This publication is an outcome of the Asia/South Pacific Regional Judicial Colloquium for Senior Judges on the Domestic Application of International Human Rights Norms relevant to the Human Rights of Women held in Hong Kong from 20-22 May 1996, and organised by the Gender and Youth Affairs Division of the Commonwealth Secretariat in collaboration with the Centre for Comparative and Public Law, Faculty of Law, University of Hong Kong, the Commonwealth Magistrates' and Judges' Association and the Commonwealth Foundation. It contains papers presented at the colloquium by judges, scholars, representatives of international organisations and non-governmental organisations. These contributors provide an overview of the applicable international standards, examine the challenges involved in promoting the human rights of women and the girl child in domestic litigation, and explore the ways in which international human rights norms can be relied on in domestic litigation to achieve that goal.