ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the interconnected nature of discriminatory factors, first examining human rights concepts as general guiding principles and then focusing on specific categories of discrimination. The starting point for thinking about equality, nondiscrimination, and human rights is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The UDHR approaches the protection of human rights based on the following four principles: universality, equality, nondiscrimination, indivisibility and interconnectedness. While these principles apply in all cases, differences among and between women influence the manner in which they experience human rights abuses and affect their capacity to address the resulting inequalities. The chapter explores the multiple ways in which women experience human rights abuses. They are direct discrimination, indirect discrimination, harassment, positive-action or affirmative measures and reasonable accommodation. Not all differences of treatment are perceived as prohibited discrimination under human rights law. There may be good reasons for differential treatment, such as achieving substantive equality in the case of positive action.
