Lisa Joffe

The three Abrahamic faiths have dominated religious conversations for millennia but the relations between state and religion are in a constant state of flux. This relationship may be configured in a number of ways. Religious norms may be enforced by the state as part of a regime of personal law or, conversely, religious norms may be formally relegated to the private sphere but can be brought into the legal realm through the private acts of individuals. Enhanced recognition of religious tribunals or religious doctrines by civil courts may create a hybrid of these two models.
One of the major issues in the reconciliation of changing civic ideals with religious tenets is gender equality, and this is an ongoing challenge in both domestic and international affairs. Examining this conflict within the context of a range of issues including marriage and divorce, violence against women and children, and women's political participation, this collection brings together a discussion of the Abrahamic religions to examine the role of religion in the struggle for women's equality around the world. The book encompasses both theory and practical examples of how law can be used to negotiate between claims for gender equality and the right to religion. It engages with international and regional human rights norms and also national considerations within countries.
This book will be of great relevance to scholars and policy makers with an interest in law and religion, gender studies and human rights law.

The practice of polygamy occupies a unique place in North American history and has had a profound effect on its legal and social development. The Polygamy Question explores the ways in which indigenous and immigrant polygamous practices have shaped the lives of individuals, communities, and the broader societies that have engaged with it. The book also considers how polygamy challenges our traditional notions of gender and marriage and how it might be effectively regulated to comport with contemporary notions of justice. The contributors to this volume—scholars of law, anthropology, sociology, political science, economics, and religious studies—disentangle diverse forms of polygamy and polyamory practiced among a range of religious and national backgrounds including Mormon and Muslim. They chart the harms and benefits these models have on practicing women, children, and men, whether they are members of independent families or of coherent religious groups. Contributors also address the complexities of evaluating this form of marriage and the ethical and legal issues surrounding regulation of the practice, including the pros and cons of legalization.

Examines implementation and impact of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), and issues such as gender-based violence, trafficking in women, land rights, and indigenous peoples' rights. Some papers prepared for a pan-Commonwealth Expert Group Meeting on Gender and Human Rights, held in Feb. 2004 in London. Contents: Progress, achievements, constraints and key priorities, by Shanthi Dairiam; Recent key trends and issues in the implementation of CEDAW, by Feride Acar; Recent thinking and practical strategies, by Lisa Fishbayn; Reconciling competing rights, by Catherine Muyeka Mumma; Taking the life-cycle approach to the world of work, by Lin Lean Lim; Older people, by Fiona Clark; The life cycle: adolescent girls, from the Report of the Expert Group Meeting on Adolescent Girls and Their Rights; Meeting the challenge to end gender-based violence, by Tina Johnson; Trafficking in women: causes, consequences and responses, by Meena Shivdas; Using CEDAW to address trafficking in women, by Shanthi Dairiam; Trafficking as a human rights issue: thoughts on how to address it in the Commonwealth, by Lin Lean Lim; Response framework for trafficking of women and girls, from ILO Booklet 6: Trafficking of Women and Girls; Land, property and housing rights, by Lucia Kiwala; Land rights and women's claims, by Bina Agarwal; Indigenous peoples' rights in the Commonwealth, with a focus on indigenous women, by Helena Whall.