CRIN - Child Rights Information Network
Rights-based approaches to gender reflect internationally agreed human rights principles in development policy and practice. The human rights principles most relevant to gender issues are non-discrimination, participation and equality of opportunity. These are all recognised rights for children in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and underpinned by the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
Gender refers to the socially constructed roles of women and men. These depend on social, economic, political and cultural contexts. Women and girls are the most affected by gender discrimination. In many parts of the world, their voices are stifled in the public and private sphere. In this way, women and girls are denied the right to a voice, to education and sometimes the right to play.
But boys also suffer from gender discrimination in many ways. For example, they can be sent to work at a young age and are more likely to be recruited by armed groups. In some societies violent and promiscuous behaviour is seen as a sign of masculinity. Teenagers who do not demonstrate this behaviour can be vulnerable to discrimination.
Working with both men and women to overcome gender stereotypes is key the realisation of children’s rights.
Our work should emphasise the need to reach young girls whose voices have been marginalised and boys whose behaviour is determined by their sex. One way to assess this is to differentiate data not just by sex, but also by age, ethnicity, economic status and geographic origin. This can help to eliminate disparities in legislation, social policy and resource allocation caused by social disadvantage.
Altering deeply ingrained ideas about gender roles will not happen over night. However, over time, rights-based approaches can go a long way to effecting behavioural change and promoting respect between men and women for each others rights, dignity, diversity and equality.
Example: Ground breaking Vishaka Decision on Sexual Harassment Still Resonates in India and Beyond
Twelve years after the Supreme Court of India issued a landmark judgment regarding sexual harassment; significant strides have been made towards eliminating this particular form of discrimination against women. Systems for accountability have been established in public and private institutions, and sexual harassment is more widely acknowledged as a violation of women’s rights. As a result, more women are willing to come forward with complaints.
These changes arose from the famous ruling on Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan in 1987, brought before the Supreme Court of India by a group of women’s NGOs. Read more
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