1. United Nations: Women’s Rights
Milestones in History
Agencies
Campaigns and Missions
Case Studies: Algeria, Myanmar, Ireland, Czech Republic, Nigeria
General Timeline:

2. 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

3. 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)

4. 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

5. 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

6. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) (1979 – Today)
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:
State Obligation:
Non-Discrimination:

7. 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

8. 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

9. UN MDGs ( ): 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, 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!

10. 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

13. 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

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

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

16. 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).

17. 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)

18. 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)

19. 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

20. 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

21. Bibliography