove that. I was Richard’s fourth, and final, wife. When we were married he had already had 3 children, all from Sarah M’Clintock, and Mary Ann M’Clintock would go on to sign the declaration of sentiments with me, but I’m getting ahead of myself. Our family and extended family help a tea party hosting
United Nations Women Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women 1986-1999, General Recommendations made by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, viewed 7 September 2016,
Human rights, coined in the late 1940s, are typically described as entitlements or privileges belonging inherently to all persons regardless of status such as nationality, sex, religion, etc. (Tomaševski). One fundamental issue with the ability for women to exercise basic human rights lies with baseless stereotyping and corruption within institutions of power that are meant to protect these rights ("What Are Human Rights"). Many people strongly believe that with time comes advancement. This is true to some extent, but much progress is yet to be seen as revealed by current feminist issues that are undoubtedly comparable to those of the early 20th century.
If the Women's Rights Convention was being written today some items that should still be included is employment inequality. In some cases, men are more likely to receive job opportunities over women. This idea can relate to the complaint in the Declaration of Sentiments, it stated, "He has monopolized nearly all the profitable employments, and from those she is permitted to follow, she receives but a scanty remuneration." (Stanton 398) I believe a lot of the complaints that were stated in the Declaration of Sentiments has been resolved. Thus, women now have just as equal rights as men, with the president's elections being this year, we have a women candidate running. Therefore, we can say a lot has changed for women since the 1800s.
Although many places in the world have made many advancements in granting women rights equivalent to those of men, there are still far too many places that refuse to recognize that women’s rights is still an issue, and an important one at that. Many developing countries in the world have caused outrage in the population of women as a whole and rifts in society and its social order. Worldwide, people are done with the fact that women are still not treated as equals. Although advancements have been made for the population of women globally in places like the US, Canada, and many parts of Europe; many developing countries throughout the world have refrained from allowing women equal opportunity politically, economically, and culturally.
Oppression of women, especially in the thirds world countries like Afghanistan have been an ongoing struggle. An Afghani woman’s roles and identity is strictly associated with her family and tribe, the woman is a part of society, but her identity does not belong to her it belongs to her family at large. Afghanistan is a traditional and religious countries, therefore Gender roles is clearly market in the Afghan society. Afghani women had a difficult road toward getting their liberty in society where male are superior to women in status. In the past four decades, Afghanistan has been under the rule of different political ideologies, the Soviet communism from 1979-1989 and the Taliban regime from 1996-2011. Both the Soviet Union and the Taliban oppressed women in one way or another, the systematic oppression of Afghani women portrayed them as passive members of the society.
Having always been interested in the history of women’s rights, the oppressive rule of the Taliban on Afghan women has always been an interesting topic to research. Prior to Taliban control of Afghanistan, women enjoyed living the freedom that they were granted. They were very crucial to the development of the Afghan society, but when the Taliban gained control of Afghanistan in 1996, the rights of Afghan women began to dwindle. Although they negatively affected Afghanistan, for instance, politically, economically, and socially, the major negative impact their rule had on socially specifically was the Afghan women’s rights.. Even though the Taliban claimed “that it was acting in the best interests of the women,” according to a report on the
Human rights is a concept that has been constantly evolving throughout human history. They have been present in the laws, customs and religions all throughout the ages. The ideas of human rights are present in the ancient world.