Gender equality

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Sentencia Constitucional Plurinacional 0206/2014

Patricia Mansilla Martínez, a member of Bolivian Parliament, filed an abstract action of unconstitutionality against articles 56, 58, 245, 250, 254, 258, 263, 264, 265, 266, 269, 315, and 327 of the Criminal Code for discrimination against women. The Court did not consider the constitutionality of articles 254, 315 or 317, as they are no longer in force.

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Key Factors in using Strategic Litigation

IELSUR, ESCR-Net and the NGO Coalition for an OP-ICESCR organized an open public event and workshop on strategic litigation under the OP-ICESCR on August 14-15 in Montevideo.  Leading domestic organizations in Uruguay attended the event.

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Ramakant Rai v. Union of India, W.P ( C) No 209 of 2003

The petition in this public interest litigation (PIL) case cited data from the States of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Maharashtra, regarding government practices regarding female sterilization, which lacked counseling or informed consent, lacked pre- and post-operative care, and included unhygienic and un-anesthetized operating conditions, sterilization of minors, coercion and cruelty.  The PIL requested the Court to direct the state governments to comply with the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s Guidelines on Standards of Female Sterilization, enacted in October 1999 (“the Guidelines”).

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Advancing ESCR in Mongolia and China – Lawyers, community leaders and academics gathered for strategic litigation workshops

On April 17-19, 2013, ESCR-Net and the Center for Human Rights and Development brought together lawyers, experts, and community leaders from Mongolia to enhance knowledge about the Optional Protocol to the ICESCR; build networks of solidarity and support among lawyers and activists and support Mongolian organizations to identify potential cases that could be advanced under the OP-ICESCR.

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Factsheet on Women's Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

This factsheet provides a basic overview of the content of economic, social and cultural rights for women. 

Developed thanks to the collective work of ESCR-Net Members
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Guide: Claiming Women's ESC Rights Using OP-CEDAW and OP-ICESCR

This Resource Guide aims to improve the existing knowledge and understanding of activists and lawyers on international norms and standards, such as substantive equality, to support effective advocacy on women’s economic, social and cultural rights.

Developed thanks to the collective work of ESCR-Net Members
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LMR v. Argentina (UN Doc. CCPR/C/101/D/1608/2007)

Born on 4 May 1987, LMR is a young woman living with her mother, VDA in Argentina. She has a mental impairment and has a mental age between 8 and 10 years old.. During a hospital visit she was found to be pregnant. Under section 82.6 of the Argentinean Criminal Code abortion is legal where the pregnancy is the result of the rape of a mentally impaired woman. LMR filed a police complaint and scheduled an abortion. Her abortion was prevented by an injunction against the hospital. LMR appealed unsuccessfully to the Civil Court.

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Submission to CEDAW, Access to Justice

The Women and ESCR Working Group of ESCR-Net collectively developed a short submission for CEDAW's Day of Discussion on Access to Justice. 

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Women's Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

The Women’s ESCR Working Group focuses on activities in the following areas: Capacity-Building, Resource Creation, Norm Development, and Networking.

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MEDHA KOTWAL LELE & ORS. v. Union of India and Others. [2012] INSC 643

The case was presented by the Human Rights Law Network (HRLN) to the Constitutional Court in light of the non-enforcement of a previous decision that established guidelines against sexual harassment at the work place in India: Vishaka vs.

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