gender based violence and gender (in-)equality: from 'cedaw' to istanbul and beyond
DESCRIPTION
Gender-based violence (GBV) remains one of the most pervasive human rights violations of our time. Deeply rooted in stereotypes and widespread social practices, GBV reinforces gender inequalities and causes devastating damage to victims, particularly to women who are disproportionately affected, to families and societies.The United Nations (UN) Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW, 1979), often described as the international ‘Bill of Rights’ for women, has been instrumental in sparking a number of key developments internationally. Though the Convention does not mention violence as such, some of its clauses are obviously connected with violence. Indeed, General Recommendations 12 and 19 focus on the very issue of violence against women. In the latter, the CEDAW Committee argued convincingly that GBV ‘is a form of discrimination that seriously inhibits women's ability to enjoy rights and freedoms on a basis of equality with men’. It calls upon States to take ‘appropriate and effective measures to overcome all forms of gender-based violence, whether by public or private act’, hold relevant statistics and report on the phenomenon. Advancing the relevant international normative framework at inter-governmental level and its incorporation at national level constitutes a significant development since then: the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women in 1994. A number of landmark initiatives were also taken internationally: In 1994, the Organisation of American States (OAS) signed the Inter American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence Against Women (Belem Do Para Convention). The African Union adopted, in 2003, the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol).At European Union level, European Institutions –European Parliament, European Commission, Council and European Court of Justice- have taken key decisions aimed at combating and eradicating the phenomenon. Furthermore, the European Gender Equality Institute and the Fundamental Rights Agency are actively engaged in a number of EU-wide studies, mapping exercises and methodology analyses. The role of European Institutions has been instrumental in promoting women’s rights, documenting the realities of women’s lives and setting the agenda for gender equality and women empowerment, including for combating GBV. In 2011, the Council of Europe adopted the Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention). This Convention is the first legally binding instrument in Europe and worldwide that has a comprehensive and refined array of clauses on Gender Violence, not only imposing criminalization of various behaviours by domestic law, but also making a clear cut connection between GBV and structural imbalance of power along gender lines. It also foresees the possibility of third parties (non Council of Europe Member States) to sign or accede the Convention. The Istanbul Convention entered into force in August 2014.Although significant progress has been achieved, GBV is still an under-reported phenomenon, far from being eradicated. All post-2015 national and international policy agendas need to take this reality into account.TRANSCRIPT
CLUSTER: GENDER BASED VIOLENCE AND GENDER (IN-) EQUALITY: FROM 'CEDAW' TO ISTANBUL AND BEYOND Cluster Responsibles: Prof. Maria Teresa PIZARRO BELEZA – Prof. Kalliope AGAPIOU-JOSEPHIDES
MONDAY 29 June
TUESDAY 30 June
WEDNESDAY 1 July
THURSDAY 2 July
FRIDAY 3 July
SATURDAY 4 July
9.30 11.00
Teresa PIZARRO BELEZA, Kalliope AGAPIOU-
JOSEPHIDES
Gender-based violence: from CEDAW to Istanbul and beyond
Albie SACHS
Gender rights: the experience of the
Constitutional Court of South Africa
Lydia MALMEDIE
Could the IC have gone further? Lgtb and gender-
based violence
Teresa PIZARRO BELEZA, Kalliope AGAPIOU-
JOSEPHIDES
Interactive exercise on gender-based violence
Salla SAASTAMOINEN
Current challenges of EU gender equality policy
Internal and external aspects
Albie SACHS, Salla SAASTAMOINEN, Teresa PIZARRO
BELEZA, Kalliope AGAPIOU-JOSEPHIDES
Round table discussion
What have we learned so far…
11.00 11.30
Break
11.30 13.00
Teresa PIZARRO BELEZA, Kalliope AGAPIOU-
JOSEPHIDES
Gender-based Violence: European, Inter-American and African experiences
compared
Albie SACHS
Gender Rights: the experience of the
Constitutional Court of South Africa
Lydia MALMEDIE
Could the IC have gone further? Lgtb and gender-
based violence
Teresa PIZARRO BELEZA, Kalliope AGAPIOU-
JOSEPHIDES
Interactive exercise on gender-based violence
Salla SAASTAMOINEN
Case study on gender-based violence
Albie SACHS, Salla SAASTAMOINEN, Teresa PIZARRO
BELEZA, Kalliope AGAPIOU-JOSEPHIDES
Round table discussion …Where do we stand worldwide
and ways ahead
12.30 DISTRIBUTION OF CERTIFICATES
13.00 14.30
Lunch
14.30 16.30
Albie SACHS
Gender and Human Rights: a constitutional
approach
Ryszard KOMMENDA
Meanwhile, in Russia...
FREE
Film screening and debate
Paulo ALBUQUERQUE
Tracing gender-based violence history at ECHR
Gender-based violence at the ECHR: a case study
approach
UNTIL 17:30
FREE
VENICE SCHOOL OF HUMAN RIGHTS 26 June - 4 July 2015
EIUC Monastery of San Nicolò Riviera San Nicolò 26 30126 Venice Lido, Italy