Women's Human Rights : Issues of Implementation in Sri Lanka
This thesis is about issues concerning the implementation of women's human rights in Sri Lanka.Sri Lanka has had a conflict between the Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam, LTTE for two decades. Since 2002 there has been a ceasefire agreement in place, which is being violated by both parties. Before being abandoned in 2003, one woman was present during the peace talks that were held.In this paper I present the results of my field research conducted in Sri Lanka in November and December of 2005. The aim was to find out how women were active in the peace process since it is stipulated in international conventions that they have a right to participation. During the interviews with women activists it became evident that women were not involved in the official peace process. Therefore the thesis is about women’s human rights in Sri Lanka and the obstacles for their implementation.Two main reasons for the lack of implementation of women’s human rights in Sri Lanka are identified. Firstly, for reasons of culture and patriarchal structures, there is a general lack of implementation internationally of women’s human rights. Secondly, the unresolved conflict situation in Sri Lanka, which reflects the unequal power relations between men and women that existed prior to the conflict. The lack of implementation of women’s human rights in Sri Lanka results in women not being present in the political life and they are therefore not part of the official peace process.International conventions such as the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, CEDAW and the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on peace and security are addressed in the thesis in order to examine women’s human rights and their right to participation in politics and peace building.Finally, I conclude that in order to include women in the official peace negotiations women need to actively participate in politics. The method presented to ensure such participation is that of affirmative action. It is a measure that falls under the category of temporary measures, which is suggested in CEDAW article 4.1.
Introduction to women's human rights issues
Offers an overview of current legal discourse as it confronts domestic violence, violence in the workplace, sexual harassment, trafficking in women, and the other common abuses of women around the world. Here are valuable studies of the stereotypes and obstacles that underlie the human rights issues affecting women in the areas of employment, education, environment, and housing. This volume also features clear, unbiased perspectives on the women's rights aspects of religious fundamentalism and traditional practices such as female genital mutilation.
Women, Armed Conflict, and International Law
Acknowledgments. Foreword. 1. Women, Armed Conflict and International Law. 2. The Impact of Armed Conflict on Women. 3. International Humanitarian Law, Women and Armed Conflict. 4. A Gender View of the Shaping of IHL. 5. UN Developments Concerning Women and Armed Conflict. 6. International Redress. 7. The Way Forward. A Final Word. Bibliography. Index.