Women are entitled to all human rights and to be free from discrimination. That is what the UNWomen group stands behind. Globally, 143 countries out of 195 have accepted the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and guarantee equality between women and men in their constitutions as of 2014.
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women was adopted on 18 December 1979. In 1891, after the 20th country to implement the convention, it was ratified. Eight years later, nearly 100 countries agreed to follow the legal framework protecting women’s rights. The Convention consists of 6 Parts each focusing on non-discrimination, sex stereotypes, sex trafficking, women’s rights with emphasis on politics, economics, and social rights, equality to marriage and family life.
The effect of women discrimination can be encouraged through acts which result in women being restrained the right of recognition of pre-existing gender-based disadvantage. It could be non-intended or indirectly discriminated. On the other side, the omission of acts related to women’s rights can be a disposition for a failure to take the necessary lawful measures, to adopt and implement policies aimed at gender equality. It can be an obstacle to enforce appropriate laws. A practical example will be a job description requiring a professional who has experience in various news desks including crime. The law does not allow women to serve on a crime desk due to safety concerns. Furthermore, no women can meet the job description requirements. For instance, the Irish government has a separate division that pays attention to gender equality issues and promotes the female representation at work, in politics, in public affairs, company boards. They also fight against violence and engage with women to strengthen their voice in the government.
Discriminative factors are not all the same for every female representative. So, the side-effects are experienced differently. Multiple forms of discrimination can be based on place of birth, nationality, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, economic and social status, race, and many other factors. Here are some of the most common forms of discrimination and how they impair women’s lives.
In more than 60 countries, women are denied the right to acquire, change or retain their nationality.
Impact: They don’t have the same citizenship rights as men including the right to vote, work, own land and property and have access to education and health care
Research of 83 countries displays that in most of them, women earn between 10% and 30% less than the male workforce for the same position.
Impact: Higher poverty rates amongst women, low chances for savings, and investments. Vulnerability to external political, economic and social crises. Likely to get a lower paid job and insecure employment.
Only 22% of parliamentary seats on a global scale are represented by women.
Impact: Policies affecting the society are decided upon without considering women’s needs or without having another gender perspective, which may not-intended neglect female society.