Introductory description

This module has a close connection with Theories of Gender Justice, Gender, and Law and the Global Economy, and forms part of the specialist cluster on Gender. It is also available as part of the Comparative Human Rights cluster.

The module combines a critical engagement of human rights instruments and institutions for the protection of women's human rights and mechanisms with thematic case studies examining women's rights in local, regional and global contexts. It provides a framework for feminising international law theory and contemporary human rights discourse and highlights an alternative language of human capability and entitlements. Specific topics include case studies on women’s human rights to religion and equality and health rights. In particular, the module addresses the rightlessness of women implicated in civil strife and post conflict situations. The module aims to contribute to the overall ethos of the LLM in International Development, Law and Human Rights (IDLHR).

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Session 1: Non-discrimination and Equality: Evolution of Women’s human rights in International human rights law.

Session 2: The United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women 1979 (CEDAW): From Drafting to Reservations and Beyond.

Session 3: The Optional Protocol to CEDAW (1999) and emerging jurisprudence. A Critical exploration of General Recommendations and Individual Complaints.

Session 4: Strategies for Gender Justice I. Institutional Contexts and Mechanisms for Advancement of women: Women’s Movements and NGOs as strategies for gender justice.

Session 5: Strategies for gender Justice II. Institutional Contexts and Mechanisms for Advancement of women: Women’s National Commissions and Women Ministries.

Session 6: Regional Women’s Human Rights Regimes I

Session 7: Regional Human Rights Regimes II

Session 8: Case Study: Non-Discrimination and Women’s Right to Health

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Critically engage with and evaluate the emerging jurisprudence of women’s human rights in a local/global context
• Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the origin, scope and evolution of women’s human rights in international law. More specifically, they would acquire a comprehensive understanding of the major human rights treaties and other instruments emanating from the United Nations relating to women and mechanisms for protection of human rights within these treaties.
• Demonstrate an ability to work effectively in groups taking account of expressed opinions and dealing with them effectively, work with sensitivity, recognising different perspectives.
• Demonstrate an advanced ability to deliver effective oral presentation skills
• The ability to critically analyse, examine and understand legal, economic, political and social materials on human rights. To evaluate the potential for and limitations of legal regulation of particular aspects of gender relations.
• Demonstrate high quality research, interpretation and drafting skills in relation to texts on women’s human rights at the national, regional and international levels.

Indicative reading list

Byrnes, A. and Bath, E. (2008) “Violence against women, the obligation of due diligence, and the
Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against
Women – recent developments” 8(3) Human Rights Law Review pp. 517 – 533.
Rudolf, B. and Eriksson, A. (2007) “Women’s rights under international human rights treaties:
issues of rape, domestic slavery, abortion, and domestic violence” 5(3) International Journal of
Constitutional Law pp. 507-525.
Charlesworth, H. Chinkin, C. & Wright, S (1991) “Feminist Approaches to International Law” 85
American Journal of International Law 613-645.

Hellum, A. Ali, S. S. Stewart, J. & Tsanga, A. (eds.) Human Rights, Plural Legalities and Gendered
Realities. Paths are made by Walking (2007) Harare: Weaver Books, pp. 496.

Ali, S. S. Conceptualising Islamic law, CEDAW and Women’s Human Rights in Plural Legal Settings:
A Comparative Analysis of application of CEDAW in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan (2006)
UNIFEM Regional Office: Delhi pp.245.

J. Rehman, International Human Rights Law A practical Approach (2012) Pearson Education

Meckled-Garcia, S. and Cali, B. (eds.) (2006) The Legalization of Human Rights Multidisciplinary
perspectives on human rights and human rights law, London: Routledge.

Weston, B. H. and Marks, S. P. (eds.) The Future of International Human Rights, New York:
Transnational Publishers Inc.

Ali, S.S. (2000) Gender and Human Rights in Islam and International Law. Equal before Allah, Unequal before Man? Hague: Kluwer Law International. Afshar, H. (ed.,) (1998) Women and Empowerment. Illustrations from the Third World London: Macmillan.

S. M. Rai (ed.,) (2003) Mainstreaming gender, democratizing the state? Institutional mechanisms for the advancement of women Manchester: Manchester University Press.

Subject specific skills

Subject knowledge and understanding
Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge and understanding
of the origin, scope and evolution of women’s human
rights in international law. More specifically, they
would acquire a comprehensive understanding of the
major human rights treaties and other instruments
emanating from the United Nations relating to women
and mechanisms for protection of human rights within
these treaties.
Cognitive Skills
Critically engage with and evaluate the emerging
jurisprudence of women’s human rights in a
local/global context
The ability to critically analyse, examine and
understand legal, economic, political and social
materials on human rights. To evaluate the potential for
and limitations of legal regulation of particular aspects
of gender relations.
Subject-Specific/Professional Skills
Demonstrate high quality research, interpretation and
drafting skills in relation to texts on women’s human
rights at the national, regional and international levels.

Transferable skills

Key Skills
Demonstrate an ability to work effectively in groups
taking account of expressed opinions and dealing with
them effectively, work with sensitivity, recognising
different perspectives.
Demonstrate an advanced ability to deliver effective
oral presentation skills