Topic 1 Human rights as a general framework for a policy in gender equality
- Social policy is a set of political concepts and programs designed to maintain, protect and develop the vital sources of society (Lotreanu, 1999).
- In a narrow sense, social policy acts in those sectors of activity that affect or generate the degree of individual and social well-being or the degree of persons’ quality of life (Margineanu, 2015).
- Any social policy has a constant and systematic cycle.
- Not any problem become a social problem. Problems become social problems “when either they affect the quality of life of large groups of people or those in power express concern over those being affected” (Chambers & Bonk, 2012, cited by Cox, 2015, p.3).
- TH Marshall’s in 1992 made the “distinction between civil and political rights on the one hand and social or welfare rights on the other – provides a clearer and more explicit basis for an international call for the progressive development of social policies.
- Universal Declaration of Human Rights in his current form has 30 articles that have been subsequently developed through conventions, treaties, constitutions and laws.
- The documents points core principles: universality of human rights, their independence and indivisibility, equality and non-discrimination.
- Articles 2-15 are referring to political and individual freedoms.
- Articles 16-27 are centered on proper standard of living; standard that includes health, well-being, food, clothing, housing, medical care, necessary social services that each country, according to its resources, have to offer to all its residents.
- Articles 28-30 promotes intergovernmental cooperation on environment and development, international peace and international distributive justice.
- Gender equality implies the acceptance of the fact that every policy, program and project affect women and men differently.
- Gender equality signified that all person rights or opportunities do not depend on being male or female.
- Gender equality is a cross-cutting goal. Women’s point of views, interests and needs shape the development agenda as much as men’s, and that the development agenda support progress toward more equal relations between women and men.
- Women’s empowerment is central to achieving gender equality.
- Promoting the equal participation of women as agents of change in economic, social and political processes is essential to achieving gender equality.
- Gender equality can only be achieved through partnership between women and men.
- Achieving gender equality will require specific measures designed to eliminate gender inequalities.
(CIDA’s Policy on Gender Equality, Canadian” International Development Agency, 1999, Quebec,)
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