The Jordan Times
By Hani Hazaimeh
AMMAN - Women activists this week reiterated their call on the government to remove its reservations on the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), while other parties described the agreement as a form of cultural globalisation.
Earlier this year, the government decided to lift its reservations on paragraph four of Article 15 of the convention, which gives women freedom of mobility.
Speaking at a workshop to discuss the convention, Jordanian National Commission for Women Secretary General Asma Khader welcomed the government’s decision, noting that women activists have strongly advocated for lifting the reservations.
In July 1992, the Kingdom signed the convention which was ratified and published in the Official Gazette in August 2007 with three reservations related to the citizenship, housing and women's mobility clauses in the Personal Status Law.
"We call on the government to lift the two remaining reservations," Khader said, pointing out that Islam stresses gender equality and protects women rights, but "individual malpractices restrain some of these rights".
"Differences in opinion over the agreement should not stop us from exchanging views and remarks on CEDAW till we reach a common ground," Khader added.
Criticising the convention and describing it as "a cultural globalisation", Marwan Faouri, president of the Moderation Assembly for Thought and Culture, said it was a type of control practised by the UN on member countries.
"The agreement is not consistent with our religion and traditions and it will change our national identity," he told The Jordan Times, adding that it adopts the views of the liberals who do not represent Arab Muslim communities.
Other participants at Tuesday’s workshop, organised by Al Urdun Al Jadid Research Centre, focused on the citizenship clause and urged the government to grant nationality to children of Jordanian women married to foreigners.
According to a study by the Arab Women’s Organisation released last year, based on the 2004 national census, around 12,000 out of 1.7 million married women in the Kingdom are wed to non-Jordanians, with 5.5 children per woman.
Earlier this week, the Islamist movement called on the government to withdraw from the CEDAW, saying the treaty will lead to a myriad of social problems in the country.
"Families in Jordan face the threat of total collapse under CEDAW," warned the Islamic Action Front, the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood.
Showing posts with label cedaw. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cedaw. Show all posts
Monday, May 4, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
Iran: Women Announce Election Demand
Rooz- 26 April 2009
The news committee of the Seminar on the Election Demands of the Women’s Movement held a meeting in Tehran on Friday. While not specifically naming any particular person for the upcoming presidential election in Iran, participating women listed their demands from the future president, specifically requesting that Iran join the international convention against discrimination of women, and an unconditional review of discriminatory laws in Iran, while calling for gender equality.
The news committee of the Seminar on the Election Demands of the Women’s Movement held a meeting in Tehran on Friday. While not specifically naming any particular person for the upcoming presidential election in Iran, participating women listed their demands from the future president, specifically requesting that Iran join the international convention against discrimination of women, and an unconditional review of discriminatory laws in Iran, while calling for gender equality.
Jordan: UJRC organizes a roundtable on CEDAW
Addustour – 27 April 2009
Al Urdun Al Jadid Research Center organizes today a roundtable on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, in commemoration of the convention’s 30th anniversary. The event is held in cooperation with Freedom House, and will include papers and a discussion on the relationship between CEDAW and Jordanian legislations. It will conclude with recommendations for enhancing women’s rights in Jordan.
Al Urdun Al Jadid Research Center organizes today a roundtable on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, in commemoration of the convention’s 30th anniversary. The event is held in cooperation with Freedom House, and will include papers and a discussion on the relationship between CEDAW and Jordanian legislations. It will conclude with recommendations for enhancing women’s rights in Jordan.
Jordan: Islamist movement calls on gov’t to withdraw from CEDAW
Jordan Times
By Mohammad Ben Hussein
AMMAN - The Islamist movement on Sunday called on the government to withdraw from the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) on grounds that the treaty will lead to a myriad of social problems in the country.
In a press conference held at the Islamic Action Front (IAF) headquarters in Abdali, Islamist leaders joined hands with women activists in the party to sound the alarm about the possible consequences of CEDAW on the Jordanian family and society in general.
"Families in Jordan face the threat of total collapse under CEDAW," warned the IAF, the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood, in a statement distributed during the press conference.
Activists from the IAF's Al Afaf women’s society said they are concerned about a recent Cabinet decision to lift its reservations on paragraph four of Article 15, which gives women freedom of mobility and choice of residence without consent of their husbands or other male family members.
According to IAF activists, the clause contradicts the teachings of Islam, under which authority over women's mobility is in the hands of their husbands if they are married, and in the hands of brothers or fathers if they are single.
"Both husband and wife should approve the choice of accommodation, not the wife alone," said Maisoun Darawseh, an Al Afaf society member.
"States Parties shall accord to women, in civil matters, a legal capacity identical to that of men and the same opportunities to exercise that capacity. In particular, they shall give women equal rights to conclude contracts and to administer property and shall treat them equally in all stages of procedure in courts and tribunals," the article states.
The convention also allows women freedom of mobility: "States Parties shall accord to men and women the same rights with regard to the law relating to the movement of persons and the freedom to choose their residence and domicile."
IAF Secretary General Zaki Bani Rsheid criticised the government for ratifying the agreement without first resorting to a national dialogue.
"The government should have conducted a genuine national dialogue with all segments of society regarding this agreement. They should have dealt with this matter based on its social and future dimensions, not its international and financial dimensions," he said.
He urged the government to launch a notational dialogue on CEDAW, raise public awareness of its contents and amend legislation to grant women their religious rights.
In July 1992, the Kingdom signed the convention, which was ratified and published in the Official Gazette in August 2007 with three reservations related to the citizenship, housing and women's mobility clauses in the Personal Status Law.
By Mohammad Ben Hussein
AMMAN - The Islamist movement on Sunday called on the government to withdraw from the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) on grounds that the treaty will lead to a myriad of social problems in the country.
In a press conference held at the Islamic Action Front (IAF) headquarters in Abdali, Islamist leaders joined hands with women activists in the party to sound the alarm about the possible consequences of CEDAW on the Jordanian family and society in general.
"Families in Jordan face the threat of total collapse under CEDAW," warned the IAF, the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood, in a statement distributed during the press conference.
Activists from the IAF's Al Afaf women’s society said they are concerned about a recent Cabinet decision to lift its reservations on paragraph four of Article 15, which gives women freedom of mobility and choice of residence without consent of their husbands or other male family members.
According to IAF activists, the clause contradicts the teachings of Islam, under which authority over women's mobility is in the hands of their husbands if they are married, and in the hands of brothers or fathers if they are single.
"Both husband and wife should approve the choice of accommodation, not the wife alone," said Maisoun Darawseh, an Al Afaf society member.
"States Parties shall accord to women, in civil matters, a legal capacity identical to that of men and the same opportunities to exercise that capacity. In particular, they shall give women equal rights to conclude contracts and to administer property and shall treat them equally in all stages of procedure in courts and tribunals," the article states.
The convention also allows women freedom of mobility: "States Parties shall accord to men and women the same rights with regard to the law relating to the movement of persons and the freedom to choose their residence and domicile."
IAF Secretary General Zaki Bani Rsheid criticised the government for ratifying the agreement without first resorting to a national dialogue.
"The government should have conducted a genuine national dialogue with all segments of society regarding this agreement. They should have dealt with this matter based on its social and future dimensions, not its international and financial dimensions," he said.
He urged the government to launch a notational dialogue on CEDAW, raise public awareness of its contents and amend legislation to grant women their religious rights.
In July 1992, the Kingdom signed the convention, which was ratified and published in the Official Gazette in August 2007 with three reservations related to the citizenship, housing and women's mobility clauses in the Personal Status Law.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Jordan: Government lifts reservations on guaranteeing women’s freedoms
The Cabinet has decided to lift its reservations on paragraph four of Article 15 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), related to women’s mobility. Lifting the reservation was a demand women activists have strongly advocated for, and called on the government to lift the two remaining reservations. In July 1992, the Kingdom signed the convention, which was ratified and published in the Official Gazette in August 2007, with three reservations related to the citizenship, housing and women’s mobility clauses.
- Jordan Times
- Jordan Times
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Morocco: King retracts CEDAW reservations
Morocco has retracted its reservations on the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), King Mohammed VI announced during a speech on Wednesday (December 10th), the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
"Our reservations," the monarch said, "have become obsolete due to the advanced legislation that has been adopted by our country."
The long-awaited move drew praise from civil society; the women's movement had made repeated calls for officials to take the necessary steps to apply the convention in Morocco.
Professor and researcher Malika Benradi noted that Morocco ratified the convention in 1993 with reservations, refusing to enforce any clauses opposing national or Islamic law. For example, Benradi explained that Article 9 deals with the right of a mother to transmit her citizenship to her children; a form of discrimination that Morocco abandoned in 2007.
Article 16 states that both spouses are equal at the moment of, during, and after the dissolution of a marital union. For example, under Moroccan law, there is no true equality between the spouses in terms of providing for one's household, which is solely the husband's duty. Benradi noted that "the retraction of reservations allows for progress, but it is already being debated, particularly with regards to religious issues such as inheritance."
Minister of Social Development, Family and Solidarity Nouzha Skalli expressed her satisfaction with the King's message. In her view, the move confirms Morocco's desire to be forward-looking in terms of women's rights. She added that "the withdrawal of the country’s reservations coincided with a number of other plans launched by Morocco," and "the country is well on the way to becoming an upholder of human rights."
The Moroccan Human Rights Organisation likewise welcomed the move. "Arrangements need to be put in place to enforce this international convention," said the president of the organisation, Amina Bouayache. She added that "Morocco now finds itself in a new set of circumstances. Other initiatives must also be taken, in particular reforms to the constitution and domestic law regarding civil rights and other forms of equality."
Khadija Riyadi, president of the Moroccan Human Rights Association, commented, "The Family Code needs to be amended, especially with regards to those articles that discriminate against women." She added that examples of discrimination pertain to "marriage with foreign nationals, the fact that legal guardianship is always granted to a child's father, inheritance, and polygamy."
The president of the Union for Women’s Action, Nezha Alaoui, noted that in withdrawing its reservations, Morocco "has removed all barriers to the establishment of full equality between men and women in the areas of economic, social and political law."
The president of the Democratic Women's Rights League, Fouzia Assouli, said that "the move was a minor revolution in terms of establishing the principle of equality between men and women – a principle for which the women's movement has fought for many years."
However, not everyone was pleased with the king's announcement. Mustapha Ramid, head of the Justice and Development Party's group in parliament stated that issues pertaining to Islamic law cannot be replaced. "We cannot lift all reservations to the point of achieving total equality, because this point is governed by sharia."
-- By Sarah Touahri for Magharebia in Rabat
"Our reservations," the monarch said, "have become obsolete due to the advanced legislation that has been adopted by our country."
The long-awaited move drew praise from civil society; the women's movement had made repeated calls for officials to take the necessary steps to apply the convention in Morocco.
Professor and researcher Malika Benradi noted that Morocco ratified the convention in 1993 with reservations, refusing to enforce any clauses opposing national or Islamic law. For example, Benradi explained that Article 9 deals with the right of a mother to transmit her citizenship to her children; a form of discrimination that Morocco abandoned in 2007.
Article 16 states that both spouses are equal at the moment of, during, and after the dissolution of a marital union. For example, under Moroccan law, there is no true equality between the spouses in terms of providing for one's household, which is solely the husband's duty. Benradi noted that "the retraction of reservations allows for progress, but it is already being debated, particularly with regards to religious issues such as inheritance."
Minister of Social Development, Family and Solidarity Nouzha Skalli expressed her satisfaction with the King's message. In her view, the move confirms Morocco's desire to be forward-looking in terms of women's rights. She added that "the withdrawal of the country’s reservations coincided with a number of other plans launched by Morocco," and "the country is well on the way to becoming an upholder of human rights."
The Moroccan Human Rights Organisation likewise welcomed the move. "Arrangements need to be put in place to enforce this international convention," said the president of the organisation, Amina Bouayache. She added that "Morocco now finds itself in a new set of circumstances. Other initiatives must also be taken, in particular reforms to the constitution and domestic law regarding civil rights and other forms of equality."
Khadija Riyadi, president of the Moroccan Human Rights Association, commented, "The Family Code needs to be amended, especially with regards to those articles that discriminate against women." She added that examples of discrimination pertain to "marriage with foreign nationals, the fact that legal guardianship is always granted to a child's father, inheritance, and polygamy."
The president of the Union for Women’s Action, Nezha Alaoui, noted that in withdrawing its reservations, Morocco "has removed all barriers to the establishment of full equality between men and women in the areas of economic, social and political law."
The president of the Democratic Women's Rights League, Fouzia Assouli, said that "the move was a minor revolution in terms of establishing the principle of equality between men and women – a principle for which the women's movement has fought for many years."
However, not everyone was pleased with the king's announcement. Mustapha Ramid, head of the Justice and Development Party's group in parliament stated that issues pertaining to Islamic law cannot be replaced. "We cannot lift all reservations to the point of achieving total equality, because this point is governed by sharia."
-- By Sarah Touahri for Magharebia in Rabat
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Bahrain: Report Seeks More Rights for Bahraini Women
MANAMA - Five issues challenging gender equality in Bahrain will be raised in a report to be reviewed at the 42nd session of the Panel of the Convention of Elimination of Discriminations Against Women (CEDAW) to take place in November.
The report was drafted by 21 women organisations that demanded the withdrawal of all the reservations on CEDAW and ratifying the Optional Protocol.
The absence of family law, violence against women, nationality law, political participation, domestic workers and human trafficking are the five issues need to be solved for better empowerment of Bahraini women, according to the report.
It highlighted that despite the demand of Bahraini women organisations and other NGOs to issue a family law since 1982, such law has not been issued yet.
The absence of the law has created legislative gap because of the different and contradicting interpretations of Shariah by the Sunni and Shia judges.
The absence of such law is considered great discrimination against Bahraini women and violation of her human rights in accessing justice, assurance and security.
The report demands the introduction of anti-abuse law to protect women from all types of violence, impose stronger punishment for rape crimes and educate the concerned authorities on how to deal with violence cases and construct a shelter for violently abused women.
The report also demands immediate amendments to be carried out to the outdated nationality law to give equal citizenship rights to female and male Bahrainis. Women, who are married to non Bahrainis, are deprived from giving their nationality to their children.
These children are abandoned all their citizenship rights, of which healthcare, land ownership, political participation, high education and employment. The situation gets worse when the women get divorced or abandoned or when the husbands expire.
The report reveals that the percentage of Bahraini women in political participation is almost negligible.
-- Khaleej Times
The report was drafted by 21 women organisations that demanded the withdrawal of all the reservations on CEDAW and ratifying the Optional Protocol.
The absence of family law, violence against women, nationality law, political participation, domestic workers and human trafficking are the five issues need to be solved for better empowerment of Bahraini women, according to the report.
It highlighted that despite the demand of Bahraini women organisations and other NGOs to issue a family law since 1982, such law has not been issued yet.
The absence of the law has created legislative gap because of the different and contradicting interpretations of Shariah by the Sunni and Shia judges.
The absence of such law is considered great discrimination against Bahraini women and violation of her human rights in accessing justice, assurance and security.
The report demands the introduction of anti-abuse law to protect women from all types of violence, impose stronger punishment for rape crimes and educate the concerned authorities on how to deal with violence cases and construct a shelter for violently abused women.
The report also demands immediate amendments to be carried out to the outdated nationality law to give equal citizenship rights to female and male Bahrainis. Women, who are married to non Bahrainis, are deprived from giving their nationality to their children.
These children are abandoned all their citizenship rights, of which healthcare, land ownership, political participation, high education and employment. The situation gets worse when the women get divorced or abandoned or when the husbands expire.
The report reveals that the percentage of Bahraini women in political participation is almost negligible.
-- Khaleej Times
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