The Right to Development in the Context of Ensuring Women’s Rights

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to examine the right to development in the context of ensuring women’s rights.

Methods. The methodological basis of the research is formed by a set of methods and techniques of scientific cognition aimed at an objective and comprehensive study of the subject matter (dialectical, axiological, formal-logical methods, etc.).

Results. The provisions of the main universal international instruments directly related to this issue are characterized, in particular: the United Nations Declaration on the Right to Development (1986), the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995), the Beijing+30 Action Agenda, the United Nations Millennium Declaration (2000), United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000), the 2005 World Summit Outcome, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Doha Political Declaration (2025), and the report of the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development (A/HRC/60/25). It has been established that women’s right to development is directly linked to ensuring gender equality, as evidenced by the provisions of the aforementioned international instruments. It is stated that there is a mutually reinforcing relationship between gender equality and the right to development. All women and girls should be guaranteed the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms throughout their lives, and all legal, social, and economic barriers hindering their empowerment should be eliminated.

Conclusions. Achieving gender equality is an obligation of states, to the effect that they must make every effort to implement this principle both at the legislative level and in the activities of national institutions of all levels; promote the integration of gender equality into education and awareness-raising policies concerning women and girls, since education serves as a catalyst for social change and a prerequisite for the realization of fundamental human rights. It also better prepares women for stable and well-paid employment, thereby helping to combat the risks of social exclusion.