Part I The human rights of women and girls Since then, there have been numerous important developments in both recognizing and implementing the human rights of women and girls. For example, global literacy rates have risen dramatically and women and girls have shared fully in this change. More girls are being educated than ever before and, in many countries, more women than men are now attending university. Women have much greater opportunity and resources to plan their families and improved healthcare has made childbirth much less dangerous than it used to be. These achievements are substantial and deserve to be celebrated. However, much remains to be done. Progress has been uneven and women in developed countries have benefited disproportionately from changes in laws, policies, practices and attitudes. Even at the international level, there is still disagreement around issues such as political participation, reproductive rights and action to address violence against women. As detailed below, the human rights situation of women and girls remains dire in many parts of the world. 1.4. HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES OF SPECIAL CONCERN TO WOMEN There is little disagreement today with the notion that “human rights are women’s rights”. Few would openly challenge the idea that core human rights – from political participation, to education, to criminal justice – apply equally to men and women, without discrimination on the basis of sex. 19 20 But the concept of “women’s human rights” takes this a step further. It recognizes that women experience their human rights – and experience violations of their human rights – in ways that are different to men. It also recognizes that women are vulnerable to human rights violations in ways that reflect the fact they are women and the structures and expectations that are built into the idea of what it is to be “female”. “Sex” refers to the biological differences between men and women. “Gender” refers to socially constructed identities, attributes and roles for women and men and society’s social and cultural meaning for these biological differences resulting in hierarchical relationships between women and men and in the distribution of power and rights favouring men and disadvantaging women.19 “Gender equality” refers to the equal rights, responsibilities and opportunities of women and men and girls and boys. Equality does not mean that women and men will become the same but that women’s and men’s rights, responsibilities and opportunities will not depend on whether they are born male or female. Gender equality implies that the interests, needs and priorities of both women and men are taken into consideration – recognizing the diversity of different groups of women and men. Gender equality is not a “women’s issue” but should concern and fully engage men as well as women. Equality between women and men is seen both as a human rights issue and as a precondition for, and indicator of, sustainable people-centred development.20 19 Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women; General Recommendation No. 28; 2010; para. 5 20 United Nations Office of the Special Advisor on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women; Gender Mainstreaming: Strategy for Promoting Gender Equality; August 2001 (revised); p. 1. Chapter 1: Why focus on women’s and girls’ human rights? | 5