Women's Rights Protection: a Pathway to International and European Mechanisms Against Discrimination
This course aims at studying the primary international and European Law mechanisms in place to protect aganist discrimination based on gender, sexual orientation or gender identity. The subject is introduced through the evolution of women's rights and their international recognition.
The course focuses on the universal principles of equality and non-discrimination, and how international organizations work to protect and promote these principles.
Understanding how to indentify inequality helps us tackle discriminatory actions, avoid them and fight discrimination. In the face of discriminatory actions, we must stand for equality!
Courses generally have little or no prerequisite knowledge required for a given topic, however if students face any doubts, we recommend they contact course professors to clarify.
| Week | Contents | Teaching / learning activities |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Fundamentals of International systems of protection of human rights. Fundamentals of equality and non-discrimination. History and evolution of women’s rights and its international protection. UN Instruments and mechanism of protection of women’s rights |
Case study Debates Proposal of Positive Actions |
| 2 |
UN Instruments and mechanism against racism UN Instruments and mechanism of protection of people with disabilities. European Organisations: Council of Europe and European Union. Council of Europe’s instruments and mechanisms to fight against racism. Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence |
Case study Debates Proposal of Promotion Actions |
| 3 |
European Union instruments, mechanisms, and policies. EU non-discrimination Directives EU and gender equality Evolution and protection of LGBTIQ+ rights in Europe. |
Case study Debates Proposal of Legislative Actions |
There are 3 assessment activities, one at the end of each week. The activities include:
- A case study to be presented and discussed in class. Both, the presentation and participation in the debate, will be graded.
- A research paper about a topic that affects equality and how it is regulated internationally.
- Create a podcast episode based on the research paper.
Bibliography:
Belavusau, Uladzislau, and Kristin Henrard. EU anti-discrimination law beyond gender , edited by Uladzislau Belavusau and Kristin Henrard. Primera edició. Oxford: Hart Publishing, 2019. Print.
Guth, Jessica. Gender and the Court of Justice of the European Union, Jessica Guth, Sanna Elfving. London; Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2020. Print.
Hellum, Anne, and Henriette Sinding Aasen. Women's Human Rights: CEDAW in International, Regional and National Law. Vol. 3. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2013.
https://bibcercador.uab.cat/permalink/34CSUC_UAB/1c3utr0/cdi_proquest_ebookcentral_EBC1303706
Martín Sánchez, María. La Perspectiva de género en la protección internacional de los derechos humanos: diálogo multinivel y deconstrucción de estereotipos / María Martín Sánchez. 1a edición. Valencia: Tirant lo Blanch, 2020. Print. Disponible online :
https://biblioteca-tirant-com.are.uab.cat/cloudLibrary/ebook/show/9788413781617
Rivas Vañó,Alicia. LGBTI en Europa: la Construcción Jurídica de la Diversidad, Editorial: Tirant lo Blanch, 2019, ISBN: 9788491904809
https://biblioteca.tirant.com/cloudLibrary/ebook/show/9788491904809?showPage=0
Internet links.
CEDAW: http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/
CES: http://www.unwomen.org/en/csw
UN Women: http://www.unwomen.org/es/
Universal Declaration of Human Rights: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/UDHR/Pages/UDHRIndex.aspx
EIGE - European Institute for Gender Equality: https://eige.europa.eu/es/in-brief
Council of Europe: https://www.coe.int/en/web/cm/home
European Commission : https://ec.europa.eu/info/policies/justice-and-fundamental-rights/gender-equality_en
European Pariment LGTBI Intergroup: https://lgbti-ep.eu/
FRA - European Agency for Fundamental Rights: https://fra.europa.eu/en/theme/gender
EUR-Lex - EU Legislation and Case Law Finder:
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/homepage.html?locale=es
Dr. Lidia Ballesta Martí is a lecturer in EU and international Law at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB). Her primary research areas include gender and non-discrimination law within the EU and at the international level. She is part of the teaching staff for both the Law degree and the Socio-Cultural Gender Studies degree. Additionally, she coordinates a project "Transnational Dimensions of Equality and Law."
- E-mail: lidia.ballesta@uab.cat