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To better understand the current situation on women’s human rights, we must deepen our own knowledge and awareness.

Furthermore, as we deepen our understanding on women’s rights, we can address and ultimately help improve the current situation.

This essay doesn’t refute a certain opinion, or favor any specific group as it aims to simply provide facts around women’s human rights issues.

Women’s Human Rights and Their Surroundings

Fundamental freedoms and basic human rights encompasses living free from violence and discrimination.

Unfortunately, women and girls face discrimination and other types of inequalities in many parts of the world.

Sexual Harassment

Sexual acts that occur without consent cause discomfort, and violate the fundamental human rights of the other individual.

Men and boys are victims of sexual harassment, though it’s more common for women and girls to fall victim to acts of sexual harassment.

Violence From Your Partner

A lifelong partner may inflict violence on their partner out of nowhere, or for no reason.

Sometimes, the cause of these acts of violence stem from bottled up arguments and misunderstandings, though the influence of alcohol plays a major role in inflicting these violent.

The target for these acts of violence are often vulnerable women and girls ,and currently there are many relationships in which one another cannot trust each other.

Stalkers

In today’s society, stalker like acts stem from a acts of affection that aren’t felt back, and the rejection getting misconstrued or not well communicated to the rejected individual.

These acts of affection can turn to obsession, and vulnerable females are often the target.

Men and boys can also fall victim, though happen less than compared to women and girls.

Women’s Human Rights

Unfortunate circumstances and unjust discrimination make women a more vulnerable group, and require specific protections from human rights organizations around the world.

This is due to the fact women’s rights aren’t protected or recognized globally, from equal participation in government to access to education.

The notion “gender equality” refers to achieving equality for women and eliminating gender discrimination based off long standing cultural practices and norms.

Legal Protection

A list of international human rights documents specifically for addressing women’s human rights.

• African Charter (Article 8-2, 14-e, 18-3, 29, 43)
• American Convention on Human Rights (Article 1-1, 6-1, 27-1)
• American Declaration of Rights and Duties （Article 2 & 7）
• Arab Charter （Article 3,4,10,33,34,41,43）
• Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women （CEDAW）
• Convention on the Nationality of Married Women
• Treaties on Women’s Political Rights
• Treaties on human trafficking and prostitution
• Istanbul Convention
• European Convention on Human Rights (Article 14)
• European Social Charter (Article 4-3.8, 4-3.8.7)
• American Convention on Human Rights
• Beren de Para Treaty
• International Covenants on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Article 2,3, 7-i)
• Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Paragraph 6.8.23.53）
• Universal Declaration of Human Rights

These treaties prohibit discrimination based on gender, and women can fully and equally be protected by these treaties.

Women’s Suffrage

In 1893, New Zealand became the first country to allow women to vote. From there, many countries followed suit.

However, in current day Syria, women aren’t allowed to participate in government related activities, and in Pakistan, they are banned from voting.

It will most likely take some time for women to have equal participation in voting and government in all parts of the world.

Sexual and Reproductive Rights

Women should have the right to make decisions about their bodies, but they are currently presented with unsafe or minimal to no access to medical services such as contraception and abortion.

Furthermore, we must create a society in which women can live without fear of negative gender norms and gender differences leading to abuses of power.

Unfortunately, we’re a long way from achieving these types of basic rights for women.

Freedom of Movement

There are countries in which women are restricted in the areas they can go, not only internationally, but domestically.

Some women aren’t allowed to obtain a passport, and other instances require a man’s permit to travel.

There should be no reason why a women should need a mans permit to go back to their hometown

CEDAW

CEDAW states women and men should have equal participation and equality in political, economic, social cultural and civil rights and requires governments to create legislation that prohibits discrimination.

This leads the way for states making positive social and cultural change, ultimately creating a more gender inclusive society against discrimination.

In parallel, this connects to equal access to education, access to social facilities to improve women’s public and private lives, and more non-discriminatory medical services.

any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by women, irrespective of their marital status, on a basis of equality of men and women, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field.

Reference：CEDAW – UNITED NATIONS

Q&A On Women’s Rights

Women’s rights are talked about so frequently, because of its inequalities and the large steps we need to take create a less discriminatory society.

Q1.Why Do We Need to Protect Women’s Rights?

Women’s rights are human rights.

This is a long stemming inequality and will continue to be a major issue until women have the same freedoms and liberties of men.

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.

They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Reference：UDHR｜UNITED NATIONS

Q2. What Happens When Women’s Rights Are Protected?

Society will be a better place as a whole when women’s rights are protected and supported.

Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world.

Reference：Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls – UNITED NATIONS

The United Nations states the above.

Q3.Why Is There Still Discrimination Against Women?

Many individuals accused of discriminating based on gender claim they didn’t mean for their actions to be discriminatory.

The root cause of gender discrimination may be part of how we look at ourselves as human, as being classified as “women” or “man” is one of the initial ways all humans are grouped. Thus, these actions may be part of not only traditional and cultural norms, but the very way we look at ourselves as human beings.

Women’s Rights Are Also Men’s Rights

As history shows, gender equality isn’t achieved overnight.

One of our top priorities should be to eliminate stigma and discrimination based on gender.