Are Women’s Rights being sidestepped at the new Council?
They have to constantly be brought to the fore because they are not automatically included in human rights. It’s historical: civil and political rights are indeed associated more with the world of men than women. Women don’t have access to training, information and thus politics the way men do. Women are therefore associated more with socio-economic rights.
Is it better to defend “women’s rights” or to fight for “gender recognition”?
With regard to women’s rights, there are those relating to women as citizens and those that are the responsability of a State. With recognition of gender - which analyzes discrimination from a cultural point of view - as no one is ’responsible’ there can be no right or duty. The two concepts are complimentary, one is an analytical tool and the other is a lobbying tool. We prefer the expression “women’s human rights”.
What are the prospects for Women’s Rights at the Council?
They must become automatic, a reflex for the Council.
In other words?
First of all, the special rapporteurs need to address this issue for each of the themes that is being worked on: health, torture, racism, etc. Then, the gender-specific loopholes need to be pinpointed in each topic. For example, there is a need to bring in special rapporteur on issues such as reproductive rights or the right to sexuality. They don’t even exist at present. And lastly, the universal periodic review needs to systematically take gender-specific violations into consideration, for instance domestic violence. Something needs to be done, especially since Kofi Annan’s report on this issue requires the Council to address these topics by 2008.
Should there be quotas for the number of women on the Council?
Argentina has done this for its parliament. Quotas are a special and temporary measures that can help. Why isn’t there a single women candidate for post of UN Secretary General? Is there not a capable woman out there? None in the entire world?
In 2006, what are the greatest violations suffered by women?
It’s impossible to rank them. Having said that, HRW works on 4 women-related themes: health (AIDS and abortion), work (abuses linked to migrant domestic help), armed conflicts (rape as a weapon) and the status of a women within the family unit, notably in Middle Eastern legislation.
Your working methods?
Study the causes of discrimination. Fight against the trafficking of women. Simply asking: Why does a woman allow herself to become involved? Answer: Because she doesn’t have access to a good job in her country of origin! There’s a need for awareness campaigns.
Lastly, Women’s Rights - a legal problem or problems applying the legislation?
Some countries have discriminatory laws, but at the international level, it’s simply a question of enforcement. Mandatory implementation is what’s lacking here.