Monash University

Leader: Ms Kate Eastman

Offered

Not offered in 2008

Synopsis

Securing the protection and promotion of the human rights of women remains a challenge in the 21st century. Notwithstanding the significant advances in international human rights norms relating to women, systemic discrimination and inequality are part of everyday life for many women in the world. Moreover, securing human rights for women is proving more difficult than for men in many areas, particularly because of traditional stereotypes and cultural practices. Additionally, many human rights abuses relate solely to, or impact more significantly on, women, such as, violence, human trafficking, and female genital mutilation.

Objectives

Upon completion of this unit, students should:

• Appreciate the historical development of women's

human rights within the broader international human

rights movement

• Understand, analyse and critically comment on the

theoretical debates about securing the human rights of

women, including debates about discrimination,

equality, the public-private divide, cultural relativism

and mainstreaming human rights

• Understand, analyse and critically comment on the

international approaches to securing the human rights

of women

• Evaluate the impact and challenges of cultural

practices on the realisation of women's human rights

• Have a comprehensive understanding of the

international human rights obligations and standards

pertaining to women, including relevant international

treaties, customary international law and the domestic

means of implementing international norms

• Have a comprehensive understanding of the

international human rights system as it relates to the

protection and promotion of women

• Have a comprehensive understanding of the

mechanisms for enforcing the human rights of women

• Understand, analyse and critically comment on

specific challenges to the protection and promotion of

the human rights of women, such as violence against

women, human trafficking, entry and participation in

labour markets, women's health issues and the

particular threats to women's rights during times of

armed conflict

• Have an appreciation of current challenges to and

debates surrounding the human rights of women

• Be able to understand, evaluate and apply policy

arguments for and against reform of the legal

protection afforded to women

Assessment

Research paper (3,750 words): 50%

Take home examination (3,750 words): 50%

or

Research paper (7,500 words): 100%

Contact hours

24 hours of seminars

Prerequisites

LAW7026