Statistical Terms Glossary

The person who is appointed to be responsible of a child, minor, or the insane.

All practices done deliberately by men on the body or the psyche of other human beings for no therapeutic purpose, but rather for cultural or socio-conventional motives and which have harmful consequences on the health and the rights of the victims. Some harmful practices include early/forced marriages, FGM/C, and widowhood rites.

Gender stereotype that limits women’s gaining of personal abilities, pursuing their professional careers and making choices about their lives and life plans.

One of the members of the household recognised as the head of the unit by the other members of the household unit or by himself (or herself) if living alone.

The absence of unfair, avoidable or preventable differences in health among populations or groups defined socially, economically, demographically or geographically.

Cultural norm that continuously connects men to power and economic achievements.

Heteronormativity is an expressed used to describe or identify a social norm relating to standardized heterosexual behavior, whereby this standard is considered to be the only socially valid form of behavior and anyone who does not follow this social and cultural posture is placed at a disadvantage in relation to the rest of society. This concept is the basis of discriminatory and prejudiced arguments against LGBT, principally those relating to the formation of families and public expression.

Assumption that every person should be heterosexual, thus marginalising those who do not identify themselves as heterosexual.

Heterosexual people are attracted to individuals of a different sex
from themselves.

Work carried out by a person in her or his home or in other premises of her or his choice, other than the workplace of the employer, for remuneration, which results in a product or a service as specified by the employer, irrespective of who provides the equipment, materials or other inputs used.

Intentional and non-intentional killing, including infanticide. The distinction between intentional and unintentional homicide differs from country to country, as does the definition of attempted murder.

Irrational fear of, and aversion to, homosexuality and to lesbian, gay and bisexual people based on prejudice.

Person who is attracted to someone of the same sex.

Sexual or erotic orientation of a person for members of the same sex.

Acts of violence, usually murder, committed by male family members against female family members, who are held to have brought dishonor upon the family (Human Rights Watch, 2001). A woman can be targeted by (individuals within) her family for a variety of reasons, when she allegedly steps outside of her socially prescribed role, including refusal to enter into an arranged marriage, being the victim of a sexual assault, seeking a divorce — even from an abusive husband — or (allegedly) committing adultery. The mere perception that a woman has behaved in a way that "dishonors" her family is sufficient to trigger an attack on her life (Committee on the Status of Women, 2004). However, the term “crimes committed in the name of honor” is currently being used to refer to these acts of violence.

Concentration of women and men in different sectors and occupations.

A customary practice where male family members kill female relatives in the name of family ‘honour’ for sexual activity outside marriage, either suspected or forced, even when they have been victims of rape.

Unremunerated work of maintaining a household that is performed by household members.

A composite index measuring average achievement in three basic dimensions of human development—a long and healthy life, knowledge and a decent standard of living.

Retrovirus that weakens the immune system, particularly by causing the death of many CD4+T cells, which coordinate the human immune system's response to intruders. This weakening of the immune system leaves the body open to attack from opportunistic infections, eventually leading to the development of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

Women's rights as an integral and inseparable part of all general human rights, including reproductive rights.

This entails consciously and systematically paying attention to human rights in all aspects of programme development. This approach is a conceptual framework for the process of human development that is normatively based on international human rights standards and operationally directed to promoting and protecting human rights. The objective of the HRBA is to empower people (rights-holders) to realize their rights and strengthen the State (duty-bearers) to comply with their human rights obligations and duties. States’ obligations to human rights require them to respect, protect and fulfill women’s and girls’ rights, along with the rights of men and boys. When they fail to do so, the United Nations has a responsibility to work with partners to strengthen capacity to more effectively realize that duty.

Security that has two main aspects: (1) safety from such chronic threats as hunger, disease and repression; (2) protection from sudden and hurtful disruptions in the patterns of daily life—whether in homes, in jobs, or in communities. Such threats can exist at all levels of national income and development.

Trafficking in human beings or trafficking in persons.

Traditionally associated with natural disasters such as floods, fires, and famines, but more recently applied to other disasters such as social or political unrest, usually with the consent of the host country. Assistance can include providing food, shelter, clothing, and medicine and medical personnel; evacuating the most vulnerable; and restoring basic amenities (water, sewage, power supplies). Aid can be given during the emergency itself and in the rehabilitation phase.

Exaggerated image of hegemonic masculinity, mainly in the media. It overem phasises the ideals, such as physical strength, aggression and sexuality set out for men, thereby reinforcing them.

Sexual relations between close relatives, such as between father and daughter, mother and son, sister and brother. It is also called sexual abuse within the family.

Discrimination occurring where an apparently neutral provision, criterion or practice would put persons of one sex at a particular disadvantage compared with persons of the other sex, unless that provision, criterion or practice is objectively justified by a legitimate aim, and the means for achieving that aim are appropriate and necessary.

Attitudes, stereotypes and cultural norms that underpin gendered practices and may cause gender-based forms of direct violence.

Rights that accrue directly to an individual (as opposed to derived rights).