Commission on Human Rights MORNING 14 April 2005 Continues General Debate on Specific Groups and Individuals The Commission on Human Rights this morning adopted four resolutions on practices fuelling...

Commission on Human Rights AFTERNOON 4 April 2005 Continues Debate on Civil and Political Rights The Commission on Human Rights this afternoon heard presentations from the Chairperson-Rapporteur of...

The cultural construction of gender is conducive to generalized discrimination against women in all cultures. Discrimination against women and girls cannot, therefore, be considered an essentialist element, present in certain cultures and not in others. Since cultures are neither homogeneous nor unchanging, there are very significant differences between them concerning their stages of development and the extent to which the patriarchy, misogyny and practices that are harmful to women and girls exist within them. Culture, when understood as a macro concept, also includes religion. Religions are often a haven against social and cultural change. In all religions, there are movements that resist any change to the patriarchy and the status of women and girls in the family.