Promoting Gender Equity and Social Justice

UN World Conference on WomenIncreased economic instability bridged

ideological divide between North & South, East& West.

Increased rise of fundamentalisms

Key TermsGlobal feminist activism – international

feminist mobilization involving women in more than one country or region.

Transnational feminist networks – advocate for women’s participation and rights.

Three Key Feminist Transnational NetworksNeoliberal PoliciesFundamentalismPeace groups

UN Conferences of 1990sUN Conference on the Environment and

Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro 1992UN Human Rights Conference in Vienna

1993UN International Conference on Population

and Development (ICPD) in Cairo in 1994

Benefits of Utilizing a Human Rights Framework to Further Gender Equity(1) the fundamental notion of people's

humanity as inherent and unalienable(2) the historical traditions of social, political,

cultural, economic, and civil rights as granted by national and international laws

(3) the credibility of the human rights paradigm that can be used to bring pressure on states.

Sexual Rights – 1994 Cairo ICPD Conference"Reproductive health is a state of complete

physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, in all matters related to the reproductive system and to its functions and processes. Reproductive health therefore implies that people are able to have a satisfying and safe sex life and they have the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when and how often to do so."

4th World Conference on Women - Beijing 1995The human rights of women include their

right to have control over and decide freely and responsibly on matters related to their sexuality, including sexual and reproductive health, free of coercion, discrimination and violence. Equal relationships between women and men in matters of sexual relations and reproduction, including full respect for the integrity of the person, require mutual respect, consent and shared responsibility for sexual behavior and its consequences. (paragraph 96)

Conservative Backlash at 4th World Conference on Women - Beijing 1995 The sexual rights of women include their

right to have control over and decide freely and responsibly on matters related to their sexuality, including sexual and reproductive health, free of coercion, discrimination and violence. Equal relationships between women and men in matters of sexual relations and reproduction, including full respect for the integrity of the person, require mutual respect, consent and shared responsibility for sexual behavior and its consequences.

The 12 critical areas of concern in the Beijing Platform for Action are as follows:

Women and povertyEducation and training of womenWomen and healthViolence against womenWomen and armed conflictWomen and the economyWomen in power and decision-makingInstitutional mechanisms for the advancement of

womenHuman rights of womenWomen and the mediaWomen and the environmentThe girl child.

UN Commission to the Status of Women (CSW)- 15th anniversary of the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action

http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/beijing15/index.html