Session outline eleven: The human rights of women Objectives Participants will have a basic understanding of human rights standards applying especially to women in the administration of justice, and will be sensitized to the importance of eliminating gender discrimination in law enforcement activities and to the important role of the police in combating violence against women in all its forms Sources UDHR (art. 2) ICCPR (arts. 2, 3 and 26) CEDAW (preamble, paras. 3, 9 and 14; arts. 1, 2(d)-(f), 3, 5(a), 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15) Declaration on Discrimination against Women (preamble, paras. 2 and 4; arts. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 9 and 10) Declaration on Violence against Women (preamble, paras. 5 and 8; arts. 1, 2, 3 and 4) Code of Conduct (preamble, para. 8(a); arts. 1 and 2) SMRTP (rules 23 and 53) Principles on Detention or Imprisonment (principle 5) Standards Women are entitled to equal enjoyment and protection of all human rights in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil and all other fields.154 These rights include the rights to life; equality; liberty and security of person; equal protection under the law; freedom from discrimination; the highest attainable standard of mental and physical health; just and favourable conditions of work; and freedom from torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.155 Violence against women may be physical, sexual or psychological and includes battering, sexual abuse, dowry violence, marital rape, harmful traditional practices, nonspousal rape and violence, sexual harassment, forced prostitution, trafficking in women and exploitation-related violence.156 Violence against women, in all its forms, violates and impairs or nullifies the enjoyment by women of human rights and fundamental freedoms.157 Police shall exercise due diligence to prevent, investigate and make arrests in respect of all acts of violence against women, whether perpetrated by public officials or private persons, in the home, the community and official institutions.158 Police shall take rigorous official action to prevent the victimization of women and shall ensure that revictimization does not occur as a result of police omissions or gender-insensitive enforcement practices.159 Violence against women is a crime and must be treated as such, also when it occurs within the family. 160 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 UDHR, article 2; ICCPR, article 3; Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (hereinafter “Declaration on Discrimination against Women”), preambular paragraphs 2 and 4; CEDAW, third preambular paragraph and articles 1, 2 and 3; Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women (hereinafter “Declaration on Violence against Women”), article 3. CEDAW, articles 1 and 7-15; Declaration on Discrimination against Women, articles 2, 4, 5, 6, 9 and 10; Declaration on Violence against Women, article 3. Declaration on Violence against Women, article 2. Declaration on Violence against Women, fifth preambular paragraph. Declaration on Violence against Women, article 4(c) and 4(i). Declaration on Violence against Women, article 4(f). Declaration on Violence against Women, eighth preambular paragraph and articles 1, 2(a) and 4(c). 143