INTERNATIONAL LAW
The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action was adopted by the Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for Equality, Development and Peace, Beijing, 15 September 1995. The document was agreed upon by world governments at the Conference and is a comprehensive outline of strategic steps to be taken in order to concretise and enhance the goals of CEDAW (See CEDAW). Although it is not a legally binding document, consisting of policy commitments rather than legal obligations, it is, nonetheless, a significant statement of principle, and has a great symbolic value.
An international convention developed in 1979 by the UN General Assembly, is often described as an international bill of rights for women. Consisting of a preamble and 30 articles, it defines what constitutes discrimination against women and sets up an agenda for national action to end such discrimination. By accepting the Convention, States commit themselves to undertake a variety of measures to end discrimination against women in all forms, including:
- to incorporate the principle of equality of men and women in their legal system, abolish all discriminatory laws and adopt appropriate ones prohibiting discrimination against women;
- to establish tribunals and other public institutions to ensure the effective protection of women against discrimination; and
- to ensure elimination of all acts of discrimination against women by persons, organizations or enterprises. Countries that have ratified or acceded to the Convention are legally bound to put its provisions into practice. They are also committed to submit national reports, at least every four years, on measures they have taken to comply with their treaty obligations.
Source: Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against Women
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a milestone document in the history of human rights. Drafted by representatives with different legal and cultural backgrounds from all regions of the world, the Declaration was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948 General Assembly resolution 217 A (III) as a common standard of achievements for all peoples and all nations. It sets out, for the first time, fundamental human rights to be universally protected.
Source: United Nations Human Rights http://www.ohchr.org/EN/UDHR/Pages/introduction.aspx
The General Conference of the International Labour Organisation adopted this Convention in 1951 and was entered into force in 1953. One of the key reasons for its creation was to ensure equal and fair remuneration for both men and women without discrimination on the basis of sex.
This international convention was adopted in 1958 and entered into force in 1960. The convention deals with discrimination in the field of employment and occupation.
Proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993, this declaration recognises the urgent need for the universal application to women of the rights and principles with regard to equality, security, liberty, integrity and dignity of all human beings. It addition to this, the decaration affirmed that violence against women constituted a violation of the rights and fundamental freedoms of women, nullifying or greatly impairing their enjoyment of those rights and freedoms.
Adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1966 and entered into force in 1976. This agreement recognises the rights of human beings enjoying freedom from fear and what can only be achieved if conditions are created whereby everyone may enjoy his economic, social and cultural rights, as well as his civil and political rights
LOCAL FIJI LEGISLATION
One of Fiji’s legislations relating to employment and industrial relations in the country.
A more up to date piece of Fiji legislation also regarding the workplace and includes sections on equal wages and sexual harassment procedures. Also provides more in depth sections on industrial relations such as strikes and trade unions.