Woman laws at Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha (BOT)
Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha, collectively known as the Saint Helena group, are British Overseas Territories in the South Atlantic Ocean. As such, they are subject to UK law, including international human rights conventions, and have local legislation that aligns with British standards on women's rights and gender equality.
⚖️ Legal Protections for Women
1. CEDAW Adoption (2017)
In March 2017, the UK extended the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) to Saint Helena, Ascension Island, and Tristan da Cunha. This treaty serves as an international bill of rights for women, obligating these territories to eliminate discrimination and ensure equal rights for women in areas such as education, employment, and access to justice.
2. Constitutional Prohibition of Discrimination
The Constitution of Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha, enacted in 2009, prohibits discrimination on various grounds, including sex and sexual orientation. The Equality and Human Rights Commission, established by the Equality and Human Rights Commission Ordinance 2015, is tasked with monitoring and promoting equality and human rights in these territories. This includes addressing issues related to gender discrimination.
3. Same-Sex Marriage Legalization
Same-sex marriage has been legal in all three territories since 2017. Saint Helena legalized it in December 2017, Ascension Island in January 2017, and Tristan da Cunha in August 2017. These legalizations reflect a commitment to equality and non-discrimination for all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation.
🏛️ Local Governance and Gender Representation
Tristan da Cunha Island Council The Tristan da Cunha Island Council is the legislative body for Tristan da Cunha It consists of 11 members: 8 elected by the island's residents and 3 appointed by the Administrator Notably, at least one of the 8 elected members must be a woman If no women are among the top 8 candidates, a by-election is held for the 8th seat, exclusively for female candidates This policy ensures female representation in the council
Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha have established a legal framework that upholds women's rights and promotes gender equality Through adherence to international treaties like CEDAW, constitutional protections against discrimination, the legalization of same-sex marriage, and policies ensuring female representation in governance, these territories demonstrate a commitment to advancing women's rights
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