ABSTRACT
This chapter explores how women are situated vis-à-vis human rights and how human rights can be conceptualized from a gender perspective. It considers the human rights issue in the more concrete context of contemporary Latin America. Social demands on the part of the "different" actor—in the new case, women—express themselves first in a call for equality. One of the major contributions of feminism has been its profound critique and unmasking of the assumptions implicit in the dominant paradigm that takes men as the universal reference point and makes women different or invisible. As with domestic violence and rape, social recognition of sexual harassment and the provision of support and help services for victims are important. Inevitably, women wound up in precarious jobs with no social benefits, were segregated in "feminine" occupations, had fewer possibilities for promotion, and suffered salary discrimination. Three concepts encapsulate the global dimension: peace, development, and environment.
