Citation

Kelly L. Int. Fem. J. Polit. 2005; 7(4): 471-495.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/14616740500284391

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The campaign by feminists to gender the international human rights agenda predates the emergence of mainstreaming as a methodology. This ‘activist mainstreaming’ provides an interesting case study since it operates at the transnational level with actors primarily from civil society. This article explores how the issue of violence against women provided a strategic framing for a global alliance, which also proved adept at using the political opportunity structures of the UN, and developed effective mobilising structures and action repertoires. Whilst the ambition to gender human rights discourse can be said to have been largely achieved, the precise nature of the gains, and whether a focus on rights based claims betrays the foundations of feminist activism are critically examined.