What Are Girls’ Human Rights?
Girls, like all human beings, have the same human rights as outlined in international human rights law. These include civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights. However, girls often face particular challenges and discrimination that make it necessary to focus on their rights and needs.
Girls' human rights include, but are not limited to, the right to life, non-discrimination, education, health, protection from violence, and participation in decision-making. These rights are essential to ensure that girls can live their lives with dignity, autonomy, and free from discrimination and violence.
Girls' experiences of discrimination and violation of their rights are often shaped by intersecting forms of oppression, such as gender, age, race, ethnicity, disability, and socioeconomic status. This means that girls who face multiple forms of discrimination may be more vulnerable to human rights violations and may face even greater barriers to accessing their rights.
Therefore, it is essential to recognize and address the unique experiences and needs of girls to ensure that their human rights are protected and fulfilled. This requires an intersectional and gender-sensitive approach that takes into account the diverse and complex realities of girls' lives and ensures that their voices are heard and their rights are respected.
What is Gender Equality & Equity?
Gender equality and equity for girls refers to the concept of providing equal rights, opportunities, and resources to girls and women, regardless of their gender identity. It recognizes the historical and systemic inequalities that girls and women have faced in various aspects of life, including education, employment, health, and politics, and seeks to address them through policies and practices that promote equal access and treatment.
Gender equality is the equal treatment of girls and women in all areas of life, such as education, employment, health, and politics. It involves eliminating discrimination, bias, and stereotypes based on gender identity & promoting equal opportunities & rights for all.
Gender equity, on the other hand, refers to the fair distribution of resources, opportunities, and outcomes among girls & women, taking into account their different needs and circumstances. It recognises that girls & women may face different barriers and challenges based on their gender identity, and seeks to address them through policies & practices that promote fairness & inclusion.
Gender equality and equity for girls require the removal of social, economic, cultural, and legal barriers that prevent girls and women from realizing their full potential. It involves creating a supportive environment that allows girls and women to thrive and contribute to society, free from discrimination and violence.
What is Intersectional Discrimination?
Intersectional discrimination is a form of discrimination that occurs when a person or a group of people is subjected to discrimination on the basis of multiple grounds, such as gender, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, or socioeconomic status. Intersectional discrimination recognizes that individuals may experience discrimination differently depending on their unique identities and circumstances, and that multiple forms of discrimination can intersect and compound each other.
For girls, intersectional discrimination can occur when they face discrimination not only based on their gender, but also due to other aspects of their identity such as their race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or disability. For example, a girl who is from a low-income background and is also part of a marginalized racial or ethnic group may face barriers in accessing education or healthcare, in addition to facing gender-based discrimination. This intersectional discrimination can limit their opportunities and ability to reach their full potential.
Addressing intersectional discrimination for girls requires a comprehensive and holistic approach that recognizes the interconnectedness of different forms of discrimination and the importance of promoting equality and non-discrimination across all aspects of their lives. It requires creating policies and programs that are sensitive to the diverse needs of girls and promote their full and equal participation in all areas of life, regardless of their intersectional identities.
What Does International Law Say About Girls’ Human Rights?
International law recognizes girls' human rights through various treaties, agreements, and declarations:
Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC): This treaty, adopted in 1989, outlines a comprehensive framework for the protection & promotion of children's rights, including the rights of girls. It recognizes girls' right to equal treatment under the law, freedom from discrimination, education, health care, & protection from violence, exploitation, & abuse.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR): While not specifically mentioning girls, the UDHR sets the foundation for the protection of all individuals' human rights, including the rights to life, liberty, security, and equality before the law.
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW): This treaty, adopted in 1979, specifically addresses gender-based discrimination against women and girls. It recognizes girls' right to equal treatment under the law, education, health care, and protection from violence, exploitation, and abuse.
Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action: Adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995, it outlines the commitments of governments & other stakeholders to promote gender equality & women's empowerment, including the rights of girls.
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): The SDGs, adopted in 2015, include a specific goal (Goal 5) to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls, including their rights to education, health, and freedom from violence.
International law establishes the obligations of states to protect and promote girls' human rights through legal and policy frameworks, and to ensure that girls are treated with dignity, respect, and equality.