Women and Conflict : A Review of Recent Issues in Women’s Rights

Throughout the past several decades, steps have been taken by the United Nations and other international organizations to ensure the rights and equality of women around the world. In 1979, the General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), which was viewed as an International Bill of Rights for Women. At the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995, it was asserted that women’s rights are human’s rights, and gender equality is a global issue. In 2008, the global campaign UNiTE to End Violence Against Women was launched, asserting violence related to gender a global and immediate concern. Just a couple weeks ago, on August 26^th, Women’s Equality Day was observed by many, and activists around the nation expressed support for the ratification of CEDAW in the US.

However, despite advances in the fight for women’s rights over the years and increasing activism, violations of gender equality laws are persisting in modern times around the world, and acts of violence and discrimination against women are committed every day. For instance, over 500 women were raped in Eastern Congo in July and August this year. These large-scale crimes against humanity show that sexual violence is used as a weapon in modern warfare, and as Amnesty International declared, “Rape is cheaper than bullets.” The tragic and disturbing violence against these women in Congo is but one example of the persisting struggle for gender equality around the world. The rapes in Congo also represents the failure of UN peacekeepers to properly intervene, as they knew about the attacks for two weeks before responding. Clearly, in order to advance in the fight for women's rights for victims such as those in Congo, immediate action needs to be taken to prevent such horrible attacks.

Other issues in women’s rights continue to emerge each day. A report on August 26, 2010 described the discrimination that women with disabilities face in Uganda. Many of these women experience physical, sexual, and verbal abuse, and furthermore have limited or unavailable access to services such as health care.

Another recent report discussed the human rights’ violation of female genital mutilation which persists in Indonesia, as well as in parts of Africa and elsewhere still in the world. Though the procedure was banned in Indonesia, it remains common and damages women physically, sexually, and psychologically. “ A midwife at a state hospital in Jakarta told IRIN on condition of anonymity that she cuts newborn girls: ‘When mothers ask me to do it, I tell them about the upsides and downsides of circumcision,’ she said. But when asked to explain the benefits, she declined further comment. “ Surprised? Me neither.

Furthermore, in India reports have been recently released about the degrading rape tests that women are subjected to, which are not only unnecessary, but may further damage women who have already been victims of sexual violence. Reports such as these display the unethical practices that continue to occur within the realm of gender inequality and rights’ violations, and the need to take action to stop them.

While a disturbing number of women’s rights violations continue to occur each day, steps of progress can be seen as well. For instance, a recent law was passed in Libya granting women married to foreign spouses the right to pass their nationality on to their children. Though women in Libya continue to experience mistreatment and inequalities, laws such as these convey the steps forward that are occurring in Libya and around the world.

Additionally, a new study has been released that suggests the pay gap between men and women may be coming to a close in the US, which is another huge step forward for gender equality. In fact, the study finds that some women earn salaries that are about 8% higher than those of their male counterparts. While this finding is only true for women who fit the criteria of being under 30, unmarried and childless, and residents of cities, it is still a step forward in women’s rights and will hopefully encourage future steps to ensure total gender equality in the workplace.

Therefore, it is clear that the struggle for women’s rights of the past decades is continuing today, but with increased awareness, education, and advocacy, progress can be made. For more information on how you can help stop violence and the unequal treatment of women around the world, visit:

http://www.amnestyusa.org/violence-against-women/stop-violence-against-women-svaw/page.do?id=1108417

http://www.amnestyusa.org/violence-against-women/page.do?id=1011012