Centre for the Study of Human Rights, The London School of Economics and Political Science
Intensive two-day course on 'Understanding Women's Human Rights'
19 - 20 June 2014
Deadline for application: 12 May 2014 (applications for a subsidized place), 31 March 2014 (for a 10% discount)

This two-day course will examine the international human rights law framework that guarantees the rights of women and critically evaluate its potential to challenge core obstacles undermining the effective protection of women’s rights in the world today.

The international human rights system has adopted both general human rights standards and specific human rights norms to eliminate discrimination against women and to guarantee their substantive rights. The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (the Women’s Convention), adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly, is widely referred to as an international bill of rights for women. The Women’s Convention – and the UN Committee responsible for its interpretation and implementation – arguably interpret the normative international human rights framework more creatively than any other international human rights treaty or body. And yet entrenched discrimination against women persists worldwide, with women suffering human rights violations on the grounds of their gender on a daily basis. So what has the Women’s Convention achieved to date and what role does it have to play in challenging the multiple obstacles that prevent millions of women across the globe from accessing and enjoying their basic rights? This short course will examine these fundamental questions and consider what value the international human rights framework has for securing women’s rights at the domestic level.

 

Course components

• The international human rights framework for guaranteeing women's rights.

• Economic and social rights of women, including access to education, health and reproductive choices.

• Violence against women, including domestic violence, rape and harmful traditional practices.

• Displaced women, asylum, immigration and trafficking.

• Political participation of women at local, national and international levels.

 

Why take this course?
• Provides an overview of international human rights law, including general human rights standards to eliminate discrimination against women.

• Explains the specific framework for the protection of women's rights in international law through a series of seminars and case studies

• Examines from a human rights perspective how to challenge obstacles undermining women's enjoyment of basic human rights

• Addresses substantive issues of women's rights today

• Provides access to leading human rights practitioners and academics.

 

Detailed information on the teachers, fees and administration can be found here.