Report on gender, culture and rights: new approaches to making women's rights a reality

Abstract

In 2004, the Foundation for Human Rights commissioned the HSRC to convene a national stakeholder workshop on gender, culture and human rights. This project was based on two earlier projects, funded by the HSRC in 2002-03, on multiculturalism, gender and conflicts of rights, and masculinity. The Foundation for Human Rights commissioned the HSRC to convene a workshop to: 1. Share new research and thinking on gender, culture and rights and masculinity with other academics, policy makers and intervention programmes; 2. Discuss and develop implications of new research and theory for policy and intervention; and 3. Identify priority areas for research, consider new approaches to intervention and foster collaboration among academics, policy makers and practitioners. The workshop aimed to target a wide range of representatives from key sectors including academics, researchers, practitioners, NGO's, government departments and civil society institutions. A reference group oversaw the project advising on content, speakers and participants. This report serves as a summary of the workshop preparations, including the convening of a reference group, the workshop itself, and the follow up and outcomes of the workshop. The first part of the report contains a narrative account, while Part 2 outlines and explains the finances. Related documents are contained in the Appendix.