The role of justice in the advancement and protection of women's rights

Abstract

Th e issue of the role of the courts in the advancement and protection of women’s rights has been raised in several international and regional foras in the light of the diffi culties being encountered by women throughout the world in fully enjoying their rights. Th e issue was previously raised at the Dakar and Beijing Conferences and some recommendations were put forward on it. Th e issue was again addressed at the subregional meetings organized by the Economic Commission for Africa for the decade review of the implementation of the Dakar and Beijing Platforms for Action, during the fi rst half of 2004. Participants in these meetings noted that signifi cant progress had been made since the accession of their countries to the Convention on all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the international instruments on human rights particularly on paper but not in reality.