Talking of gender: words and meanings in development organisations

This article reflects on the vocabulary commonly used within development organisations to communicate about ‘gender and development’. It argues that the relevant terminology, though frequently used, remains problematic. Some terms are almost entirely absent, while others are used loosely and inappropriately – with the subtleties of carefully developed and much-debated concepts often lost. Terms such as ‘empowerment’, ‘gender’, and ‘gender mainstreaming’ which originated in feminist thinking and activism have lost their moorings and become depoliticised. Despite these problems, there are indications that debates and language may be taking a more radical turn with the acknowledgement of the shortcomings of the practices of gender mainstreaming, the deepening of interest in the notion of empowerment, and the explicit adoption of a human-rights language.     

试论行政立法与人权保障--兼以行政许可为例分析

行政立法应当以保障和不侵犯人权来证成自己道义上的正当性.为了保障人权,必须对行政立法的权限和目标进行控制.行政立法不得限制基本人权,对非基本人权的限制也要程度适当.行政立法必须制约行政权力、保障行政相对人权利.在行政许可设定上只有坚持法律保留原则、依法设定原则、许可设定公开原则、公众参与原则,限制行政许可设定的范围,贯彻行政立法的"无为"精神和有限政府的理念,才有利于保障公民的权利与自由.     

"人权"入宪与侦查执法

在侦查实践中,侦查人员必须大力开展法制教育,强化人权意识,建立严格的侦查执 法监督体系,以保证在侦查执法过程中显现人权保护的宪法精神。     

Left out but not backing down: exploring women’s voices against large-scale agro-plantations in Cameroon

This article examines the situation of women around agro-plantations which have taken over their farmlands in the South-West Region of Cameroon through large-scale land acquisitions, and how they have sought popular redress. Based on a survey and focus group discussion among affected women, the findings revealed that women are generally left out of large-scale land acquisition processes. They complained of displacement from their farms and traditional forest resources, which has negative effects on their livelihoods and lifestyles. Despite women’s constrained situation, they have risen collectively against marginalisation, failed promises, and injustices through protests and defiance, achieving some successes in their demands for recognition and compensation.     

Positions on sexual and reproductive rights in Muslim-majority countries and institutions: a telling indication of things to come?

ABSTRACT

This article provides a policy analysis of Muslim-majority countries’ positions on sexual and reproductive rights (SRR). First-hand observations, interviews, and reports are used to review how statements around various intergovernmental moments continue to be formulated since the International Conference on Population and Development in 1994. The analysis outlines both the similarity and diversity between and among Muslim-majority countries on a range of SRR areas, while pointing out that positions are by no means unique to them. Rather, it is argued that opposition to SRR defines a terrain of “unholy alliances” between and among different religiously inspired nations, and ends by enquiring whether SRR may be an important political indicator of real politik.