United Nations: Women’s Rights Milestones in History Agencies Campaigns and Missions Case Studies: Algeria, Myanmar, Ireland, Czech Republic, Nigeria General Timeline: http://www.un.org/un70/en/timelines/un-women

UN Charter (1945) UN founded in the aftermath of WWII: international peace and cooperation Charter’s Backbone: “to promote and encourage fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion”. First Session (1945): Eleanor Roosevelt’s (First Lady of USA) open letter to the women of the world  urging for their increased involvement in international affairs

Commission on the Status of Women (1946) Promote Gender Equality Empower Women Still exists today! (part of UN Women) Successes: Member States agreed on actions to accelerate the achievement of women's rights and empowerment (e.g. universal suffrage)

UN Declaration of Human Rights (1948) The first time in human history an international document spelled out basic civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights that all human beings — men and women alike — should enjoy

International Women’s Day (1975) Celebrated every 8th of March (since 1975) Coincided with first World Conference on Women (Mexico, 1975) Time of Second Wave Feminism

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) (1979 – Today) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBdDB5PKrmk&feature=youtu.be Known as the “Women’s Bill of Rights” 2015: 189 Member States have signed the Convention Three Principles: Substantive Equality State Obligation Non-discrimination Substantive equality: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rI8lNB-XMIk State Obligation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umETapJ4b8o Non-Discrimination: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBdDB5PKrmk&feature=youtu.be

Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women (1993) Eliminating any form of gender-based violence that results in physical, sexual or psychological harm to women. Examples: FGM Sexual Violence Domestic Violence

Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995) Women and poverty Education and training of women Women and health Violence against women Women and armed conflict Women and the economy Women in power and decision-making Institutional mechanisms for the advancement of women 9. Human rights of women 10. Women and the media 11. Women and the environment 12. The girl-child 12 Critical Areas of Concern

UN MDGs (2000-2015): Goal 3 Goal 3: Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women Target : Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education, preferably by 2005, and in all levels of education no later than 2015 Indicators 9. Ratio of girls to boys in primary, secondary and tertiary education (UNESCO) 10. Ratio of literate women to men, 15-24 years old (UNESCO) 11. Share of women in wage employment in the non-agricultural sector (ILO) 12. Proportion of seats held by women in national parliament (IPU) Maternal Mortality dropped by 45% worldwide! Improved parity in primary education of developing countries!

UN Women (July 2010) Main Roles: Provide support to inter-governmental bodies (esp. formulation of policies, standards and norms) Help Member States to implement standards (e.g. provide technical/financial support if needed) Lead and coordinate UN’s work on gender equality

Malala Day (2013) "We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back” Shot by the Taliban in 2012 for demanding equal access to education https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rNhZu3ttIU

HeForShe Campaign (2014) Emma Watson: “Gender equality is [boys’ and men’s] issue, too”

CASE STUDIES: COUNTRIES Group together according to your assigned country. Algeria Czech Republic Ireland Myanmar Nigeria

Algeria Child Marriage Sexual Violence (Rapist can avoid punishment by marrying his victim) Domestic Violence (not a crime in Algeria) Political Representation (Vote in 1962; only 8% of Parliament) Limited Job Opportunities (only 37% of women work vs. 80% of men – above age of 15).

Czech Republic Gender Pay Gap (national average of 25%) Political Representation (15% of Parliament) Domestic Violence (38% of Czech women have some experience with different forms of domestic violence during their lives)

Ireland Abortion Law (abortion is illegal in Ireland) Domestic Violence (1 in 5 women in Ireland who have been in a relationship have been abused by a current or former partner)

Myanmar Human Trafficking (Women traded in the prostitution market in Thailand or Pakistan) Political Representation (8/580 women in National Assembly) Unequal Access to Education (Girls have to get higher results than boys to gain access to university) Sexual Violence

Nigeria Child Marriage (43% of girls marry before they’re 18) FGM (“6,000 girls are subjected to this every day” – WHO) Sharia Law (recognised by Nigerian Constitution) Unequal Access to Education

Bibliography https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/10/un-womens-rights-feminism-equality