United Nations Radio

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, has called for the repeal of laws that discriminate against women.

Speaking in Geneva at the start of a panel discussion on the human rights of women, Navi Pillay noted that at the World Conference on Women held in Beijing in 1995 governments made commitments to end discrimination against women.

Five years later, she added, it was decided that 2005 would be the target date for the revocation of laws that discriminate against women but that deadline has come and gone.

She told the Geneva meeting that inequality in the law exists in all regions of the world and in all legal traditions.

"In some countries, married women are forbidden from keeping their own names or passing their nationality on to their children. Their right to own land or inherit property may be limited, and their rights in marriage and divorce law are subjugated to the legal rights of their husbands. In other states, women do not have freedom of movement, and must be accompanied by male guardians."

Ms Pillay acknowledged that there are areas in which progress has been achieved in promoting women's rights.

She expressed her support for the creation of a mechanism to primarily and exclusively tackle laws that discriminate against women.

Diane Bailey, United Nations.
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