Millennium Development Goals and Socio-Economic Conditions of Women in Azad Jammu and Kashmir: A Legal Analysis

Abstract

This article focuses on women’s economic, social and cultural (ESC) rights in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) with linkage to millennium development goals (MDGs). It discusses AJK’s international human rights law (IHRL) obligations with reference to protection of women’s ESC rights. It analyses provisions of legal instruments in order to understand AJK’s legal and constitutional system. It will create a context for further discussion. Under international law, it is well established that human rights are available to ‘everyone’ as grounded in Universal Declaration of human rights (UDHR), (1948) and other human rights instruments. For ascertaining human rights obligations of AJK, this article is specific with reference to the analysis of ESC rights of women in AJK. It discusses economic and social conditions of women with linkage to MDGs. ESC rights are considered as mere aspirations and goals therefore the Maastricht guidelines are also formulated. ESC rights are grounded in the UDHR and the International Covenant of Economic, social and cultural rights (ICESCR), (1966). The argument developed throughout article is that though AJK is not a full-fledge State but having State like character, the AJK has its human rights obligations, in particular, ESC obligations for promotion and protection of women. The women in AJK are vulnerable and may be empowered by promotion of ESC rights.