Paths are Made by Walking. Human Rights Intersecting Plural Legalities and Gendered Realities

This book addresses a current dilemma in the operationalization of human rights norms at state, regional and international levels, namely the apparent failure to deliver the projected human rights benefits and protections to individuals on the ground. The chapters are drawn from Africa, Europe and Asia and constitute a compilation of micro-level studies which marry gendered understanding about people's local experiences, problems and practices in a continuous dialogue with evolving human rights principles. In sum they constitute a concerted effort to build a responsive human rights approach from below and within. Through this compilation, the book offers a body of knowledge to be brought to the table where international, regional and national law and its bearing on women's lives is negotiated. It can be used by actors around the world who seek to define their problems in the language of human rights.