This chapter takes a global human rights perspective on the regulation of women's dress. The author does not recount national legislation, but critically analyses international human rights law provisions, including the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women 1979 and certain case law development of legal rights relating to personality or personal identity. The chapter highlights and probes the underlying purpose of this area of law: to ensure the inherent dignity, equality, and rights of everyone based on the ideal of free human beings. The author argues for an interpretation of the law in line with its purpose to create and safeguard the scaffolding of the social conditions of personality or identity formation of women wearing Islamic dress. This gives flesh to the universal human of international human rights law, acknowledging that personalities are formed culturally and socially with and through others, with implications for belonging and recognition.

[T]he very essence of the Convention is respect for human dignity and human freedom. Under Article 8 … where the notion of personal autonomy is an important principle underlying the interpretation … protection is given to the personal sphere of each individual, including their right to establish details of their identity as individual human beings.