scholarly journals EU’s Gender Equality Dilemma: A Human Rights or a Market Economy Instrument?

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 43-63
Author(s):  
Sinem Bal
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Gender Equality ◽  
Market Economy ◽  
World Politics ◽  
New Paradigm ◽  
External Relations ◽  
Similar Vein ◽  
Human Rights Norms ◽  
The Eu ◽  
International Women

In the early stages of the European Integration, gender equality related policies were narrowly tackled due to the economic recovery priority of the Union. Although there was a rise of national and international women movements all around Europe, gender equality, particularly as a new paradigm, had not gained priority until the 1990s, when the EU was newly building a political presence in the world politics. Since the Copenhagen Criteria were presented in 1993, gender equality embedded titles have proven to be more promising as they are declared as a part of the EU’s human rights norms and the EU’s self-image towards ‘Others’. In a similar vein, specifically in that period the EU has contributed several international women conventions and has undertaken responsibilities in terms of promoting equality between men and women in its external relations. However, the explanations how a gender equality norm matters in the EU are yet unsatisfied due to the continuity of gender blind policies and strategies. This paper scrutinizes the content within which the EU has constructed gender equality norm inside its borders and then exported it as a Europeanization norm in its relations with Turkey. In light of the EU’s official documents and imposition of gender equality as an accession criterion, it can be argued that instead of creating an ideational change in the unequal conception of gender roles, the EU constantly instrumentalizes gender equality as a regulatory mechanism for market economy both inside the Union and throughout its enlargement process. Hence, despite its gender sensitive image, the EU falls short in internalizing

scholarly journals Engines of Patriarchy: Ethical Artificial Intelligence in Times of Illiberal Backlash Politics

2021 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 329-342
Author(s):  
Hendrik Schopmans ◽  
Jelena Cupać
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Human Rights ◽  
Technological Change ◽  
Gender Equality ◽  
International Organizations ◽  
Gender Norms ◽  
Fundamental Rights ◽  
Ai Ethics ◽  
Human Rights Norms ◽  
Rules And Standards

AbstractIn recent years, concerns over the risks posed by artificial intelligence (AI) have mounted. In response, international organizations (IOs) have begun to translate the emerging consensus on the need for ethical AI into concrete international rules and standards. While the path toward effective AI governance faces many challenges, this essay shifts attention to an obstacle that has received little attention so far: the growing illiberal backlash in IOs. Prompted by Poland's recent rejection of a European position on AI due to the document's mention of “gender equality,” we argue that Poland followed a strategy that illiberal actors now regularly employ in IOs. To combat gender norms and women's rights across issue areas, illiberal contesters first identify the progressive language in international documents and then threaten to veto those documents—unless such language is watered down or removed. This spoiling strategy, we argue, may not only lead to the compromising of fundamental human rights norms but may also prevent much needed rules for AI from being adopted altogether. Against this background, we urge scholars and practitioners concerned with AI ethics to pay closer attention to illiberal backlash politics. IOs are emerging as spaces where progressive AI rules and standards are increasingly contested—and where they need to be defended to safeguard fundamental rights in an age of rapid technological change.

Book IV Multilateral Diplomacy, Human Rights, and International Organizations, 22 The European Union—II External Relations

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Berman Paul
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Human Rights ◽  
International Organizations ◽  
International Level ◽  
The European Union ◽  
External Relations ◽  
Single State ◽  
Common Policies ◽  
Multilateral Diplomacy ◽  
The Eu

This chapter examines the unique characteristics of the European Union in conducting its external relations, including its limitations and complex division of responsibilities. The Union’s position on the international stage has frequently been seen as ambiguous. Its extensive common policies and legislation, and its extensive relations with third States and international organizations, can create the expectation that the European Union can or should act at the international level in a manner akin to that of a single State. However the Union can only act within the limits of the powers conferred on it by its Member States under the EU Treaties and the complex division of responsibilities amongst the Union’s own institutions. As such, dealing with the European Union at the international level can indeed be perplexing.

Depoliticising Gender Equality in Turbulent Times: The Case of the European Gender Action Plan for External Relations

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 426-443
Author(s):  
Friederike Beier ◽  
Gülay Çağlar
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Gender Equality ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Comprehensive Understanding ◽  
Technical Data ◽  
External Relations ◽  
Turbulent Times ◽  
Policy Shift ◽  
The Eu

Since more than a decade, the EU is confronted with a number of crises that significantly changed the environment under which the EU operates in the field of gender equality. Evidence shows, that in many European countries, the different crises have led to a deprioritisation of gender equality policies. However, the way in which the new Gender Action Plan for External Relations 2015–2020 of the European Union addresses and operationalises gender equality suggests in contrast a policy shift towards an intensified commitment and more comprehensive understanding of gender. Against this background, this article analyses, first, how the content and the conceptual orientation of gender equality policies in European Union’s external relations have changed in the light of post-crisis recommendations. Second, the article scrutinises the ways in which the European Union tries to tackle the credibility crisis through increasingly intensified and operationalised policy procedures. The argument put forth is that the gender-related indicators in the Gender Action Plan translate complex societal processes into a technical data-based framework and thereby depoliticise gender equality by simulating a technocratic, evidence-based and quantified form of politics.

From social welfare to human rights for girls – a path to achieving gender equality

2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 478-493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Savitri Goonesekere
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Social Welfare ◽  
Gender Equality ◽  
Gender Discrimination ◽  
Substantive Equality ◽  
Law And Policy ◽  
National Human ◽  
Human Rights Norms ◽  
Social Biases

AbstractDespite international and national human rights norms and standards, gender equality remains a goal in most countries. The recent discourse on substantive equality as a strategy for addressing the gender discrimination, disadvantage and deep-rooted social biases has reinforced the importance of working towards indivisible human rights for girls and women under CRC and CEDAW. This paper uses international and comparative national experiences on law and policy to argue that the failure to adopt an indivisibility of rights approach in relation to girl children has made it more difficult to achieve a norm of substantive equality for women. It is argued that the adoption of an intergenerational and rights-based, rather than a social welfare approach, is a necessary step to achieving substantive equality for women.

scholarly journals Policy vs practice: The use, implementation and enforcement of human rights clauses in the European Union’s international trade agreements

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne-Carlijn Prickartz ◽  
Isabel Staudinger
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
International Trade ◽  
Trade Agreements ◽  
International Trade Agreements ◽  
External Relations ◽  
Protection Of Human Rights ◽  
Shed Light ◽  
Selective Character ◽  
The Eu

In the mid-1990s, the EU adopted a general policy of including human rights clauses in all of its international trade agreements. Through these human rights clauses, in addition to other tools such as Human Rights Dialogue and sanctions, the EU seeks to promote the protection of human rights in its external relations. There are, however, some issues arising regarding the content, use, implementation and activation of these clauses. Not only do human rights clauses in different agreements vary in wording and scope, but also the actual implementation and enforcement by the EU differ from case to case, raising questions as to the selective character and the consistency of the EU’s action and, consequently, as to the EU’s credibility as a normative international actor. The main deficiencies in this regard are the selective and at times inconsistent inclusion and activation of human rights clauses, as shown by an examination of the EU’s agreements and their implementation and enforcement in practice. This article examines human rights clauses in the EU’s international trade agreements and the implementation and enforcement thereof, in order to shed light on the promises and pitfalls of the EU’s human rights efforts.

scholarly journals Gender and the European Union

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Gender Equality ◽  
Gender Discrimination ◽  
External Action ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Women's Representation ◽  
External Relations ◽  
Women’S Representation ◽  
The World ◽  
And Gender ◽  
The Eu

Gender discrimination continues to be a reality in several parts of the world, also in Europe. The aim of this book is to provide an overview of both European Union’s (EU) gender policies and gender balance in EU institutions. It does so by looking at gender equality policies and the EU legal system concerning gender equality, women’s representation within diff erent institutions (and more particularly in the European External Action Service), gender rights as a type of human rights and the EU’s role in the external promotion of womens’ rights in third countries. The analysis shows that women’s representation in the EU institutions has increased in the last decades and that the EU has strengthened its att ention to gender rights in its external relations as well, however the results of both att empts are far from being fully satisfactory.

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