Women’s rights are human rights yet these rights are denied to them in most parts of the world just based on gender.
Women’s rights are to live a life free of violence, slavery, and discrimination, to be educated, to own property, and to earn a fair and equal wage. These rights form the basis of the 19th-century women’s rights movement and 20th-century Feminist movements.
These rights are enshrined in the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights
Two important documents which form the cornerstone of women’s rights are the Convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women(CEDAW). Secondly, the international bill of rights of women requires governments to end gender discrimination and rights to health services including family planning.
Beijing’s declaration and platform for action adopted in 1995 called for gender equality in every aspect of life.
According to Lenin, women must realize what proletarian dictatorship means for them complete equality with men in law and practice, in the family, in the state, and in society; an end to the power of the bourgeoisie.
Women in ancient Sumer could buy sell own and inherit property and could engage in commerce and testify in the courts as a witness. In ancient Egypt, women have the same right under the law as a man. Women in the early Vedic period in India enjoyed equal status with men in every aspect of life they were educated and free to select their husbands in a practice called Swayamvar.
In Classical Athens, women were barred from becoming poets, scholars, politicians, or artists. Women were excluded from ancient Athenian democracy, both in principle and in practice.
Aristotle denied that women were slaves or subject to property. He argued that women’s main economic activity is that of safeguarding the household property created by men.
Stoic philosophers argued for equality of the sexes, sexual inequality being in their view contrary to the laws of nature.
Roman law, similar to Athenian law, was created by men in favor of men. The central core of Roman society was the Pater familias, or the male head of the household who exercised his authority over all his children, servants, and wife.
During the Byzantine rule, women could not be legal witnesses, hold administrations or run banking.
The English Church and culture in the Middle Ages regarded women as weak, irrational, vulnerable to temptation, and constantly needing to be kept in check. This was reflected in the Christian culture in England through the story of Adam and Eve where Eve fell to Satan’s temptations and led Adam to eat the apple. This belief was based on St. Paul, that the pain of childbirth was a punishment for this deed that led mankind to be banished from the Garden of Eden.
Women’s identities in the Middle Ages were also referred to through their relations with men they associated with, such as “his daughter” or “so and so’s wife.
In the legal system, women were regarded as the property of men so any threat or injury to them was the duty of their male guardians. In Irish law, women were forbidden to act as witnesses in courts. In Welsh law, women’s testimony could be accepted by other women but not against men. In France, women’s testimony had to corroborate with other accounts or it would not be accepted
Medieval marriages among the elites were arranged in a way that would meet the interests of the family as a whole. The minimum age for girls was 12. One of the most Germanic codes from the Lombard tradition legislated that women be under the control of a male Mundoald, which constituted her father, husband, older son, or eventually the king as a last resort if she had no male relatives
The rate of Welgrid suggested that women in these societies were valued mostly for their breeding purposes
Women throughout historical and ancient China were considered inferior and had subordinate legal status based on law. In Imperial China, the Three Obediences promoted daughters to obey their fathers, wives to obey their husbands, and widows to obey their sons. Women were legally bought and sold into slavery under the guise of domestic servants. These women were known as Mui Tsai.
The first-wave feminism of the 19th and early 20th centuries focused on women’s legal rights, especially the right to vote, the second-wave feminism of the women’s rights movement touched on every area of women’s experience including politics, work, the family, and sexuality. The third wave embraced diversity and individualism in women. Fourth-wave feminism began around 2012 and is characterized by a focus on the empowerment of women, and the use of internet tools.
According to Women peace and security index, 28 percent of women face some physical violence before the age of 50. Pakistan remains the sixth most dangerous country regarding domestic violence. Patriarchal and cultural norms greatly impact women’s rights in Pakistan. Honor killing, acid attack, and domestic violence are prevalent there are more than 1000 cases of honor killing reported annually, and rape goes unreported in most of the cases
It has been a long struggle, and by denying women equal rights half the population is denied a chance to live life to its fullest
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan tried to bring education to women. Mohammad Ali Jinnah pointed out that Muslim women from all classes supported the Pakistan movement in the 1940s.
Pakistani women got the right to vote in 1947. After the independence, several women leaders like Fatima Jinnah, and Begum Rana Liaqat Ali Khan emerged advocating the rights of women in Pakistan. Had there been a fair election in 1960 and 1965 Fatima Jinnah should have been the first female President of Pakistan and things should have been different from present Pakistan
Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s government was sympathetic towards women all government services were opened to women such as DMG groups and foreign services.
Ten percent of seats in the national assembly and five percent in the provincial assembly were reserved for women. Gender equality was specially stipulated in the constitution of 1973
Zia Ul Haq’s regime was controversial, he introduced discriminatory legislation against the women such as the Hudood ordinance and Qanoon Shahadat Ordinance. He suspended all the fundamental rights guaranteed in the 1973 constitution and put forward Qisas and Diyat law.
Afghan war and support for the Taliban radicalized the tribal area. Poor socioeconomic conditions tribal and feudal culture, low education, and developmental budget impacted women’s lives and rights.
In Pakistan 21 percent of girls under the age of 18 are already married, forced conversions and marriages are also a major issue for girls belonging to minorities. Pakistan has the second highest number of out-of-school children nearly 5.5 million in the world 63 percent are girls. Maternal mortality is 186 per 100000 live births this ratio is 26% higher in rural areas.
The government should end discrimination against women and girls. End all exploitation and violence against women and girls. Eliminate forced marriages and genital mutilations. Value unpaid care and promote shared domestic responsibilities Ensure full participation in leadership and decision-making. Universal access to reproductive health and rights.
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