Violence Against Women Under International Human Rights Law

Since the mid-1990s, increasing international attention has been paid to the issue of violence against women. However, there is still no explicit international human rights treaty prohibition on violence against women and the issue remains poorly defined and understood under international human rights law. Drawing on feminist theories of international law and human rights, this critical examination of the United Nations' legal approaches to violence against women analyses the merits of strategies which incorporate women's concerns of violence within existing human rights norms such as equality norms, the right to life, and the prohibition against torture. Although feminist strategies of inclusion have been necessary as well as symbolically powerful for women, the book argues that they also carry their own problems and limitations, prevent a more radical transformation of the human rights system, and ultimately reinforce the unequal position of women under international law.
Review:
'This book is a significant and original contribution to human rights literature that is firmly grounded in feminist theory applied to the law, institutions and practice of the United Nations human rights system. Dr Edwards' meticulous and persuasive analysis of the work of selected human rights bodies is an impressive work of scholarship.' Professor Andrew Byrnes, University of New South Wales 'This book is essential reading for those concerned with the development of international law on women's rights to protection against violence. It provides an exhaustive examination of the legal responses of the international human rights system to violence against women, and offers insightful perspectives on improving those responses.' Professor Rebecca J. Cook, University of Toronto 'In this clear and compelling book, Dr Alice Edwards brings human rights legal and policy experience to feminist jurisprudence and illuminates both areas. The book analyses the way that international human rights law responds to the realities of women's lives, especially the violence they face. Dr Edwards uses closely textured legal case studies to examine the responses of international institutions to the phenomenon of violence against women and concludes that, although some progress has been made, international law has not delivered on its promises of justice and equality. This book will be valuable for international human rights legal practitioners, but it will also interest and engage feminist theorists.' Professor Hilary Charlesworth, Australian National University 'Violence against women is one of the most pressing human rights issues of our time. This book is an excellent contribution to the literature in this area. As the first book-length engagement with this subject from a jurisprudential perspective, it assesses the record of the international human rights machinery in its efforts to respond to this issue, as well as the merits of current approaches. Edwards' book should be read by anyone interested in this area. It should also be taken account of for the broader debate on reform of the UN treaty body system.' Professor Michael O'Flaherty, United Nations Human Rights Committee 'This book provides an incisive and critical examination of how violence against women has been viewed by and accommodated into international human rights law and jurisprudence. The depth and eloquence of the discourse is drawn from Edwards' personal experience working with survivors of sexual violence in post-conflict situations. Edwards writes in an engaging and clear manner, which makes her book accessible to a wide audience. An illuminating guide and a valuable resource.' Dr Volker Turk, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 'This treatment of the status of violence against women under international human rights law by Dr Alice Edwards is a tour de force of erudition and rigour. The book succeeds on three levels: first, it offers an exceptional synthesis of the current state of international law in this area; second, it provides an excellent entry-point into feminist theoretica