Women's and Human Rights

Human rights are civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights that are entitled to all humans regardless of their parentage, age or religion. They are not only the normative fundament and guiding idea of development cooperation but also an important sphere of action concerning concrete projects where people themselves as well as their rights, their participation and their empowerment are in focus.

 

Relating to human rights the rights of women are of high importance as they prevail as disadvantaged group in many regions of the world.

 

The international reference document for women’s rights is the  Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

 

Next to standards concerning the empowerment and protection of women against discrimination, the convention contains other postulations such as the equalization of the legal status, sexual and reproductive health as well as protection against violence, exploitation and trafficking in women. Moreover, it postulates provisions for equal opportunities for men and women, the elimination of traditional gender roles and stereotypes in governmental and private areas, the elimination of traditional discriminating practices and customs as well as the specific enhancement of equalization of girls. These postulations offer concrete approaches for development cooperation. Additionally, they apply the UN Millenium Development Goals 3 (promote gender equality and empower women) and 5 (improve maternal health).

 

With its projects in Northern Uganda, GEZA campaigns for the implementation of human and women’s rights and gets involved with the rights of the Saharawi population in line with its advocacy work for Western Sahara.