This book provides a comprehensive introduction to the broad spectrum of human rights issues and violations as they are experienced by women and sexual minorities across civil, political, social, economic, and/or cultural domains, in different regions, countries, and contexts. It offers cogent summaries of concepts, debates, and trends vital to understanding the field and informing practice to advance the human rights of women.

The book looks into such issues as: persistent discrimination in political and economic life; gender-based violence in public and private spheres; obstacles to reproductive and maternal human rights; threats to women human rights defenders; discrimination and violence against LGBT people; violations of women's human rights in conflict situations; and the nexus between sustainable development goals, climate change, and the human rights of women. It also addresses human rights violations in the name of culture or religion, and the challenges in realising the human rights of girls. Finally, the volume showcases effective strategies to advance the human rights of women in the form of national remedial measures and through engagement with international and regional human rights bodies and mechanisms.

Historical development of norms and advocacy to advance the human rights of women.- Methods for research and practice on the human rights of women.- Human rights issues and violations in the private sphere.- Gender-specific challenges in protecting and fulfilling social and economic human rights.- Benefits and limitations of legal strategies to realise the human rights of women.- Navigating the nexus of religion, culture and the human rights of women.- Tensions between global norms and advocacy and national and local approaches to the human rights of women.

Niamh Reilly is Established Professor of Political Science and Sociology at the National University of Ireland, Galway. Her research interests focus on the relationship between theory and practice and the role of ideas in emancipatory projects. Niamh has published widely on issues of human rights and gender; feminist political and social theory; religion in the public sphere; transnational movements and the United Nations; and women, peace, and security. Her book, Women's Human Rights: Seeking Gender Justice in a Globalizing Age (Polity Press, 2009), was selected as an "Outstanding Academic Title for 2010" by the American Library Association/CHOICE. Niamh is coauthor of Demanding Accountability: The Global Campaign and Vienna Tribunal for Women's Human Rights (UNIFEM 1994). Her edited collections include Religion, Gender, and the Public Sphere (Routledge 2014) (lead editor) and International Human Rights of Women (Springer, Major Reference Works, 2019).