Материал: Гольцева О.Ю. Международное право в официальных документах. Под ред. И.А. Горшеневой

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to ensure elimination of all acts of discrimination against women by persons, organizations or enterprises.

The Convention provides the basis for realizing equality between women and men through ensuring women's equal access to, and equal opportunities in, political and public life – including the right to vote and to stand for election – as well as education, health and employment. States parties agree to take all appropriate measures, including legislation and temporary special measures, so that women can enjoy all their human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The Convention is the only human rights treaty which affirms the reproductive rights of women and targets culture and tradition as influential forces shaping gender roles and family relations. It affirms women's rights to acquire, change or retain their nationality and the nationality of their children. States parties also agree to take appropriate measures against all forms of traffic in women and exploitation of women.

Countries that have ratified or acceded to the Convention are legally bound to put its provisions into practice.

Exercise 16. Complete these sentences.

1.The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, adopted in 1979, is described as _________________

2.Consisting of a preamble and 30 articles, it defines __

3.States Parties to the convention commit themselves to ______________

4.The Convention provides the basis for ____________

5.The Convention is the only human rights treaty _____

Exercise 17. Study these cases and find out what rights were violated.

1. In 1978, Saida Botan Elmi was arrested by the Somali government. She was held in prison for six years and frequently tortured. In the case of Saida Botan Elmi, her only

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crime was to want to join her husband, who had resigned as a judge and left Somalia rather than implement laws that he believed were unfair. She was adopted as a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International.

2.In 1982, Saul Godinez Cruz disappeared in Honduras after leaving home for work. Someone saw a military officer take him away, but he was never seen again. The government never acknowledged his arrest or detention. In this case the Inter-American Court of Human Rights held, in 1989, that the government of Honduras was in breach of the UDHR and should pay his family compensation of 875,000.

3.In 1973, Shabaka WaQlimi tried to rob a bank in Florida, gave up, and the next day gave himself up to the police. But he was charged with the murder of an attorney's wife, which he knew nothing about. His robbery accomplice gave false evidence against him to avoid prosecution himself. In addition, one member of the all-white jury is reported to have made racist remarks during the trial. Mr. WaQlimi was sentenced to deal) and spent over thirteen years on a prison death row before the truth of his innocence finally emerged.

4.In 1987, Sri Lankan refugees organized a dramatic demonstration at Heathrow airport, claiming that British immigration authorities gave them no opportunity to explain why they were seeking asylum and no access to legal representation.

5.In 1990, a group of women in Saudi Arabia deliberately broke the law by driving cars in a country where only men are permitted to drive. They were arrested and only released from prison when male members of their family promised to "keep them out of trouble."

Exercise 18. Debate these issues.

1.Describe four of Amnesty International's aims.

2.Mention one argument for, and one against, intervention against another country because of its human rights policies.

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3.Name three international agreements on human rights.

4.True or false? Amnesty supports its criticisms with:

a) legal arguments; b) moral arguments; c) political arguments.

5. List five ways in which women in some countries appear to suffer unfair treatment.

Exercise 19. Render in English.

Что такое Страсбургский суд?

Созданный полвека назад Европейский суд по правам человека, известный более как Страсбургский суд, имеет репутацию единственной в мире инстанции, способной защитись права индивидуума от собственного государства.

Российские граждане дают примерно треть от общего числа жалоб, которые сейчас находятся на рассмотрении Европейского суда по правам человека. Наряду с Россией по числу жалоб лидируют Турция и Румыния. Так, например, в 2008 году суд вынес решения по 244 жалобам российских граждан на государство, в 233 случаях – в их пользу. Между тем ЕСПЧ не является высшей инстанцией по отношению к судебной системе гос- ударства-участника конвенции. Он не может отменить решение, вынесенное органом государственной власти или национальным судом, и давать указания законодателю. Но вправе присудить справедливое удовлетворение претензии в воде финансовой компенсации материального ущерба и морального вреда и возмещение выигравшей стороне издержек и расходов.

Суд рассматривает жалобы, только если они касаются событий, ответственность за которые лежит на государственной власти, и не принимает жалобы, направленные против частных лиц и учреждений. Жалоба должна быть подана не позднее чем через 6 месяцев после

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окончательного рассмотрения вашего вопроса компетентным государственным органом.

При определении суммы компенсаций ЕСПЧ руководствуется собственными соображениями справедливости.

Exercise 20. Pay attention to translation of the extract from the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

Adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession by General Assembly resolution 2200A (XXI) of 16 December 1966 entry into force 23 March 1976.