Gender equality enshrined in legislation does not always translate into real-life equality. This issue was raised by Olga Osaulenko, head of the EU4Gender Equality program of the Regional Office of UN Women for Europe and Central Asia, during her speech at the Samarkand Human Rights Forum in Tashkent.
She emphasized that the existence of a law guaranteeing equality does not preclude the possibility that state institutions and common practices continue to reproduce discrimination. An example was given where a girl is granted the right to education, but she is raised with the belief that scientific and leadership positions are exclusively male domains. Similarly, a woman who has suffered violence may have the right to protection, but when approaching state bodies, she may encounter the opinion of these bodies' representatives who consider violence a private family matter.
According to Olga Osaulenko, stereotypes are reinforced through the content of school curricula, work regulations, the media space, and judicial decisions. Consequently, information campaigns are insufficient because people tend to adhere to established expectations, even if they acknowledge gender inequality, if alternative choices face condemnation or necessary services remain inaccessible.
Proposal for Change
Olga Osaulenko presented a draft general recommendation No. 41 of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women titled 'Elimination of Gender Stereotypes and Supporting Unequal Power Relations.' This document supplements the provisions of Article 5 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), addressing the necessity of eradicating stereotypes and prejudices based on notions of superiority or inferiority of one sex.
In her words, this draft establishes a link between stereotypes, the distribution of power and resources, male privilege, and control over women. Furthermore, it points out that stereotypes are deeply integrated into the norms of functioning of the state, economy, society, and family. The expert specifically noted that institutions do not merely reflect existing stereotypes but are capable of sanctioning, normalizing, and thereby reproducing them.
The project defined four key areas of work. Firstly, there must be a systematic search for gender stereotypes in public services, budgets, and legislative acts. The review must cover textbooks, justifications of judicial verdicts, internal affairs protocols, as well as medical, social, and digital systems. Secondly, clear accountability must be established for state structures. These institutions must have set standards, regularly train personnel, ensure accessible channels for filing complaints and restoring violated rights, and take corrective action if gender stereotypes lead to service denial.
The third area involves allocating adequate financial resources and measuring results. This includes collecting data using both quantitative and qualitative indicators to identify problems and develop elimination plans. The expert stressed that the focus must be on data reflecting women's actual life experiences. The fourth area is involving civil society and women's organizations in the monitoring process, as well as creating a safe environment for human rights defenders. The draft recommendation obliges states to monitor the influence of significant non-state actors, such as media, business, educational, religious organizations, and digital platforms.
Methods of Assessing Changes
Olga Osaulenko also presented a UN Women concept called 'Ideologies, Institutions, and Power.' This concept combines three aspects: changing the representations transmitted by institutions; improving women's material living conditions by expanding access to rights, services, care, income, and real choices; and strengthening the potential of forces fighting against gender stereotypes. This implies supporting women, girls, feminist associations, and their allies so they can influence institutions and demand accountability from them.
Explaining her position, the UN expert stated that changes become more sustainable when new ideas are supported by real life experience and when there are participants with sufficient collective strength to protect the achieved progress. To assess the transformations that have occurred, she proposed considering four questions: what has changed in state policy and legislation; how has the work of institutions and resource allocation changed; what opportunities for choice and access to rights and services have women gained; and how has their direct life experience changed. Special attention should be paid to women subjected to multiple types of discrimination simultaneously, as general statistics may mask persistent inequality for these groups.
In conclusion, Olga Osaulenko summarized that while legal reform is important, its effectiveness will be limited if institutional practices remain unchanged.