New Publication: 'Gender Human Rights in the Commonwealth'

The book comprises a collection of papers commissioned by the Secretariat for the Pan-Commonwealth Expert Group Meeting on Gender and Human Rights.

Trafficking in women and girls is taking place in some Commonwealth countries and more efforts must be made to protect women from pimps, traffickers and brothel owners, states Dr Meena Shivdas, in this new Commonwealth Secretariat publication.

The book comprises a collection of papers commissioned by the Secretariat for the Pan-Commonwealth Expert Group Meeting on Gender and Human Rights, held in London, UK, in February 2004. Dr Shivdas' report on trafficking is one of several reports by a variety of voices.

Dr Shivdas details that apart from women and girls being channelled into the sex industry, there have been cases, for example, of young Bangladeshi boys being trafficked to Gulf states to become camel jockeys; young girls in India taken for domestic work overseas; Nepali girls trafficked into the Indian circus industry; and old women, handicapped persons and children being trafficked for betting.

Tina Johnson writes that women and girls make up the vast majority of victims in cases of gender-based violence -- violence directed at individuals on the basis of their gender -- although boys and men can also be targeted. She notes that a major obstacle in the search for solutions to violence against women has been the lack of reliable data on the root causes, magnitude and consequences of the problem.

The book also addresses a cross-section of other gender and human rights topics, including the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women; culture and the law; indigenous peoples; migration; and land and property rights of women.

The publication aims to contribute towards policy-making, action and debate on gender and human rights in the Commonwealth.

Published by the Commonwealth Secretariat

ISBN: 0-85092-808-7; 312 pages; price: £10.99

HOW TO ORDER

This title can be bought online at http://www.publications.thecommonwealth.org/.

A full catalogue of Commonwealth Secretariat publications can be viewed on the website, which provides a secure online buying facility, and orders can also be made through e-mail or by post. Pre-payment is essential. Payment by sterling cheque, international money order, postal order or bank draft must accompany your order.

Payment should be in sterling, drawn on a UK bank and made out to the Commonwealth Secretariat. If you require the order form as an attachment in Word format please e-mail Rupert Jones-Parry of the Publications Section (see address below). Post and packaging charges should be added to every order in the following way: UK orders: 15 per cent of order value (minimum charge £2.00). Non-UK orders: 25 per cent of order value (minimum charge £3.50).

Send orders to: Rupert Jones-Parry, Publications Section, Commonwealth Secretariat, Marlborough House, Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5HX, United Kingdom.

Tel: +44 (0)20 7747 6342; Fax: +44 (0)20 7839 9081;

E-mail: r.jones-parry@commonwealth.int