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Reif, Linda C. --- "Ombuds institutions: strengthening gender equality, women’s access to justice and protection and promotion of women’s rights" [2018] ELECD 1067; in Hertogh, Marc; Kirkham, Richard (eds), "Research Handbook on the Ombudsman" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2018) 236

Book Title: Research Handbook on the Ombudsman

Editor(s): Hertogh, Marc; Kirkham, Richard

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN: 9781786431240

Section: Chapter 13

Section Title: Ombuds institutions: strengthening gender equality, women’s access to justice and protection and promotion of women’s rights

Author(s): Reif, Linda C.

Number of pages: 22

Abstract/Description:

National human rights ombuds institutions have explicit human rights protection and promotion mandates, including women’s rights. Classic-based ombuds institutions do not have express human rights mandates but some occasionally use international and domestic human rights norms in their work. This chapter addresses: gender equality in public administration and the methods by which ombuds institutions can strive for gender equality in their operations and in public administration, the notion of women’s access to justice that includes NHRIs and other ombuds institutions, and barriers to women’s access to ombuds institution justice. It provides examples where ombuds institutions have applied international human rights norms to protect and promote women’s rights. Ombuds institution attention to women’s rights is often limited. Accordingly, this chapter proposes reforms to strengthen ombuds protection and promotion of women’s rights, promote gender equality internally and in public administration, and enhance women’s access to justice.