Report of the Working Group on the issue of discrimination against women in law and in practice - HRC 29 session

In this report, the Working Group on the issue of discrimination against women in law and in practice examines discrimination against women and girls in cultural and family life. The cultural construction of gender determines the role of women and girls within the family, including in marriage. After analysing the impact of culture and religion on the enjoyment of equal rights by women and girls in society and the family, the Working Group redefines family by incorporating a gender perspective.
In reaffirming equality between the sexes and family diversity, it is necessary to apply the principle of women’s right to equality in all forms of family law, in secular family law systems, State-enforced religious family law systems and plural systems.
After recalling the obligation of States to combat discrimination against women in cultural and family life, the Working Group makes several recommendations, drawing on good practices, for the establishment of true equality between the sexes in cultural and family life.
It references the internet on the paragraph 20 when it says:
The Working Group is concerned about the considerable increase in laws and public policies developed to protect culture and religion that threaten the universally established standards on the rights of women. Gender-based stereotypes, often strengthened and legitimized in national constitutions, laws and policies, are justified in the name of cultural norms or religious beliefs. Failure to eliminate these stereotypes leads to the generalization of practices that are harmful to women and girls. The sexist stereotypes present in the media, on the Internet, in audiovisual productions and in video games contribute to the perpetuation of a culture of discrimination and violence against women.
Contents
I. Introduction.............................................................................................................. 3
II. Activities ................................................................................................................. 3
A. Sessions............................................................................................................ 3
B. Country visits................................................................................................... 3
C. Communications and press releases................................................................ 3
D. Commission on the Status of Women.............................................................. 4
E. Other activities................................................................................................. 4
III. Thematic analysis: eliminating discrimination against women in cultural and
family life, with a focus on the family as a cultural space....................................... 4
A. The cultural construction of gender................................................................. 4
B. The family: conceptual and sociological aspects............................................. 8
C. Legal sources of family law............................................................................. 11
D. The role of the State in ensuring respect for women and girls’ right to
equality in cultural and family life................................................................... 15
IV. Conclusions and recommendations.......................................................................... 17