6 February-19 March 2013 | Registration form
Instructor: Dr. Aisling Swaine
The idea that "women's rights are human rights" has become a generally accepted refrain and gained secure positioning within international approaches to, and discourse on, international human rights. It took decades of advocacy however for women's rights and gendered diversities to become recognised as relevant to the international human rights system. Feminist theorists have contributed significant critique on the failings of the human rights system in addressing the social, political and economic inequalities specifically affecting women. Legal and normative instruments have been introduced to address the marginalisation of women's interests, such as the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Beijing Platform for Action (BPFA, 1995). International policies and strategies such as "gender mainstreaming" have also been developed to advance the achievement of women's rights and gender equality in practice. To date, significant steps have been taken to evolve a human rights system that takes cognizance of the need for gender inequalities and diversities to be inherent to approaches to securing human rights for all.
This e-learning course provides a general introduction to the evolution of concepts of gender equality and women's rights within the international human rights system. It provides a foundational understanding of the centrality of gender equality to human rights discourse generally and how this is addressed within the UN human rights system. Participants will gain an overview of the various legal and normative developments that promote women's rights, address gendered identities and advance practical approaches to securing gender equality. Critical concepts such as intersectionality and cultural relativism will be examined as they relate to the enforcement of existing international approaches to advancing women’s rights.
Through this course, participants will deepen their knowledge about the evolution of human rights frameworks in response to gender inequality and women's empowerment. Participants will be encouraged to think critically about how the human rights system engages with the reality of gender disparities.
This certificate course involves approximately 50 hours of reading, discussion, webinars and quizzes, and is offered over a 6-week period. The course is based on a participatory, active learning approach, with an emphasis on critical reflection and peer-to-peer learning. Participants will do the required readings, prepare interim and final assignments and participate in group discussions. Case studies will be used to enable interactive learning and activities.
Course outline
Week 1: The origins and evolution of "women's rights"
Week 2: Feminist theory and critique of the human rights agenda
Week 3: Gender equality in the UN human rights treaties
Week 4: Gender and identity, incl. sexual orientation and reproductive rights
Week 5: Women's rights in the human rights system
Week 6: Development of gender mainstreaming as key strategy
About the instructor
Dr. Aisling Swaine is a Visiting Scholar at the Transitional Justice Institute, University of Ulster in Northern Ireland and an independent consultant. Ms. Swaine is a technical specialist on women's rights, gender equality and gender-based violence (GBV) related to international humanitarian and development programming. Aisling worked for over seven years at field levels for international NGOs and the United Nations in Kosovo, Burundi, Timor-Leste and Darfur (Sudan). She spent a further five years as a consultant to international donors, the UN and international NGOs advancing international and institutional policy on women's rights, GBV, gender mainstreaming and the women, peace and security resolutions. Dr. Swaine's research and teaching interests include conflict-related violence against women, feminist legal theory, gender, conflict and transition, and gender and humanitarian action. Aisling is a regular course instructor and trainer in HREA's Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment Programme.
Who should apply
The course is intended for staff of inter-governmental and non-governmental organisations, (under)graduate students, humanitarian practitioners, gender focal points and others interested in gender equality. Participants should have a good written command of English -- the working language of the course -- and have high competence and comfort with computer and Internet use. HREA aims to ensure equal gender and geographical distribution across the selected participants. The maximum number of course participants is 25. A Certificate of Participation will be awarded upon successful completion of the course. It also possible to audit the course.
Costs
Tuition fee for participants: US$ 435 (25% discount) if paid by 30 November 2012; $ 490 (15% discount) if paid by 25 December 2012; $ 575 after 25 December 2012.
Tuition for auditors: US$ 160 (25% discount) if paid by 30 November 2012; $ 185 (15% discount) if paid by 25 December 2012; $ 215 after 25 December 2012.
There are currently no scholarships available for this course.
Registration
Register online at: www.hrea.org/application
Frequently asked questions about HREA's e-learning courses.
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