MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Many women round the world “still face discrimination”

Almost every country in the world still has laws that discriminate against women, and promises to remedy this have not been kept, the top United Nations human rights official said on Friday, speaking on the eve of International Women's Day.

"Many States appear to have simply ignored the commitments they have made," UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour stated. "It is shameful that, in the 60th anniversary year of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, fundamental rights are still not enjoyed by many women around the world. "In some cases, they suffer from multiple forms of discrimination, such as race, age or disabilities as well as their gender. Unless states take their commitments seriously, investing in women and girls will remain a matter of rhetoric," she added. This failure to create genuine legal parity between men and women is having "a detrimental effect on women in many countries -- sometimes to a devastating degree," according to a new report commissioned by the High Commissioner's Office (OHCHR). One of the most dangerous examples of this involves the recognition of sexual abuse as a crime under a country's laws and enforcing related legislation. "Rape is recognized as a crime in most legal systems," said Ms. Arbour. "But, even when it is, inadequate legislation or local traditions often mean laws are not properly enforced. "In addition, at least 53 States still do not outlaw rape within marriage, and men frequently enjoy total impunity for physical as well as sexual violence against their wives," she noted. The High Commissioner stressed that strengthening legal frameworks to protect women and to ensure their rights is crucial to combat violence against them. "What is clear, is that many States are failing to live up to their promises to review their laws and root out institutional discrimination, and millions of women continue to suffer grave injustices as a result." Echoing the High Commissioner's call, three independent UN human rights experts today urged States to invest in women and girls to ensure gender equality and prevent violence against women. The theme of this year's International Women's Day, "Investing in Women and Girls," is a timely reminder that women's access to sources of finance, their participation in decision-making processes and opportunities for sustainable livelihoods are vital to "bridging the gap between universal human rights standards and the realities of the majority of the world's women," they said. The group called on States, donors and the private sector to step up efforts to "respect, protect and fulfill women's civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights, and allocate adequate resources towards addressing discrimination and violence against women." The joint statement was issued today by the Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, its Causes and Consequences, Yakin Ertürk; the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing, Miloon Kothari; and the Independent Expert on the effects of economic reform policies and foreign debt on the full enjoyment of human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights, Bernards A. N. Mudho.