2.2. Access to Justice for Minorities, Women & Persons with Disabilities
Although equality between women and men is guaranteed in the constitutions of 139 countries and territories throughout the world, inadequate laws and loopholes in legislative frameworks, poor enforcement and vast implementation gaps make these guarantees hollow promises, in lives of many minorities, women and PWDs (persons with disabilities).10 Justice is central to the efforts to help minorities, women and PWDs become equal partners in decision-making and development, yet no country is free from discrimination in the administration of justice." Access to justice for minorities, women and PWDs is specifically safeguarded in a number of international conventions and standards. Yet, in reality, minorities, including women and PWDs (persons with disabilities), often lack access to justice and equal protection of the law.12 This exclusion can be caused by factors as discrimination, poverty, low institutional trust or confidence in the process, lack of capacity, language barriers, weak access to information, or living in remote areas with a lack of judicial facilities. The UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers called for the urgent need to integrate a gender perspective into criminal justice systems, as a fundamental step towards allowing equal access to justice for women and men. Women are still largely underrepresented in the judiciary and in the legal profession globally.
Strengthening Judicial Integrity through Enhanced Access to Justice
Извор: WUNRN – 04.07.2014
A balanced work and private life is important for a healthy workplace.
Research shows that employees with higher levels of work-family conflict suffer up to 12 times more often from burnout and can experience up to three times more depression or other psychological problems as workers with a better work-life balance.
To create a more family-friendly work environment has been for a long time on the European policy agenda. Article 33 the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union refers to the concept of work-life balance.
Directives, Recommendations and other related instruments concerning gender equality, working time arrangements and maternity/paternity leave have been adopted. Some of the Europe 2020 Flagship Initiatives also impact on work and family life.
In this Keysource you will find selected information sources giving background information to this complex issue. Overviews, analytical papers and articles, comparative country information, stakeholders’ views, related legislative acts and statistical sources guide you through EU and national measures facilitating the reconciliation of private and professional life.
Coherent and comprehensive approaches and strategies for implementing UNSCR 1325 become even more essential when considering the realities on the ground. There is still no critical mass of women peacebuilders and mediators engaged in formal track I peace processes. The number of women negotiators, witnesses and signatories to peace agreements still remains astonishingly low.
A UN Women (2012) review identified that, out of 31 major peace processes conducted since 1992: 4% of signatories of peace agreements were women; 2.4% of chief mediators were women; 3.7% of witnesses or observers to peace negotiations were women; 9% of negotiation team members were women.
At the same time, most local women peace activists on tracks II and III, drawing on their personal and political convictions, courageously tackle questions of social justice, human rights and genderbased violence (GBV). GBV is still a prominent feature of all violent conflicts and remains unaddressed in most peace negotiations and agreements. The work of local womens organisations and individual women peace activists on GBV, social justice and other peacebuilding issues has no formal mandate and is very often not linked to the official peace process. However, local and international networks and organisations 4 have made womens often invisible and unacknowledged work visible and have highlighted their contributions to the official peacebuilding processes.
Promoting women's participation in peace negotiations & Peace processes
Извор: WUNRN – 04.07.2014
By Khalea Callender - World YWCA
Presented at the UN Human Rights Council Panel on "Harmful Traditional Practices" - 17th June, 2014
I am here representing the World YWCA which is one of the largest international women's rights movements reaching 25 million women and girls in over 120 countries. The World YWCA's Strategic Framework has three goals focused on promoting women's intergenerational and transformative leadership; advancing women's rights through advocacy, programmes and services; and building a strong movement with good governance. Within this context, it prioritises young women's leadership, violence against women, and sexual and reproductive rights and HIV.
The practice of child, early and forced marriage is widespread and occurs in all regions of the world. The World YWCA recognises that it constitutes a violation, abuse or impairment of human rights, it prevents individuals from living their lives free from all forms of violence and it has adverse consequences on the enjoyment of human rights, such as the right to education, the right to the highest attainable standard of health, including sexual and reproductive health rights.
On the occasion of its 58th session, to be held in Geneva from 30 June to 18 July 2014, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women will hold a half-day general discussion on girls'/women's right to education (article 10 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women). The general discussion will be organized by OHCHR with support from UNICEF.
The aim of the half-day general discussion is to commence the Committee's process of elaborating a "General Recommendation on girls'/women's right to education". The purpose of the general recommendation is to provide appropriate and authoritative guidance to States parties to the Convention on the measures to be adopted with a view to ensuring full compliance with their obligations under article 10 of the Convention to respect, protect and fulfil the right of women and girls to education.
