International Human Rights Protection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

International Human Rights Protection - Essay Example However, with not all countries adhering to the provisions of convention with sincerity, the convention has not been able to bring about the necessary effect, and thus, discrimination of women has continued unabated even in literate and well-developed societies. The implementation of the 1979 UNGA convention was a creditable effort in bringing out human rights concerns of the female half of the humanity. The convention specified meaning of equality and also the means to achieve it. As per Article 1, discrimination has been spelt out as "any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex ... in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field." The agenda is then spread over fourteen such articles including human reproduction aspects and their rights therein. While cultural and legal status of women receives maximum attention, their rights to education, employment, economic and social activities are also critically assessed. It also declares full equality of women in civil and business matters and that any instrument restricting such legal capacity shall be null and void. Marriage, family relations and rights with regard to choice of spouse, parenthood, personal rights and command over property receive deta iled description. In reproductive function, it requires shared responsibility for child rearing, maternity protection and child care. Society's obligations in areas like provisioning of child care facilities while women performing public life have been clearly spelt out. Cultural patterns which define world as a man's world globally also need to be amended through proactive initiatives by respective societies with assistance from their governments. Essential Drawbacks The essential drawbacks in implementation of the provisions of the convention lie in the fact that while states have an obligation to implement the convention; there is no accepted way of penalising a state that willingly or unwillingly does not conform to implementation of these provisions. While states with better track record have achieved better human development in terms of lower poverty, better education or uniform laws for all citizens, most developing or undeveloped countries have failed to satisfactorily ensure women's empowerment due to lack of national will, inadequate policy implementation and deep rooted traditional issues which are dificult to tackle. While the list of difficulties being faced is too long to be included in this section, some such aspects along with specific articles of the convention are discussed in succeeding paragraphs: Traditional view of subordinate position of women in most societies has been the biggest roadblock across the world. Articles 2(f), 5 and 10 (c) relate to traditional attitudes regarding women being subordinate to men. Besides physical violence and mental torture, this also causes lower levels of education, neglected skills, unequal work opportunities and minimal political participation. These also propagate pornography and use of women as sexual objects than as individuals. Article 6 requires elimination of women trafficking and prostitution.