Women and Global Human Rights

Women

and

Global Human Rights

Ravensbruck, July, 2000

Discussions of human rights often fail to acknowledge the unique concerns of women around the globe particularly as they relate to the subordination of and injustices against women. Yet clearly, women's rights are human rights concerns. Violence against women and girls is the most pervasive violation of human rights in the world today. Discrimination against women and girls is an important basic cause of malnutrition. The very high rates of child malnutrition and low birth weight throughout much of South Asia are linked to such factors as women's poor access to education and their low levels of participation in paid employment, compared with other regions. Women comprise 70% of the world's poor. Eighty percent of the world's refugees are women and children. And as stated by Her Excellency Mary Robinson, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, "Bonded labour and the traffic in women and children have become our modern day versions of slavery." More than 1 million children, mostly girls, are forced into prostitution every year.

Students, as part of an advanced seminar, examined and wrote about a variety of women's international human rights concerns. This webpage represents the culmination of these students' work.

Important Phone Numbers

The National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233
Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network (RAINN) Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE
Childhelp - USA National Child Abuse Hotline:1-800-4-A-CHILD (TDD 1-800-2-A-CHILD)
Marital Rape Information Line: 217-244-1024
National Family Violence Help-line: 800-222-2000
National Victim Resource Center: 800-627-6872
Elder Abuse and Neglect Hotlines: Go to National Center on Elder Abuse referral listings

Topics:

Acid Attacks Adoption Rights Asylum

Domestic Violence Economics Education

Female Genital Mutilation Female Infanticide Female Political Prisoners in Northern Ireland & Strip-Searching

Forced Labor and Debt Bondage Forced Sterilization Homeless Women

Homohatred Honor Killings Housing Rights

Lesbians and Human Rights Military Rape

Rape: A Weapon of War Refugee and Displaced Women Sexual Harassment

Sex Trafficking Sex Workers' Rights Single Motherhood and Teen Pregnancy

Sweatshops V-Day Initiative Virginity Testing

Women and Christianity Women in Afghanistan Women in Bangladesh

Women in U.S. Prisons Women's Voting Rights in Kuwait

Fight Domestic Violence! Donate your old cell phone to the Wireless Foundation. Send your old cell phone, battery, and charger to:
CALL to PROTECT
c/o Motorola
1580 E. Ellsworth Road
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
Click here for more information