Submissions to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights: Violation of Human Rights of Women in Asia

This paper prepared by the Asia Legal Resource Center and featured in the newsletter "Human Rights Solidarity", highlights systematic violations of women's human rights in Burma, India and Pakistan. The paper begins by noting that substantive gender equality goals of the 1995 Beijing Platform for Action, have generally not been realized, and, in spite of efforts by some, women continue to be barred from equal participation in society. The paper looks at the abuse and discrimination many women still face by virtue of their sex. It briefly describes the situation of women and children in Burma, which is noted as having one of the longest civil wars of this century. This war has given rise to a refugee crisis, prostitution of women, and crimes such as rape against women and girl children. In India, problems associated with the caste system are considered by examining the situation of the Dalit population and specifically Dalit women who face multiple discrimination on the basis of gender, caste and from their own menfolk. Lastly, sexual harassment and violence against women in Pakistan is addressed.