Endnote

• Author: Meena Shivdas - Sarah Coleman
• Profession: Gender Section, Commonwealth Secretariat - Justice Section, Commonwealth Secretariat
• Pages: 197-198

197

Part IV: Afterword

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16. Endnote

Meena Shivdas, Gender Section, and Sarah Coleman,

Justice Section, Commonwealth Secretariat

By bringing together critical analyses of recent efforts towards the realisation of women’s

rights within legal and cultural contexts, this publication situates the progress and the

challenges in advancing gender equality throughout the Commonwealth.

The volume presents substantive articles on current regional developments, Common-

wealth principles and guidelines1 for promoting and implementing CEDAW throughout

its 54 member countries and practical examples provided by way of summaries of

relevant case law. It is hoped that the global aspirations articulated in this publication

for the full implementation of women’s rights will assist practitioners, especially judges,

magistrates and lawyers, in their vital role in supporting the implementation of CEDAW

across the Commonwealth.

A comprehensive approach to understanding the importance of the Convention is

provided by both the section on case law, which illustrates the practical application of

CEDAW provisions at the national level, and by the inclusion of non-state entities’

perspectives on its implementation. Non-state actors are important in the promotion and

protection of human rights generally and in the implementation of CEDAW specifically.

Examples of how the courts have, over the years, managed those customary or cultural

practices that are discriminatory and inconsistent with CEDAW and/or national consti-

tutions are pertinent in guiding or assisting other practitioners involved with similar

issues.

It is hoped that a timely overview of international efforts to further the protection of

women’s rights is provided by the various analyses and personal reflections on

CEDAW implementation and by the examples of how customs and practices may be

reconciled with statutory legislation and international human rights standards.

It is hoped further that this publication will provide valuable inspiration for all members

of Commonwealth judiciaries, as they continue in their efforts to interpret and apply

constitutional guarantees purposively and with the generosity appropriate to charters

of freedom to ensure the full protection of women’s human rights.

1. Bangalore Principles, 1988; Victoria Falls Declaration of Principles for the Promotion of the

Human Rights of Women, 1994; Hong Kong Conclusions, 1996; and the Georgetown

Recommendations and Strategies for Action, 1997.