1. Human Rights WOMEN’S RIGHTS

2. Introduction to Women’s Rights Examine this website: http://www.hrw. org/topic/wome ns-rights and select ONE article about Women’s Rights. Write down five key points the article presents and mention the specific human rights issues it focuses on. http://www.hrw. org/topic/wome ns-rights View this video on Human Rights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNo9KJn 5Hwg Gender equality means women and men have equal opportunities to realise their potential, to contribute to their country's development and to benefit from their participation in society. Laws in Iran and Saudi Arabia treat women as legal minors under the guardianship of male family members, and deny them equality in marriage, divorce, child custody and inheritance. These laws ignore international human rights agreements, and highlight the need for individuals, groups and governments to take action for a better future for women in these countries.

3. Human Rights Agreements – Gender Inequality Articles from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948 2: Rights and freedoms to all people — cannot be taken away because of your sex 3: Right to life, liberty and security 7: Right to be treated equally by the law 17: Right to own goods, land and other property 21: Right to take part in the government of your country and to have equal access to services in your country 26: Right to an education United Nations agreements Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination against Women 1979 Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women 1993 Millennium Development Goals (2000)

4. Human Rights Agreements – Gender Inequality Future strategies Despite improvements in the status of women, seventy per cent of the world's poorest people are female. The 2015 United Nations Millennium Development Goals aim to reduce female poverty (Goal 1), provide universal primary education (Goal 2), promote gender equality and empower women (Goal 3) and improve maternal health (Goal 5). AusAID and Women in Development (WID) responded to the challenge by integrating gender equality into development programs. Despite advancements in women's rights in Australia, such as the right to vote (1902), women still experience inequality in employment, leadership and political representation. The 2008 Australian Plan of Action Towards Gender Equality aims to : increase the number of women in leadership positions balance work and family reduce the incidence of sexual harassment and the gender gap in retirement savings strengthen the 1984 Sex Discrimination Act promote progress in health and education. In 2008, after a reduction of the gender gap in health and education, the global gender gap ranked Australia 21 out of 130 countries. Australia aims to improve political empowerment and economic participation of women, as 25 per cent of women and 21 per cent of men stated that women are not treated equally in the Australian workplace.

5. DO YOU TAKE YOUR EDUCATION FOR GRANTED?

6. Girls Rising – Film - Education Produced with support from the foundation, “Girl Rising” tells the stories of nine girls from nine different countries who share a determination to attend school and improve their lives. From their homes in Afghanistan, Cambodia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Haiti, India, Nepal, Peru and Sierra Leone, the girls confront obstacles that limit their opportunity and restrict their potential, including early marriage, gender violence and discrimination, and lack of access to healthcare. Amid these challenges, the girls pursue education as a means to improve not only their own lives, but the lives of their communities and the world at large. Education is the single largest factor which determines change in culture and community for issues on Human Rights.early marriage, Watch the trailer for a new film on Girls Education and Womens Rights here: http://www.fordfoundation.org/issues/sexuality-and- reproductive-health-and-rights/protecting-womens- rights/news?id=755 or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJsvklXhYaE http://www.fordfoundation.org/issues/sexuality-and- reproductive-health-and-rights/protecting-womens- rights/news?id=755 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJsvklXhYaE