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Date Added to Site: 30th July 2009 |
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Short Summary
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| Title |
Harmful Traditional Practices in Three Countries of South Asia: Culture, Human Rights and Violence against Women
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| Author |
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) |
| Publication Date |
January 2009 |
| Publisher |
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) |
| Volume |
Gender and Development Discussion Paper Series |
| Series |
21 |
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Short Summary
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This study documents and analyses the manner in which harmful traditional and cultural practices contribute to violence against women in the three South Asian countries of Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Drawing on international human rights standards - such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, which all three countries have ratified - the paper argues that traditional and cultural practices that contribute to violence against women cannot be justified on the basis of respect for 'cultural diversity'. It finds that harmful traditional and cultural practices are prevalent in all three countries. Some of these practices such as dowry and child marriage are common phenomena. Others such as virginity testing are country-specific. Son preference is common to all three countries and manifests in the denial of inheritance rights and/or health and education opportunities to girls and women. The situation in Sri Lanka is significantly different, as there are fewer harmful traditional and cultural practices that constitute violence against women. The experience of all three countries demonstrates that it is important to harmonise international human rights standards with national legislation through legislative reform. However, this must be done in combination with programmes to disseminate information in local languages regarding relevant provisions in national laws and international instruments, as well as programmes to sensitise parliamentarians, local authorities, administrators and law enforcement personnel on the negative impact of harmful practices.
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| Summary Source |
Adapted from the source. |
| Complete Document |
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