(2(a)) HR and Gender Flashcards
3 forms of HR obligations
1) to respect (refrain from interference etc) - negative obligation
2) to protect (prevent violations by 3rd parties), eliminate incentives for violations, provide legal remedies
3) to fulfil - legislative and other measures etc
formal equality =
treating likes alike
substantive equality =
treating dif situated ppl differently according w difference –> result focused or opportunity focused
example of substantive equality focus of CEDAW
Art 4(1) - provision for temporary different treatment and preferential treatment to accelerate de facto equality btw men and women
What are the limitations of the unidimensional approach to international HR Law (ie universal rights for all and enjoyment by all)
- ppl have and prioritise dif needs/interests –> dif interests can lead to individual exercise of rights by ppl (ie right to marry vs freedom of religion/movement prioritised differently)
- dif of interests can impact protection against interferences
LIMITATION: whilst dif of interests/needs won’t affect scope of absolute rights, they can affect Rs subject to limitations (cf SAS v France)
States must ensure the enjoyment of human rights by all citizens, meaning they must take into account and balance dif interests –> where is this challenging?
in situations of morally sensitive issues (women’s equality, same-sex marriage, gender identities etc.)
SAS v France: key question
- whether act banning full face coverings breached ECHR re pri ate life + freedom to express religion and beliefs
SAS v France: held
ECtHR unanimously held law didn’t violate ECHR
- recognised was aimed towards muslim women minority but held that margin of appreciation was such that it was not disproportionate to French principle of living togethers’ which was a min requirement of life in society and had that legitimate aim as an element of protecting the Rs and freedoms of others
SAS v France shows what about the ECtHR and the margin of appreciation
the ECtHR adopts v wide margin of appreciation re Qs where views in democratic countries can legitimately differ –> reflects that ECtHR founded on state sovereignty and thus has subsidiary role wrt decisions of national authorities
Yaker v France (UNHRCommittee): key question
whether the french full face covering ban violated ICCPR
Yaker v France (UNHRCommittee): held
Was a violation of Art 18 ICCPR: Was not necessary or proportionate to legitimate interest thus unreasonable
- Re religion: France failed to identify any specific R of other individuals that was infringed by wearing full face veil –> there’s no fundamental R to see faces of and interact w others in a public space
- Failed to demonstrate that ban was proportionate to the aim of the act
- Was an indirect discrimination claim, concluded to indirectly discriminate against minority Muslim women
Whilst it was held both in SAS v France and Yaker v France that the ban interfered with religion and was prescribed by law, where did the decisions differ?
Legitimate aim: SAS v France (gender = and public order - No; aim of ‘living together’ –> YES) Yaker v France - aim of living together –> NO (failed to id fundamental Rs/freedoms of others impacted by wearing covering)
Necessary in a democratic society?: SAS v France (YES per wide margin of appreciation test adopted) YAker v France (NO)
Wedding Cake case made a distinction between what
the R not to be discriminated against vs freedom of religion
Wedding cake (2014) (UK) facts:
- 2014 queer org ordered cake ‘support gay marriage’, bakery refused
- brought claim against bakers in UK courts - Bakers invoked R under Art 9 (freedom of thought and religion) and art 10 (Freedom of expression) under ECHR
Wedding cake (2014) (UK) what did lower court and UK CA in UK hold?
found direct discrimination, whereby whilst art 9 was engaged they couldn’t manifest their religious beliefs in the commercial sphere if contrary to Rs of others + also held Art 10 not engaged bc not required to support/endorse Lee’s view
Wedding cake (2014) (UK) - what did UKSC hold?
found that LEe’s sexual orientation as gay man WAS dissociable from the message on the cake
- Concluded no less favourable treatment on grounds of religious belief bc bakery owners hadn’t refused to serve applicant bc gay but bc they objected to being required to promote message they disagreed with profoundly
Wedding cake (2014) (UKSC): held that the objections by the bakers were to
THE MESSAGE ON THE CAKE NOT TO LEE HIMSELF HENCE NO DISCRIMINATION
Wedding cake (2014) (ECtHR): why was LEe’s application against UKSC for interference w his rights by a public authority (aka the UKSC) inadmissible?
- For complaint to be admissible Convention arguments must be explicitly raised/in substance before domestic authorities – but applicant failed to invoke Convention rights at any point in domestic proceedings, failing to give domestic courts opportunity to address any Convention issues raised – thus inadmissible
Lovelace v Canada (1977) (UN HRC): facts
- Challenge of law that stripped Indian woman of Indian status after marriage to non-Indian man, such that she couldn’t reside on the Reserve of her community , even after her divorce from that man (whereas the law didn’t apply like this to men)
What was the key question in Lovelace v Canada (1977) (UN HRC):
Whether there was a violation of Art 27 of ICCPR (re denial of Rs of minorities to exist in a community w members of their own group) by the law which had been enacted by Canadian gov but that Indigenous communities had supported