At a time when issues of gender equality, LGBTQIA+ rights, and the fight against violence against women are at the forefront of public debate, Stéphanie Wattier, a professor at the Faculty of Law at the University of Namur, has published a reference work titled *Gender Through the Lens of Human Rights*, published by Anthemis.
A specialist in constitutional law and fundamental rights, Stéphanie Wattier has established herself as one of Belgium’s leading academic voices on the intersection of gender and human rights. With some 100 publications to her credit, this book is the result of years of research and teaching, particularly through her course “Law, Gender, and Society” taught in the Faculty of Law and in the inter-university master’s program specializing in gender studies.
Primarily grounded in Belgian law, the book incorporates numerous developments in European law, including the case law of the European Court of Human Rights, as well as elements of comparative law.
The book opens with an analysis of the emergence of the concept of “gender” and its reception in law, before addressing topics such as gender identity, the physical and psychological integrity of intersex people, sexual orientation, gender-based violence, reproductive health, and gender equality.
The foreword is written by Stéphanie Hennette Vauchez, professor of public law at the University of Paris Nanterre and a leading expert on gender issues, a scholarly endorsement that underscores the significance of this work beyond national borders.
While not intended as a popular science guide, Gender Through the Lens of Human Rights was written to be accessible to a wide audience: lawyers, law students, activists, social workers, policymakers, and curious citizens will all find food for thought within its pages. This accessibility reflects Stéphanie Wattier’s conviction that legal research must be grounded in real-world practice and accessible to society as a whole.
Co-director of the Center for Vulnerabilities and Societies (V&S) and Vice President of the Transitions Institute at UNamur, as well as a member of the University’s Gender Committee, Stéphanie Wattier embodies this ambition for research that is both rigorous and grounded in the real world, addressing the challenges of our time. Her expertise is regularly sought after at national and international conferences, by the media, by members of civil society, and by the various Belgian parliaments.
The University of Namur is strongly committed to gender equality, diversity, and inclusion. Since the creation of a gender group in 2011, followed by a dedicated Vice-Rectorate in 2013, UNamur has implemented a proactive policy centered on four pillars: human dignity, gender equality, inclusion, and the fight against harassment. On campus, the PHARE (Protection HARcèlement Étudiant) initiative, launched in 2021, allows any student who is a victim or witness to report an uncomfortable situation and receive anonymous and confidential support. Gender equality is also one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to which UNamur has fully committed.