PILCH Equality Seminars
PILCH often provides seminars and workshops on issues of equality. For example, in 2009/10 PILCH ran a series of of seminars and workshops on the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (see below: Protection and Promotion of Women’s Rights Seminar Series).
Using Human Rights in the Fight against Violence: A Workshop for Advocates and Service Providers - Warrnambool
On 15 June 2010, in conjunction with the Department of Planning and Community Development, PILCH conducted a workshop on Using Human Rights in the Fight against Violence against Women in Warranambool, Victoria. The workshop examined how women’s rights advocates can use human rights to better protect women against gender-based violence. It identified key domestic and international human rights instruments and cases and workshoped how they can be used to advocate on behalf of women who are experiencing violence.
Workshop Materials
Protection and Promotion of Women’s Rights Seminar Series
In December 2008, in an important step forward for women's rights, the Australian Government ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (Optional Protocol). The Optional Protocol was introduced to improve the protection and promotion of the rights in the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). It established a communication procedure and an inquiry procedure that enable women to hold the Australian Government legally accountable when it fails to protect and promote the rights to non-discrimination and substantive equality. In July 2009, the Public Interest Law Clearing House (Vic) Inc received funding from the Victorian Women’s Trust to deliver a series of seminars and workshops on the Optional Protocol. The purpose of the series is to:
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improve understanding of CEDAW and the Optional Protocol;
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develop the capacity of the legal profession and community advocates to use these instruments to protect and promote women’s rights;
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strengthen networks between lawyers and women’s rights advocates in an effort to facilitate collaborative legal and policy strategies that strengthen women’s rights; and,
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increase pro bono referrals, with a view to increasing women’s access to justice.
Using Human Rights to Protect Women against Violence: A Workshop for Women’s Rights Advocates (Bendigo)
On 10 November 2009, PILCH, together with Loddon Campaspe Community Legal Centre, held a workshop for community advocates on Using Human Rights to Protect Women against Violence. This workshop examined how women’s rights advocates can use human rights to better protect women against gender-based violence. It identified key domestic and international human rights instruments, including the UN Women’s Convention and Optional Protocol, and workshoped how they can be used to advocate on behalf of women. It also considered key human rights cases on domestic violence.
Workshop Materials
Protecting and Promoting Women’s Rights: Using the Optional Protocol to the UN Women’s Convention (Melbourne)
On 17 November 2009, the Australian Human Rights Commission and PILCH jointly hosted a seminar for the legal profession on using the Optional Protocol to the UN Women’s Convention. The seminar provided detailed information on the communication and inquiry procedures and explained how they can be used to protect and promote women’s rights. The seminar considered key jurisprudence decided under the Optional Protocol and reflect on lessons for advocates.
Seminar Materials
Protecting and Promoting Women’s Rights: A Seminar for Women's Rights Advocates
On 4 March 2010, the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre and PILCH jointly hosted a seminar for community advocates on using international human rights mechanisms to protect and promote women’s rights in Australian society. The seminar focused on issues such as: gender-based violence against women; access to health care services and information; and, gender stereotyping in work and family life.
Seminar Materials
Making Women’s Rights a Reality in Australia: Engaging the procedures of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
On 24 March 2010, PILCH, together with the Institute for International Law and the Humanities and the YWCA, hosted a panel discussion on Making Women’s Rights a Reality in Australia: Engaging the procedures of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, held at Melbourne Law School. The panelists, Caroline Lambert (Executive Director, YWCA Australia), Simone Cusack (Public Interest Lawyer, PILCH), and, Dianne Otto (Director, International Human Rights Law Programme, IILAH), reflected on developments in Australia's obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (Optional Protocol). The panel discussed whether or not human rights are an effective tool to advance women’s rights in Australia; what are the Australian Government’s obligations under CEDAW; how useful is the submission of NGO reports for monitoring the Government’s compliance with CEDAW; and, what is the potential of the Optional Protocol for ensuring substantive equality in Australia, and has it been used effectively in other countries.
Using Human Rights to Protect Women against Violence: A Regional Workshop for Women’s Rights Advocates
On 25 March 2010, PILCH, together with the Department of Planning and Community Development, held a workshop in Colac on how community advocates can use human rights to protect and promote women's right to live a life free of gender-based violence.
Seminar Materials
Forthcoming workshops
Over the coming months, PILCH will host a number of workshops for community advocates in Melbourne and regional areas. As further information regarding the workshops is developed, it will be made available here.
For further information about the series of seminars and workshops, please contact Simone Cusack at simone.cusack@pilch.org.au.