Woman of the World - What can you do
Woman of the World -
Know Your International Human Rights
- Preface
- What are human rights?
- What is the United Nations?
- The UN: Protecting the rights of woman
- What is CEDAW
- Australia's signing of CEDAW
- A guide to the rights in CEDAW
- CEDAW and the Sex Discrimination Act
- The Optional Protocol to CEDAW
- What about Beijing?
- What can you do: The public sphere
- What can you do: Private actions
The achievement of equality requires commitment and attention in our every day lives. Each of us can contribute in a variety of ways.
Raise awareness amongst your friends, family and colleagues about the importance of human rights - whether through informal discussion, or by taking a stand against inappropriate behaviour, such as sexual or racist harassment.
Join an organisation like Amnesty International, the Young Women's Christian Association, or the Women's Electoral Lobby, which prioritise action around women's human rights issues.
You can go to: http://www.worldywca.org/ ; http://www.amnesty.org/ or to www.wel.org.au for more information.
Join an e-mail list that discusses women's human rights issues. You can visit the Australian Virtual Centre for Women and the Law (AVCWL) at: http://www.nwjc.org.au/avcwl to access a diverse range of e-mail lists about women's issues.
Attitudes, prejudices and stereotypes are perpetuated by the media and advertising. You can speak out about sexist body images and advertisements that demean women. Why not get involved in International No Diet Day on May 6 each year to celebrate diverse body images and healthy life-styles. You can contact your local Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa Association or the Young Women's Christian Association to be involved in their campaigns. You can contact the Advertising Standards Board to complain about advertising that you find offensive.
Women's surfin' rights - list of web-site resources:
The Internet is a fabulous source of updated information regarding women's human rights, from briefings on specific issues, to campaign ideas, to networking with other individuals and organisations around the world. Below is a list of websites that will provide a broad overview of the national and international women's movement. As a woman of the world, it will give you some ideas about where to start on the global campaign for women's rights!
Australian websites:
Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission: http://www.hreoc.gov.au
Federal Office of the Status of Women Australia: http://www.osw.dpmc.gov.au
Women's Rights Action Network Australia: http://www.nwjc.org.au/wrana
Australian NGO's Beijing + 5: http://www.nwjc.org.au/beijing.htm
Lawstuff: a website for young people in Australia: http://www.lawstuff.org.au
United Nations websites:
United Nations website for Women's Human Rights issues: http://www.un.org/womenwatch
United Nations website for the Division for the Advancement of Women: http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw
United Nations Human Rights Bodies: http://www.un.org/rights
United Nations Development Fund for Women: http://www.unifem.undp.org
NGO Websites:
Conference of NGO's in Consultative Status (CONGO) with the UN: http://www.conferenceofngos.org
Global alternative site for the Beijing + 5 Review Process:http://www.womenaction.org
NGO Committee on the Status of Women: http://www.womenact.org
International Women's Tribune Centre: http://www.iwtc.org
Human Rights Internet: database on human rights organisations, literature, funding and awards: http://www.hri.ca
Isis International: documenting ideas and visions, creating links, advancing women's rights, empowerment and leadership in the Asia-Pacific: http://www.isiswomen.org
Centre for Women's Global Leadership: http://www.cwgl.rutgers.edu/