International human rights law and women

Securing the protection and promotion of the human rights of women remains a challenge in the 21st century. Notwithstanding the significant advances in international human rights norms relating to women, systemic discrimination and inequality are part of everyday life for many women in the world. Many human rights abuses relate solely to, or impact more significantly on, women, such as, violence, human trafficking, and female genital mutilation. This unit examines the international human rights obligations and standards pertaining to women, including relevant international treaties, customary international law and the domestic means of implementing international norms. It covers the theoretical debates about securing the human rights of women, including debates about discrimination, equality and the public-private divide and examines the impact and challenges of cultural practices on the realisation of women's human rights