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The Indivisibility of Rights and Substantive Equality for Women

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International Human Rights of Women

Part of the book series: International Human Rights ((IHR))

Abstract

This chapter discusses the manner in which gender equality and elimination of discrimination against women have been conceptualized in the decades after the WCHR (Vienna declaration and programme of action 1993. World Conference on Human Rights. UN Doc A/CONF.157/23. United Nations, 1993b). It suggests that the recognition of women’s rights as human rights, and the indivisibility and interdependence of civil and political rights and economic and social rights, at the conference, helped change accepted norms and analysis on the meaning of gender equality. It is argued that these changes helped develop a concept of substantive equality that addresses the reality and diversity of women’s lived experience of discrimination in their communities. This change has also helped to expand the meaning of state obligation to address and eliminate gender-based discrimination and the liability of both state and non-state actors for violations of women’s rights. The chapter discusses international and regional treaties and global policies and national experience on the enforcement of women’s rights that reflect these post-Vienna developments. It concludes with a discussion of current challenges in sustaining positive developments to ensure future progress on the gender equality agenda.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Emeritus Professor of Law University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka

    Savitri W. E. Goonesekere

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  1. Savitri W. E. Goonesekere
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Correspondence to Savitri W. E. Goonesekere .

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  1. School of Political Science and Sociology, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland

    Niamh Reilly

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Goonesekere, S.W.E. (2019). The Indivisibility of Rights and Substantive Equality for Women. In: Reilly, N. (eds) International Human Rights of Women. International Human Rights. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-8905-3_20

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