• They are indivisible and interdependent; • Their enjoyment is based on non-discrimination; and • They arise from the dignity of the human person. 4 Universality of human rights ‘Universality of human rights’ means that: • They belong to all people; • All people have equal status with respect to these rights; • Failure to respect an individual’s human rights is the same as failure to respect the right of any other – it is not better or worse depending on the person’s gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, or any other distinction; and • Every state throughout the world has a duty to respect and protect the human rights contained in the international statutes. Inalienability of human rights ‘Inalienability of human rights’ means that: • Human rights cannot be taken away; and • Human rights cannot be given up voluntarily. Indivisibility of human rights ‘Indivisibility of human rights’ means that: • There is no hierarchy among the different types of rights – civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights are all equally necessary for a life of dignity; • No rights can be suppressed in order to promote other rights, e.g. civil and political rights cannot be violated in order to promote economic, social and cultural rights, and vice versa; • Civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights depend on one another in order to be real and meaningful; and • Denial of one right impedes the enjoyment of other rights. Human rights instruments and reference documents International level The following are important at the international level: • United Nations (UN) resolutions 1325 (2000) and 1820 (2008), which emphasise the important role of women in post-conflict peace-building efforts; and • The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). The CEDAW notes in the Preamble that, despite the existence of various instruments prohibiting discrimination against women and encouraging the equality of rights of men and women, extensive discrimination against women continues to exist. The CEDAW prohibits discrimination against women, which is defined as ‘any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex’. The basis of equality of men and women in respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the economic, political, social, cultural, civil or any other field has to be the guiding principle in the community healing process. CEDAW Article 1 states: For the purposes of the present Convention, the term ‘discrimination against women’ shall mean any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition or enjoyment by women, irrespective of their marital status, on a basis of equality of men and women, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field. Module 4: Gender and community healing 75