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Case Study Part One: The Collective Consciousness of Gender

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Abstract

This chapter introduces the case study of the book: the collective consciousness of gender in the international community. It provides an overview of the conscious orientation of gender in international law. This consciousness is constructed in the form of women’s rights and different strands of feminism. The chapter specifically explores The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (the CEDAW) and its complaint procedures.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Convention on the Political Rights of Women, opened for signature 31 March 1953, 193 UNTS 135 (entered into force 7 July 1954).

  2. 2.

    This approach to ‘contemporary women’s rights in international law’ does not ignore the work of women’s groups and suffragettes during the nineteenth century and the World Wars, for example, the International Congress of Women, lobbying for women’s rights in the League of Nations and the National Women’s Party of the US (Charlesworth and Chinkin, 2000, pp. 15–16).

  3. 3.

    As of August 2012, the UN has 193 members.

  4. 4.

    The letter was signed by Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt (United States), Mrs. M. Lefaucheaux (France), Miss Minerva Bernardino (The Dominican Republic), Mrs. Dalen (Norway), Mrs. Verwey (The Netherlands), and 12 other women delegates to the General Assembly.

  5. 5.

    By the United Nations Economic and Social Council by resolution 11 (II) of 21 June 1946.

  6. 6.

    ECOSOC Resolution establishing the CSW, E/RES/2/11, 21 June 1946.

  7. 7.

    Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted on 10 December 1948, UN Doc. A/RES217 A (III).

  8. 8.

    Convention on the Political Rights of Women, opened for signature 31 March 1953, 193 UNTS 135 (entered into force 7 July 1954). According to the United Nations Treaty Collection, the Convention has 122 states parties as of August 2012.

  9. 9.

    Convention on the Nationality of Married Women, opened for signature 29 January 1957, 309 UNTS 65 (entered into force 11 August 1958).

  10. 10.

    Convention on Consent to Marriage, Minimum Age for Marriage and Registration of Marriages, opened for signature 7 November 1962, 521 UNTS 231 (entered into force 9 December 1964).

  11. 11.

    Recommendation on Consent to Marriage, Minimum Age for Marriage and Registration of Marriages (1965) General Assembly Resolution 2018 (XX) of 1 November 1965.

  12. 12.

    Convention Against Discrimination in Education, opened for signature 14 December 1960, 429 UNTS 93 (entered into force 22 May 1962).

  13. 13.

    International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, opened for signature 16 December 1966, 999 UNTS 171 (entered into force 23 March 1976).

  14. 14.

    International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, opened for signature 16 December 1966, 993 UNTS 3 (entered into force 3 January 1976).

  15. 15.

    Convention Concerning Night Work of Women Employed in Industry, opened for signature 9 July 1948, 81 UNTS 285 (entered into force 27 February 1951).

  16. 16.

    See articles 14, 16 and 49 of the Geneva Convention (III) relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, opened for signature 12 August 1949, 75 UNTS 135 (entered into force 21 October 1950).

  17. 17.

    1921 Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Women and Children, as amended by the 1947 Protocol, opened for signature 12 November 1947, 53 UNTS 39 (entered into force 24 April 1950).

  18. 18.

    Declaration on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, adopted 7 November 1967, General Assembly Resolution 2263 of 1967.

  19. 19.

    Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, opened for signature 1 March 1980, 1249 UNTS 13 (entered into force 3 September 1981).

  20. 20.

    The United Nations Treaty Collection, Status List for the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (1979), site accessed 28 December 2017: https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=IND&mtdsg_no=IV-8&chapter=4&lang=en

  21. 21.

    It must, however, be noted that fundamental reservations to the CEDAW have been made by several states parties, which have been argued to undermine the object and purpose of the treaty: http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/reservations.htm

  22. 22.

    See Economic and Social Council Resolution 76 (V) of 5 August 1947, amended by Resolution 304 I (XI) of 14 and 17 July 1950; reaffirmed and modified by Council Resolutions 1983/27 of 26 May 1983, 1992/19 of 30 July 1992, 1993/11 of 27 July 1993, 2009/16 of 28 July 2009, and decision 2002/235 of 24 July 2002.

  23. 23.

    Appointed in 1994 by resolution 1994/45 of the Commission on Human Rights. Her mandate was renewed by resolution 1997/44 of the Commission.

  24. 24.

    First Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, opened for signature 16 December 1966, 999 UNTS 302 (entered into force 23 March 1976).

  25. 25.

    See ‘Human Rights Committee,’ site accessed 13 July 2012, http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrc/

  26. 26.

    S. W. M. Broeks v. The Netherlands, Communication No. 172/1984, U.N. Doc. CCPR/C/OP/2 at 196 (1990).

  27. 27.

    Shirin Aumeeruddy-Cziffra and 19 Other Mauritian Women v. Mauritius, Communication No. 35/1978, U.N. Doc. CCPR/C/12/D/35/1978 (1981).

  28. 28.

    Graciela Ato del Avellanal v. Peru, Communication No. 202/1986, U.N. Doc. Supp. No. 40 (A/44/40), (1988).

  29. 29.

    Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, opened for signature 21 December 1965, 660 UNTS 195 (entered into force 4 January 1969).

  30. 30.

    Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhumane, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, opened for signature 10 December 1984, 1465 UNTS 85 (entered into force 26 June 1987).

  31. 31.

    Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, opened for signature 30 March 2007, UN Doc. A/61/611 (entered into force 3 May 2008).

  32. 32.

    Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, opened for signature 18 December 1990, 2220 UNTS 3.

  33. 33.

    Established by ECOSOC Resolution 5/1 of 18 June 2007, replacing the previous 1503 Procedure of the UN Commission of Human Rights.

  34. 34.

    Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, opened for signature 6 October 1999, 2131 UNTS 83 (entered into force 22 December 2000).

  35. 35.

    For up-to-date records of signatures, ratifications and accessions, see the United Nations Treaty Collection: http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-8-b&chapter=4&lang=en

  36. 36.

    Cristina Muñoz-Vargas y Sainz de Vicuña v. Spain, Communication No. 7/2005, U.N. Doc. CEDAW /C/39/D/7/2005, (2007).

  37. 37.

    Constance Ragan Salgado v. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Communication No. 11/2006, CEDAW /C/37/D/11/2006, 2007.

  38. 38.

    B. J. v. Germany, Communication No. 1/2003, U.N. Doc. CEDAW/C/36/D/1/2003, (2004).

  39. 39.

    Rahime Kayhan v. Turkey, Communication No. 8/2005, U.N. Doc. CEDAW/C/34/D/8/2005, (2006).

  40. 40.

    Zhen Zhen Zheng v. The Netherlands, Communication No. 15/2007, U.N. Doc. CEDAW/C/42/D/15/2007 (2008).

  41. 41.

    N.S.F. v. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Communication No. 10/2005, U.N. Doc. CEDAW /C/38/D/10/2005, (2007).

  42. 42.

    Dayras et al. v. France, Communication No. 13/2007, U.N. Doc. CEDAW/C/44/D/13/2007, (2009).

  43. 43.

    G.D. and S.F. v. France, Communication No. 12/2007, U.N. Doc. CEDAW/C/44/D/12/2007, (2009).

  44. 44.

    Dung Thi Thuy Nguyen v. The Netherlands, Communication No. 3/2004, U.N. Doc. CEDAW/C/36/D/3/2004, (2006).

  45. 45.

    A dissenting opinion of Committee members, Naela Mohamed Gabr, Hanna Beate Schöpp-Schilling, and Heisoo Shin argued that this denial of two source of maternity leave may constitute indirect discrimination based on sex.

  46. 46.

    A.T. v. Hungary, Communication No. 2/2003, U.N. Doc. CEDAW/C/36/D/2/2003, (2005).

  47. 47.

    Szijjarto v. Hungary, Communication No. 4/2004, U.N. Doc. CEDAW/C/36/D/4/2004, (2006).

  48. 48.

    Sahide Goekce v. Austria, Communication No. 5/2005, U.N. Doc. CEDAW/C/39/D/5/2005, (2007).

  49. 49.

    Fatma Yildirim v. Austria, Communication No. 6/2005, U.N. Doc. CEDAW /C/39/D/6/2005, (2007).

  50. 50.

    Vertido v. The Philippines, Communication No. 18/2008, U.N. Doc. CEDAW/C/46/D/18/2008 (2010).

  51. 51.

    V. K. v. Bulgaria, Communication No. 20/2008, U.N. Doc. CEDAW/C/49/D/20/2008, (2011).

  52. 52.

    Inga Abramova v. Belarus, Communication No. 23/2009, U.N. Doc. CEDAW/C/49/D/20/2008 (2011).

  53. 53.

    Teixeira v. Brazil, Communication No. 17/2008, U.N. Doc. CEDAW/C/49/D/17/2008 (2011).

  54. 54.

    Report on Mexico produced by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women under article 8 of the Optional Protocol to the Convention, and reply from the Government of Mexico, U.N. Doc. CEDAW/C/2005/OP.8/Mexico, 27 January 2005.

  55. 55.

    Article 21(1) states:

    1. 1.

      The Committee shall, through the Economic and Social Council, report annually to the General Assembly of the United Nations on its activities and may make suggestions and general recommendations based on the examination of reports and information received from the States Parties. Such suggestions and general recommendations shall be included in the report of the Committee together with comments, if any, from States Parties.

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  1. Centre for Social Impact, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Alexandra Walker

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Walker, A. (2018). Case Study Part One: The Collective Consciousness of Gender. In: Collective Consciousness and Gender. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-54414-8_9

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