By Dr.Azab Alaziz Alhashemi, An international expert in the international organization 

International organizations and civil society institutions in Arab countries are still very interested in Arab women’s issues, their legal rights, and the mechanisms for implementing laws that support them. These organizations aim to do justice to women, give them all their rights, and abolish all forms of discrimination used against them in the applicable laws. The modern trend on women’s rights is concerned with the issue of women and the law due to the close link between social, political, and economic change and gender considerations. Therefore, it is necessary to adopt a new perspective on Arab women’s rights that goes beyond dealing with the issue superficially. The law is used as a tool for the legal empowerment of women, as it is an imperative provider of economic empowerment and comprehensive societal development.

Thus, gender justice constitutes a vital axis, through the close link between women’s rights, labor law, and personal status law related to the suffering of women and the deprivation of their civil rights. Criminal justice is concerned with gender-based violence and violence against women. Therefore, Arab legislation must be re-read carefully so that justice for women and men and the foundations of the rule of law are consolidated.

For example, gender gaps in human development reflect unequal opportunities between men and women in Arab countries. This is clear in countries’ legal systems that do not grant women and girls the same rights. Thus, unequal laws and law enforcement practices do not contribute to the social and economic empowerment of women thus hindering human development and economic growth in the region.

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP), in partnership with UN Women, UNFPA, and ESCWA, launched its initiative “Studying Gender Justice and Law in the Arab Region” It is also a platform for regional actors to exchange experiences that will promote change. Economic, social, and cultural rights are among the human rights that address the basic social and economic conditions necessary for living in dignity and related to work, social security, health, education, food, water, housing, a healthy environment, and culture.

Human rights thus unify universally recognized values and standards. States have obligations to act in certain ways or refrain from actions. Human rights are an important tool that allows states and non-state actors to be held accountable for violations. It also makes it possible to mobilize collective efforts to develop local communities. It creates global frameworks conducive to economic justice, and social well-being, and promotes participation and equality. Human rights are universal, interdependent, inalienable, and indivisible. 

The International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights outlines many important principles for the implementation of these rights and their inclusion in other sources of economic, social, and cultural rights. Under the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, a state to take steps “to the maximum of its available resources to progressively realize these rights.”

On the other hand, there are economic, social, and cultural rights in international law. Non-governmental organizations have been claiming these basic rights for a long time, reflecting concern for individuals. Particularly the most vulnerable, as expressed in many philosophical or religious traditions. Especially with the growth of economic globalization and the exacerbation of inequality within countries. NGOs, academics, other organizations, and individuals come together to understand the connections between ongoing local conflicts. And to implement human rights so that everyone can enjoy them in practice based on the realization that patterns of poverty and deprivation and the situations associated with them are a violation of economic, social, and cultural rights.

The framework of economic, social, and cultural rights is used around the world, especially in Arab countries, to support measures aimed at achieving justice and combating injustice. The aim of increase progressive alternatives that enhance economic, social, and cultural rights. Finally, economic, social, and cultural rights unite women and men, migrants and indigenous peoples, youth and elders of all races, religions, political persuasions, and economic and social backgrounds. They all share the universal principles of freedom and human dignity to live in compatible gender justice and achieve the goals of legal and societal development.