Feminist and LGBTQ+ Studies

Abstract

The Human Rights Based Approach (HRBA) and Gender Equality & Mainstreaming (GE&M) approaches are accepted in several international agreements and are strategies to ensure equal rights between male and female genders. The common agenda being social justice but also encompasses legal justice. Both women and men should be able to access and receive fair and equal treatment within political and economic institutions as well as from the judiciary. This is frequently not the case for females who systematically suffer disproportionately from judicial bias - particularly in sexual assault cases - where points of attrition are common, arbitrarily applied and condoned pre, during and post trial. 
 
This is primarily due to the dominant and persistent patriarchy that exists in all societies that encourages, re-enforces and excuses male-designed legislation and stereotypes that are harmful to females, reflecting male privilege and entitlement that perpetuates and consistently disregards often nefarious abuses committed against females by males.  
 
This talk references in-depth research undertaken by the speaker as well as recommendations made within an ASEAN context. The purpose is to constructively raise awareness of gaps within high level policies and legislation that discriminate against females; highlight unconscious attitudes and behaviours of judicial stakeholders and support services; as well as indicating best practices that should be replicated and upscaled across the region and globally. 

Biography

Jennie Williams is a UK Lawyer and Gender Equality & Inclusivity Expert, currently working as a Key International Expert on an ongoing GIZ Access to Justice for Women project in Bangladesh. 
Jennie relocated to Thailand in 2010 and completed a Master’s degree in Human Rights and Peace Studies at Mahidol University. She has worked with the UN and regional NGOs and INGOs in 
Access to Justice & Justice Reform, Counter Trafficking, Safe & Fair Migration and Recruitment, Prevention of Violence Against Women and Girls, Gender-Based Violence and the Empowerment of Females and Minority Groups (sex workers, LGBTQI+ and ethnic communities). Jennie Williams has written and presented several papers at international conferences and continues to advocate for and achieve positive constructive change for the most vulnerable in our societies.