Women's Rights and Unesco's "Manifesto 2000: For A Culture of Peace and Non-violence"

Abstract

This paper analyses women's rights in the context of UNESCO's “Manifesto 2000: For a Culture of Peace and Non-violence”. This Manifesto seeks to win the support of all men and women for the campaign to transform the world from a culture of war and violence to a culture of peace and non-violence. In this respect, it discusses the United Nations concern for peace and how this concern is linked to women's rights. It also discusses the traditional attitude towards women's rights and how this attitude has negatively impacted upon women's enjoyment of human rights, including the right to peace that the Manifesto seeks to entrench. It also analyses the six pledges of the Manifesto and shows how they are linked to respect for women's rights. Hence, it enjoins UNESCO to ensure that women are neither consigned to the periphery of this campaign nor merely allowed token participation therein as is usually the case. It contends that the fundamental human rights principle of equality and non-discrimination demands the active and equal participation of both men and women in all matters of human rights. Without such participation, the noble aim of Manifesto 2000 will remain largely in the realm of rhetoric.


(Review of Southern African Studies: 2000 4 (1): 160-196)