Addressing Gender-Based Violence in an International Context
Author(s)
Etienne, Margareth
Abstract
This article, exploratory in nature, revisits the feasibility of establishing workable international standards for addressing the dehumanizing violence and discrimination that women suffer by virtue of their gender. It concludes that human rights activists and organizations seeking justice for women must not rely on contemporary international law, but must instead focus on local grassroots and watch group institutions that are intimately aware of the abuses faced by women. Part I examines the nature of abuses against women and looks critically at the United Nations’ response to these crises. Part II discusses the deficiencies in public international law, namely the United Nations’ Charter and the Women’s Convention, and the inherent limitations of the framework of international law in addressing the issue of gender-based discrimination. It suggests seeking justice for women in an alternative setting: Human rights for women can be attained more fruitfully through localized structures that both prioritize education, control, and management and seek concrete solutions in the struggle against gender bias.
