“Gender” in International Human Rights Law: Theory and Practice

INTRODUCTION. The institute for the protection of women both at international and national levels taking into account the ongoing discussions on the term “gender” is considered in the article. The authors examine the distinction between concepts “sex”, “gender” and “gender identity”, enshrined in in...

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Main Authors: A. Kh. Abashidze, O. K. Goncharenko
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) 2022-07-01
Series:Московский журнал международного права
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mjil.ru/jour/article/view/2685
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author A. Kh. Abashidze
O. K. Goncharenko
author_facet A. Kh. Abashidze
O. K. Goncharenko
author_sort A. Kh. Abashidze
collection DOAJ
description INTRODUCTION. The institute for the protection of women both at international and national levels taking into account the ongoing discussions on the term “gender” is considered in the article. The authors examine the distinction between concepts “sex”, “gender” and “gender identity”, enshrined in international legal acts and documents, the States’ positions and approaches to their use, including on the example of the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence, better known as the Istanbul Convention.MATERIALS AND METHODS. During the research the authors used different international legal documents, including international treaties, recommendations of the United Nations treaty bodies, reports of the special rapporteurs and international experts, outcome documents of international conferences, as well as doctrinal sources and national legislation of foreign countries. The study was carried out based on general scientific and special scientific methods. The methods of legal modeling and forecasting were widely used in the analysis in order to define prospects for possible future studies and development of international human rights law on the protection of women from violence and domestic violence.RESEARCH RESULTS. Demonstrating different approaches to understanding the term “gender” in protecting women from violence and domestic violence, implemented by international organizations and States, the authors examined factors that influence the position of national authorities of a number of countries when considering the possibility of accession or ratification of the core international legal acts in this area on the example of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence.DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION. The authors came into conclusion that the problems of violence against women and domestic violence should be viewed through the lens of gender equality concept, which does not entail the elimination of biological differences between two sexes and does not encourage women and men to change their social roles. The article stresses the need for an internationally agreed definition of the term “gender” in order to strengthen the legal and institutional mechanisms for a more efficient practical implementation of measures to combat violence against women and domestic violence.
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spelling doaj.art-1d5e7db2122d43c7af49713a69e86fdb2024-02-29T08:19:43ZengMoscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO)Московский журнал международного права0869-00492619-08932022-07-010261610.24833/0869-0049-2022-2-6-162605“Gender” in International Human Rights Law: Theory and PracticeA. Kh. Abashidze0O. K. Goncharenko1Peoples' Friendship University of Russia (RUDN-University)Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in the Russian FederationINTRODUCTION. The institute for the protection of women both at international and national levels taking into account the ongoing discussions on the term “gender” is considered in the article. The authors examine the distinction between concepts “sex”, “gender” and “gender identity”, enshrined in international legal acts and documents, the States’ positions and approaches to their use, including on the example of the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence, better known as the Istanbul Convention.MATERIALS AND METHODS. During the research the authors used different international legal documents, including international treaties, recommendations of the United Nations treaty bodies, reports of the special rapporteurs and international experts, outcome documents of international conferences, as well as doctrinal sources and national legislation of foreign countries. The study was carried out based on general scientific and special scientific methods. The methods of legal modeling and forecasting were widely used in the analysis in order to define prospects for possible future studies and development of international human rights law on the protection of women from violence and domestic violence.RESEARCH RESULTS. Demonstrating different approaches to understanding the term “gender” in protecting women from violence and domestic violence, implemented by international organizations and States, the authors examined factors that influence the position of national authorities of a number of countries when considering the possibility of accession or ratification of the core international legal acts in this area on the example of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence.DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION. The authors came into conclusion that the problems of violence against women and domestic violence should be viewed through the lens of gender equality concept, which does not entail the elimination of biological differences between two sexes and does not encourage women and men to change their social roles. The article stresses the need for an internationally agreed definition of the term “gender” in order to strengthen the legal and institutional mechanisms for a more efficient practical implementation of measures to combat violence against women and domestic violence.https://www.mjil.ru/jour/article/view/2685gendergender equalitygender identityistanbul conventionviolence against womendomestic violence
spellingShingle A. Kh. Abashidze
O. K. Goncharenko
“Gender” in International Human Rights Law: Theory and Practice
Московский журнал международного права
gender
gender equality
gender identity
istanbul convention
violence against women
domestic violence
title “Gender” in International Human Rights Law: Theory and Practice
title_full “Gender” in International Human Rights Law: Theory and Practice
title_fullStr “Gender” in International Human Rights Law: Theory and Practice
title_full_unstemmed “Gender” in International Human Rights Law: Theory and Practice
title_short “Gender” in International Human Rights Law: Theory and Practice
title_sort gender in international human rights law theory and practice
topic gender
gender equality
gender identity
istanbul convention
violence against women
domestic violence
url https://www.mjil.ru/jour/article/view/2685
work_keys_str_mv AT akhabashidze genderininternationalhumanrightslawtheoryandpractice
AT okgoncharenko genderininternationalhumanrightslawtheoryandpractice