By the Dubai School of Government and Brookings Wolfensohn Center
The demographic transition being experienced in the Middle East is leading to high unemployment and social exclusion, making it one of the most critical economic development challenges in the region, research on the Middle East's youth has found.
The research, entitled Generation in Waiting: The Unfulfilled Promise of Young People in the Middle East, was launched at the Dubai School of Government (DSG) on Monday.
With over 100 million people between the ages of 15 and 29, the Middle East has the largest youth cohort in the history of the region, according to the research.
It is a project by the Middle East Youth Initiative, a joint program between the Dubai School of Government and the Wolfensohn Center at the Washington DC-based Brookings Institution, and is packed with statistics and is targeted for policy-makers in the region.
It has been edited by DSG dean Dr Taiq Yousef and Nivtej Dhillon, former policy director at the Middle East Youth Initiative.
Foreword by Anwar Gargash [UAE State Minister]
Specifically focusing on Iran, Egypt, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, Morocco, Syria and Yemen, the research included a foreword by Anwar Gargash, minister of state for foreign affairs, and James Wolfensohn, the former president of the World Bank.
Dr Yousef said that the research showed that the "most important segment in the region is not to be taken for granted", referring to the Middle East's youth.
He also criticized the region's governments for not giving youths due attention, saying the weakest ministries in the region were those dealing with youth matters, that they were also the most underfunded and lacked a political mandate.
The research found that while more of today's youth are educated in comparison to previous generations, the quality of the education in the region is poor and does not qualify them for the private sector, leading many to rely heavily on the already saturated government sectors.
The phenomenon, said Dr Yousef, coupled with low quality, low paid jobs and a lack of social protection is leading the region's youth to get married later in life, which he said was unusual for a conservative region as the Middle East. Marriage as an institution, he added, was under "assault".
According to the research, nearly 50 per cent of males between the ages of 25 and 29 are unmarried. "The marriage market is closely linked with the employment market, the education market, and the housing market," says the study.
Tip of the iceberg
Unemployment, said Mary Kawar of the International Labor Organization was "the tip of the iceberg" in the difficulties facing the region's youth. Young people in the region, she said, faced problems making the transition from school to the workplace.
"80 to 90 per cent of young people in the countries we surveyed had an unsuccessful transition," she said. The "unsuccessful" classification, she said, included those that had taken jobs that they were unhappy with, or "non-career jobs".
"A lot of young Arabs choose to be unemployed because they want to have good jobs," she said.
Nader Qabbani, of the Syria Trust for Development, compared the value of education in job markets between the Arab world and the rest of the world, saying that an extra year of education amounted to a 10 to 15 per cent extra annual income on a global level. "In the Arab world, an extra year would bring six per cent, and in Syria, three per cent," he said.
Ahmed Younis, a consultant at pollster Gallup, painted a bleak picture of the state of the region's youth through statistics. Vast majorities of Arab youths believe that corruption is widespread in the private sector and many believe that having wasta [influence] is the best way to get a job in the region, and most are not willing to relocate for a job, even within their own country.
Dr Yousef said it was refreshing to learn that the research project was not approached from a security perspective.
"In Washington, most [such] discussions were couched in terms of national security, terrorism and counter terrorism… They would say who is going to be the next [Osama] Bin Laden, and how do we stop him… This [research] is refocusing the angle to where the crux is," he said.
Showing posts with label employment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label employment. Show all posts
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
UAE: First Etihad Emirati women cadet pilots graduate
WAM Abu Dhabi, 19 Oct. 2009
Etihad Airways' first female Emirati cadet pilots - Salma Al-Baloushi and Aisha Al-Mansouri - have successfully graduated from flight training alongside nine male colleagues and gained their airline transport pilot license (ATPL).
The cadet pilots, Etihad's second group to graduate, were conferred with their flying wings in a ceremony at the airline's training academy which was attended by family and friends as well as senior management from Etihad Airways and the Horizon International Flight Academy.
Joining Salma and Aisha to receive their wings were Ali Al Farsi, Ahmed Balalaa, Ibrahim Sanqoor, Khalid Al Ali, Mohamed Al Kaabi, Khalid Al Marzouqi, Khalil Amiri, Abdalla Balkhashar and Hasan Abdulla.
James Hogan, Etihad Airways' chief executive, said: "Everyone at Etihad is delighted that Salma and Aisha - our first female cadet pilots - have made history as the first women to graduate from the program.
"Salma and Aisha are a key part of Etihad's expanding female pilot community and we wish them, as well as their male colleagues, the best of luck as they enter the next phase of their careers with Etihad." The cadets started the pilot program course in September 2007 and now have the rank of second officers at Etihad Airways.
As second officers the pilots will undertake a multi-crew co-operation course and an Airbus A320 type conversion course which will enable them to fly as co-pilots on the Etihad Airways Airbus A320 short haul fleet.
The cadet pilots will spend much of the time during the type conversion course in Etihad's A320 full-flight simulator as well as training in the development of non-technical skills applicable to working in a multi-crew environment. After approximately six months they complete their final checks and will qualify as A320 first officers.
In order to gain the frozen ATPL the cadet pilots had to complete 750 hours of classroom tuition and 205 hours of flight training in single and multi-engine aircraft. During this time they all passed the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority's theoretical knowledge and flying exams.
Etihad Airways recently welcomed the 100th cadet pilot to its innovative and expanding flying program. Shareefa Al Bloushi is a member of Etihad's tenth group of cadets. She is also the sixth female Emirati cadet pilot to join the program, and eighth female overall.
In addition to the cadet pilot program, Etihad Airways' Emiratisation initiatives focus on two other streams which include the technical engineering development program and graduate management development program.
Etihad now also has two international cadet pilot courses which run alongside the five Emirati courses at Horizon Academy. The two groups contain 24 cadet pilots from countries around the world including Hungary, Canada and the United Kingdom.
Etihad Airways' first female Emirati cadet pilots - Salma Al-Baloushi and Aisha Al-Mansouri - have successfully graduated from flight training alongside nine male colleagues and gained their airline transport pilot license (ATPL).
The cadet pilots, Etihad's second group to graduate, were conferred with their flying wings in a ceremony at the airline's training academy which was attended by family and friends as well as senior management from Etihad Airways and the Horizon International Flight Academy.
Joining Salma and Aisha to receive their wings were Ali Al Farsi, Ahmed Balalaa, Ibrahim Sanqoor, Khalid Al Ali, Mohamed Al Kaabi, Khalid Al Marzouqi, Khalil Amiri, Abdalla Balkhashar and Hasan Abdulla.
James Hogan, Etihad Airways' chief executive, said: "Everyone at Etihad is delighted that Salma and Aisha - our first female cadet pilots - have made history as the first women to graduate from the program.
"Salma and Aisha are a key part of Etihad's expanding female pilot community and we wish them, as well as their male colleagues, the best of luck as they enter the next phase of their careers with Etihad." The cadets started the pilot program course in September 2007 and now have the rank of second officers at Etihad Airways.
As second officers the pilots will undertake a multi-crew co-operation course and an Airbus A320 type conversion course which will enable them to fly as co-pilots on the Etihad Airways Airbus A320 short haul fleet.
The cadet pilots will spend much of the time during the type conversion course in Etihad's A320 full-flight simulator as well as training in the development of non-technical skills applicable to working in a multi-crew environment. After approximately six months they complete their final checks and will qualify as A320 first officers.
In order to gain the frozen ATPL the cadet pilots had to complete 750 hours of classroom tuition and 205 hours of flight training in single and multi-engine aircraft. During this time they all passed the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority's theoretical knowledge and flying exams.
Etihad Airways recently welcomed the 100th cadet pilot to its innovative and expanding flying program. Shareefa Al Bloushi is a member of Etihad's tenth group of cadets. She is also the sixth female Emirati cadet pilot to join the program, and eighth female overall.
In addition to the cadet pilot program, Etihad Airways' Emiratisation initiatives focus on two other streams which include the technical engineering development program and graduate management development program.
Etihad now also has two international cadet pilot courses which run alongside the five Emirati courses at Horizon Academy. The two groups contain 24 cadet pilots from countries around the world including Hungary, Canada and the United Kingdom.
Friday, June 5, 2009
UAE: UAE is determined to continue in the path of women revivalism
2009-06-04 20:52:33
WAM Geneva, Jun 04th, 2009 (WAM): The United Arab Emirates reiterated today before the world community, its determination to continue the march in the path of women revivalism.
Addressing the annual full-day discussion of the Human Rights Council on women's human rights today, the permanent representative of the UAE at the United Nations Office in Geneva Obeid Salem Al Za'abi said that since the formation of the UAE under the presidency of late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the leadership of the country was fully aware of the fact the woman is an equal partner in the process of national development.
The leadership of the country, inspired by its faith in gender equality, adopted a strategy of empowering women in cultural, social and economic fields, Al Za'abi said.
In an intervention made during the discussion, Al Za'abi portrayed how UAE worked to achieve the gender equality in rights and duties through guaranteeing women their right to ownership, employment, social security, economic and financial management, education, healthcare, earning, as well as many other rights.
In our country, the strong presence of women in the leadership roles and positions of decision making is not a new trend, but is a continuation of the march led by Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak though her ardent work for the renaissance of the women, said Al Za'abi.
He briefly shed light on various institutions in the UAE established with an objective of empowering women to play the equal role in the nation building. Al Za'abi drew a few examples such as the General Women's Union (GWU), which was founded by HH Sheikh Fatima and the Family Development Foundation (FDF).
Women in UAE holds four seats in the federal cabinet and fills nine seats in a total of 40 seats in the Federal National Council, the country's supreme legislative body. This in addition to a large number of key posts women hold in various ministries and local governments. More over, women represent 59 percent of the total work force in the UAE and enjoy equal opportunity in the economic life, Al Za'abi pointed out.
He also asserted the country's commitment to continue this march under the leadership of President HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
The Human Rights Council's discussion on women's human rights was entitled equality before the law: concrete steps to further women's equality. The discussion focused on non-discrimination in the law, with a view to identifying concrete steps to further women's equality. The first part addressed institutional perspectives on equality before the law and the second part presented a wider perspective from academia and civil society.
Opening the discussion, Navi Pillay, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, said international human rights treaties prohibited discrimination on the basis of sex and included guarantees to ensure that women and men enjoyed their civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights on a basis of equality.
Despite this perception, global and national realities indicated that there was a wide gulf between international legal obligations and their implementation. Not only did inequality in the legal, civil, economic, political and social arenas violate international obligations, but it also compounded discrimination against women.
When race, religion, ethnicity, poverty, disability, social status, and other forms of discrimination were factored in, then the picture was one of even greater disparity. Moreover, inequality created a climate where violence against women and girls was considered acceptable.
Speaking in the first part of the discussion were Chile, India, Nigeria, Paraguay for MERCOSUR, Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, Norway, Czech Republic for the European Union, Bahrain, Azerbaijan, Switzerland, Philippines for ASEAN, Slovenia, Ukraine, Luxembourg, Russian Federation, Lithuania, Iceland, Turkey, Yemen, Kazakhstan, Serbia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Algeria, China, Indonesia, Germany, Bosnia and Herzegovina and South Africa.
Also speaking were the Equality and Human Rights Commission of Great Britain and the National Human Rights Commission of Malaysia, national human rights institutions. Non-governmental organizations speaking were the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, Equality Now, Amnesty International and Women's International Democratic Federation.
The following non-governmental organizations also took the floor: Center for Women's Global Leadership, Worldwide Organization for Women, International Federation of Human Rights and Interfaith International.
International human rights treaties prohibited discrimination on the basis of sex and included guarantees to ensure that women and men enjoyed their civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights on a basis of equality.
WAM/AB
WAM Geneva, Jun 04th, 2009 (WAM): The United Arab Emirates reiterated today before the world community, its determination to continue the march in the path of women revivalism.
Addressing the annual full-day discussion of the Human Rights Council on women's human rights today, the permanent representative of the UAE at the United Nations Office in Geneva Obeid Salem Al Za'abi said that since the formation of the UAE under the presidency of late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the leadership of the country was fully aware of the fact the woman is an equal partner in the process of national development.
The leadership of the country, inspired by its faith in gender equality, adopted a strategy of empowering women in cultural, social and economic fields, Al Za'abi said.
In an intervention made during the discussion, Al Za'abi portrayed how UAE worked to achieve the gender equality in rights and duties through guaranteeing women their right to ownership, employment, social security, economic and financial management, education, healthcare, earning, as well as many other rights.
In our country, the strong presence of women in the leadership roles and positions of decision making is not a new trend, but is a continuation of the march led by Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak though her ardent work for the renaissance of the women, said Al Za'abi.
He briefly shed light on various institutions in the UAE established with an objective of empowering women to play the equal role in the nation building. Al Za'abi drew a few examples such as the General Women's Union (GWU), which was founded by HH Sheikh Fatima and the Family Development Foundation (FDF).
Women in UAE holds four seats in the federal cabinet and fills nine seats in a total of 40 seats in the Federal National Council, the country's supreme legislative body. This in addition to a large number of key posts women hold in various ministries and local governments. More over, women represent 59 percent of the total work force in the UAE and enjoy equal opportunity in the economic life, Al Za'abi pointed out.
He also asserted the country's commitment to continue this march under the leadership of President HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
The Human Rights Council's discussion on women's human rights was entitled equality before the law: concrete steps to further women's equality. The discussion focused on non-discrimination in the law, with a view to identifying concrete steps to further women's equality. The first part addressed institutional perspectives on equality before the law and the second part presented a wider perspective from academia and civil society.
Opening the discussion, Navi Pillay, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, said international human rights treaties prohibited discrimination on the basis of sex and included guarantees to ensure that women and men enjoyed their civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights on a basis of equality.
Despite this perception, global and national realities indicated that there was a wide gulf between international legal obligations and their implementation. Not only did inequality in the legal, civil, economic, political and social arenas violate international obligations, but it also compounded discrimination against women.
When race, religion, ethnicity, poverty, disability, social status, and other forms of discrimination were factored in, then the picture was one of even greater disparity. Moreover, inequality created a climate where violence against women and girls was considered acceptable.
Speaking in the first part of the discussion were Chile, India, Nigeria, Paraguay for MERCOSUR, Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, Norway, Czech Republic for the European Union, Bahrain, Azerbaijan, Switzerland, Philippines for ASEAN, Slovenia, Ukraine, Luxembourg, Russian Federation, Lithuania, Iceland, Turkey, Yemen, Kazakhstan, Serbia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Algeria, China, Indonesia, Germany, Bosnia and Herzegovina and South Africa.
Also speaking were the Equality and Human Rights Commission of Great Britain and the National Human Rights Commission of Malaysia, national human rights institutions. Non-governmental organizations speaking were the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, Equality Now, Amnesty International and Women's International Democratic Federation.
The following non-governmental organizations also took the floor: Center for Women's Global Leadership, Worldwide Organization for Women, International Federation of Human Rights and Interfaith International.
International human rights treaties prohibited discrimination on the basis of sex and included guarantees to ensure that women and men enjoyed their civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights on a basis of equality.
WAM/AB
Friday, May 8, 2009
Algeria: El Moudjahid Forum on Women
La Tribune, 5.7.09
A debate yesterday, organized by the daily El Moudjahid, centered on the presence of women in the public sphere. Mrs. Francoise Halimi, Vice President of the Association of Women Heads of Enterprise, noted that the emancipation of women, and an active public life, has permitted them to ameliorate their families’ standard of living.
A debate yesterday, organized by the daily El Moudjahid, centered on the presence of women in the public sphere. Mrs. Francoise Halimi, Vice President of the Association of Women Heads of Enterprise, noted that the emancipation of women, and an active public life, has permitted them to ameliorate their families’ standard of living.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Saudi Arabia: Municipal councils ‘not ready to employ women’
Saudi Gazette
JEDDAH – The time is not ripe for municipal councils to employ women, a city council official here said.
Hassan Al-Zahrani, vice chairman of the municipal council here said that the councils are still in their inception stage and need time before involving females in their work.
Overly hasty moves to open the door to women’s participation could have negative consequences, he said.
The issue of men and women sharing responsibilities is not up for debate, Al-Zahrani said, as each one has their responsibilities specified in Shariah Law.
He said women were taking part in extensive areas of society that are suited to their nature, citing social issues and district centers and other societies.
More women working in those areas would have a positive effect on the structure and cohesion of society, Al-Zahrani added. – Okaz/SG
JEDDAH – The time is not ripe for municipal councils to employ women, a city council official here said.
Hassan Al-Zahrani, vice chairman of the municipal council here said that the councils are still in their inception stage and need time before involving females in their work.
Overly hasty moves to open the door to women’s participation could have negative consequences, he said.
The issue of men and women sharing responsibilities is not up for debate, Al-Zahrani said, as each one has their responsibilities specified in Shariah Law.
He said women were taking part in extensive areas of society that are suited to their nature, citing social issues and district centers and other societies.
More women working in those areas would have a positive effect on the structure and cohesion of society, Al-Zahrani added. – Okaz/SG
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Jordan: Jordanian Women Sifting Death Traps
The Media Line
Written by Abdullah Omar
Published Thursday, April 30, 2009
[Amman, Jordan] “It is only about money,” confesses Hanan ‘Ababna while grabbing a large metal fork as she sifts through landmine-infested fields on the Jordan-Syria border.
Hanan comes from a poor family in the northern city of Mafraq, where unemployment has reached a staggering 30 percent and poverty is on the rise.
The community that once thrived on agriculture and trade currently struggles with the consequences of bad state economic policies, depending on handouts and monthly salaries through social aid networks, rather than through created job opportunities in rural areas.
“If it were not for money I would not be putting my life at risk,” says Hanan.
The scorching heat and slapping cold wind of the desert has turned black and rugged her skin and that of many other girls in this frontier area.
Officials behind the project needed to offer generous financial bait to lure individuals to join this risky business. Each worker gets 540 Jordanian dinars (JD), five times more than the minimum wage, as well as health insurance and compensation in case of injury or death.
Hanan used to work at a local factory as a seamstress, earning "100 JD with bonus”
for herself and her three children.
“It is only because I was a fast worker and hence produced more than my colleagues that they gave me JD 100, otherwise I would have earned no more than JD 85,” she says.
Now Hanan can put enough food on the table and provide education for her children.
“I do not care about what happens to me. I am happy here because I can give my children a good life,” she adds.
Hanan joined dozens of other girls from similar economic and social backgrounds to become the first Jordanian all-female de-mining team. Their first mission is to help male counterparts clear the northern borders with Syria of landmines, remnants of tension between the two Arab countries during the 1970s.
The 10.5 million square meters of mine-infested land is the last stretch of a decade-old campaign to cleanse the country of ordinance. The project aims to remove 136,000 mines that nestle along a 104 km-long mine belt, where dozens of villages are located.
The minefields served not only as a natural deterrent to cross country smuggling, but also hampered residents on the Jordanian side from making the most of the fertile land.
On the other side of the border, farmers from Syria are cultivating the land up to its full potential while villagers in Jordan abandoned their land, preferring to join the army to feed their family.
Activists now say the project of de-mining will allow thousands of farmers and 70,000 villagers to utilize their lands after nearly three decades.
Women Praised
Teams of landminers are shuttled to the minefields every morning at five am, where they gear up to flirt with death traps, donning protective clothing and other paraphernalia.
For project coordinator Qasim Simadi, who supervised the training of the women, his new students showed as much courage and perseverance as men, if not more.
“I saw they wanted to prove themselves. They would wear the heavy clothes and walk towards the landmines without fear. I was impressed,” says Simadi, who insists women are not treated any differently to men.
“This is a job and they have to do it well, otherwise it will be their lives at risk,” he says, noting that the 40 women who applied for the job were reduced to the current 24-member team.
“Not any woman can become a de-miner. They have to be tough in their heads before their bodies,” he claims.
According to Stephen Bryant, NPA program manager in Jordan, gender equality and women’s empowerment are some of the pillars of NPA's work.
Ranging from university graduates to farmers and homemakers, the female de-miners have chosen this career line with NPA looking for employment, financial empowerment or non-traditional occupation.
The desert kingdom, which was involved in several wars with Israel since 1948, launched a project to clear all existing minefields following the signing of the Wadi Araba peace treaty with Israel in 1994. Officials set their sights on 2012 to remove the last mines in 93 minefields in line with Ottawa Mine Ban treaty.
Lack of experience, and probably fear of negative publicity, pushed officials at the Norwegian People's Aid (NPA), the organization funding the project, to limit the work of women to surveying the land. Handling of landmines will be at a later stage when they gain experience, says Lina Gazi, a public relations officer at the NPA.
But that job is no less risky, say team members.
Officials at the NPA, many of whom are former army generals, point out that not all minefields have maps, leaving de-miners very vulnerable.
The $10-million project involves more than 100 mine specialists, including members of the local community, with the support of the international community, including Australia, Canada, the European Commission, Germany, Japan and Norway.
Written by Abdullah Omar
Published Thursday, April 30, 2009
[Amman, Jordan] “It is only about money,” confesses Hanan ‘Ababna while grabbing a large metal fork as she sifts through landmine-infested fields on the Jordan-Syria border.
Hanan comes from a poor family in the northern city of Mafraq, where unemployment has reached a staggering 30 percent and poverty is on the rise.
The community that once thrived on agriculture and trade currently struggles with the consequences of bad state economic policies, depending on handouts and monthly salaries through social aid networks, rather than through created job opportunities in rural areas.
“If it were not for money I would not be putting my life at risk,” says Hanan.
The scorching heat and slapping cold wind of the desert has turned black and rugged her skin and that of many other girls in this frontier area.
Officials behind the project needed to offer generous financial bait to lure individuals to join this risky business. Each worker gets 540 Jordanian dinars (JD), five times more than the minimum wage, as well as health insurance and compensation in case of injury or death.
Hanan used to work at a local factory as a seamstress, earning "100 JD with bonus”
for herself and her three children.
“It is only because I was a fast worker and hence produced more than my colleagues that they gave me JD 100, otherwise I would have earned no more than JD 85,” she says.
Now Hanan can put enough food on the table and provide education for her children.
“I do not care about what happens to me. I am happy here because I can give my children a good life,” she adds.
Hanan joined dozens of other girls from similar economic and social backgrounds to become the first Jordanian all-female de-mining team. Their first mission is to help male counterparts clear the northern borders with Syria of landmines, remnants of tension between the two Arab countries during the 1970s.
The 10.5 million square meters of mine-infested land is the last stretch of a decade-old campaign to cleanse the country of ordinance. The project aims to remove 136,000 mines that nestle along a 104 km-long mine belt, where dozens of villages are located.
The minefields served not only as a natural deterrent to cross country smuggling, but also hampered residents on the Jordanian side from making the most of the fertile land.
On the other side of the border, farmers from Syria are cultivating the land up to its full potential while villagers in Jordan abandoned their land, preferring to join the army to feed their family.
Activists now say the project of de-mining will allow thousands of farmers and 70,000 villagers to utilize their lands after nearly three decades.
Women Praised
Teams of landminers are shuttled to the minefields every morning at five am, where they gear up to flirt with death traps, donning protective clothing and other paraphernalia.
For project coordinator Qasim Simadi, who supervised the training of the women, his new students showed as much courage and perseverance as men, if not more.
“I saw they wanted to prove themselves. They would wear the heavy clothes and walk towards the landmines without fear. I was impressed,” says Simadi, who insists women are not treated any differently to men.
“This is a job and they have to do it well, otherwise it will be their lives at risk,” he says, noting that the 40 women who applied for the job were reduced to the current 24-member team.
“Not any woman can become a de-miner. They have to be tough in their heads before their bodies,” he claims.
According to Stephen Bryant, NPA program manager in Jordan, gender equality and women’s empowerment are some of the pillars of NPA's work.
Ranging from university graduates to farmers and homemakers, the female de-miners have chosen this career line with NPA looking for employment, financial empowerment or non-traditional occupation.
The desert kingdom, which was involved in several wars with Israel since 1948, launched a project to clear all existing minefields following the signing of the Wadi Araba peace treaty with Israel in 1994. Officials set their sights on 2012 to remove the last mines in 93 minefields in line with Ottawa Mine Ban treaty.
Lack of experience, and probably fear of negative publicity, pushed officials at the Norwegian People's Aid (NPA), the organization funding the project, to limit the work of women to surveying the land. Handling of landmines will be at a later stage when they gain experience, says Lina Gazi, a public relations officer at the NPA.
But that job is no less risky, say team members.
Officials at the NPA, many of whom are former army generals, point out that not all minefields have maps, leaving de-miners very vulnerable.
The $10-million project involves more than 100 mine specialists, including members of the local community, with the support of the international community, including Australia, Canada, the European Commission, Germany, Japan and Norway.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Turkey: Religious-secularist mix impacts women's rights in Turkey
Common Ground News
Sertaç Sehlikoğlu Karakaş
Montréal, Canada - Turkey has strong ties both with its Muslim history and with secularism, understood as not mixing religion with politics. After decades of struggling between these two identities, this strategic NATO ally and EU contender has developed a hybrid identity that encompasses both. As a result, Turkey has been increasingly perceived as a liberal and progressive face of Islam on the global stage and, in congruence with the true spirit of the religion, it is demonstrating its commitment to the empowerment of women.
In order to positively affect women's daily lives, it will take engaged leadership by religious scholars and feminists in addition to government-initiated reforms.
The Presidency of Religious Affairs (PRA), the government institution overseeing religious matters since it was established in 1924, and the highest Islamic authority in Turkey, is at the centre of the debate on religion and women. The PRA – which currently employs approximately 83,000 clerics in local mosques – was originally limited to the administration of mosques, but now focuses more on developing new interpretations of Islam.
Recently, the PRA initiated a review of hadiths (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad) which was well-received by Turkish society and reverberated beyond national borders.
According to the PRA's explanation, the project's aim is to raise awareness about the inaccuracy of apocryphal hadiths accumulated after the death of the Prophet Muhammad by re-emphasising the importance of morally credible and viable sources. For example, many cultural traditions that were considered unfair to women were wrongly attributed to the Prophet and were added to hadith collections even though their chains of transmission were flawed.
The project is expected to yield a collection of hadiths on women combined in a five-volume publication. Its aim is to support women's rights activists in their fight against "honour" killings, violence against women and misogyny in general.
In addition, since 2005, the PRA has also offered its female employees the opportunity to upgrade their educational and professional skills so that they become better qualified for higher-ranking positions.
According to Ali Bardakoğlu, president of the PRA, the institution has suffered from a lack of women's contributions for decades. The PRA's goal in recent years has been to promote women to the highest levels of the institution, which Bardakoğlu hopes to accomplish by gradually incorporating them into the PRA structure. Women will be promoted to positions of assistant cleric, cleric and mufti (an official scholar of Islamic law). Bardakoğlu does not deny that men have thus far been more influential within Islamic institutions, but states that the absence of women in such positions has been due to their lack of higher education – a reality that can be changed.
Despite the women-friendly attitude and speeches of Bardakoğlu, parts of the institution appear reluctant to change. Soon after the PRA's declaration in 2005, which announced its intent to hire 200 new female preachers and appoint women as muftis and vice-muftis, a member of the institution authored an article on how women should behave around men so as not to arouse men's sexual desire.
Thanks to a vigilant feminist response, the article was removed from the PRA's website and the institute issued an apology. Strong female criticism – both from those outside the institution and those within it – is essential to holding the PRA to its goal of empowering women. Feminists continue to push the PRA to implement and institutionalise initiatives that are more inclusive of women.
Over the last four years, the PRA has successfully implemented target quotas for women in higher level positions – seven women have already been appointed to the position of vice-mufti – and established bureaus in 21 cities across the country to address concerns of local women.
The drive towards greater empowerment of women in Turkey has affected not only women's representation in the PRA, but also society more broadly. The well-known religious leader Fethullah Gulen wrote an article in the Turkish newspaper, Zaman, in September 2008 on the topic of domestic violence. He stated that a woman should be brave enough to take legal action against her husband if she is beaten. Gulen referenced a newer interpretation of religious texts with a Sufi perspective to support his advice.
Gulen explained that in the case of domestic violence the husband should be perceived as zalim, meaning tyrannical, and judged guilty of exercising unjust power. Such interpretations can give women the legal backing to press criminal charges against their husbands, or to achieve monetary retribution for mistreatment. His comments provide invaluable scholarly justification for the many women who have long been advocating similar views.
Developing modern religious interpretations to address women's issues provides a rich and strong foundation for feminist discourses. The PRA has made significant progress in developing modern and accurate religious interpretations generally and specifically on the subject of women. Though Muslim women still have a long way to go to achieve the rights due to them in Islam, the PRA's reforms – including giving women access to clerical positions and the prevalence of new interpretations of religious sources – are slowly paving the road to empowerment.
Feminists are prompting many of these changes in religious interpretation. In turn, strengthening women's rights by referencing religion provides guidelines for women living in other Muslim countries, a project which is consistent with Turkey's mission to become a model of a modern Muslim country.
Sertaç Sehlikoğlu Karakaş
Montréal, Canada - Turkey has strong ties both with its Muslim history and with secularism, understood as not mixing religion with politics. After decades of struggling between these two identities, this strategic NATO ally and EU contender has developed a hybrid identity that encompasses both. As a result, Turkey has been increasingly perceived as a liberal and progressive face of Islam on the global stage and, in congruence with the true spirit of the religion, it is demonstrating its commitment to the empowerment of women.
In order to positively affect women's daily lives, it will take engaged leadership by religious scholars and feminists in addition to government-initiated reforms.
The Presidency of Religious Affairs (PRA), the government institution overseeing religious matters since it was established in 1924, and the highest Islamic authority in Turkey, is at the centre of the debate on religion and women. The PRA – which currently employs approximately 83,000 clerics in local mosques – was originally limited to the administration of mosques, but now focuses more on developing new interpretations of Islam.
Recently, the PRA initiated a review of hadiths (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad) which was well-received by Turkish society and reverberated beyond national borders.
According to the PRA's explanation, the project's aim is to raise awareness about the inaccuracy of apocryphal hadiths accumulated after the death of the Prophet Muhammad by re-emphasising the importance of morally credible and viable sources. For example, many cultural traditions that were considered unfair to women were wrongly attributed to the Prophet and were added to hadith collections even though their chains of transmission were flawed.
The project is expected to yield a collection of hadiths on women combined in a five-volume publication. Its aim is to support women's rights activists in their fight against "honour" killings, violence against women and misogyny in general.
In addition, since 2005, the PRA has also offered its female employees the opportunity to upgrade their educational and professional skills so that they become better qualified for higher-ranking positions.
According to Ali Bardakoğlu, president of the PRA, the institution has suffered from a lack of women's contributions for decades. The PRA's goal in recent years has been to promote women to the highest levels of the institution, which Bardakoğlu hopes to accomplish by gradually incorporating them into the PRA structure. Women will be promoted to positions of assistant cleric, cleric and mufti (an official scholar of Islamic law). Bardakoğlu does not deny that men have thus far been more influential within Islamic institutions, but states that the absence of women in such positions has been due to their lack of higher education – a reality that can be changed.
Despite the women-friendly attitude and speeches of Bardakoğlu, parts of the institution appear reluctant to change. Soon after the PRA's declaration in 2005, which announced its intent to hire 200 new female preachers and appoint women as muftis and vice-muftis, a member of the institution authored an article on how women should behave around men so as not to arouse men's sexual desire.
Thanks to a vigilant feminist response, the article was removed from the PRA's website and the institute issued an apology. Strong female criticism – both from those outside the institution and those within it – is essential to holding the PRA to its goal of empowering women. Feminists continue to push the PRA to implement and institutionalise initiatives that are more inclusive of women.
Over the last four years, the PRA has successfully implemented target quotas for women in higher level positions – seven women have already been appointed to the position of vice-mufti – and established bureaus in 21 cities across the country to address concerns of local women.
The drive towards greater empowerment of women in Turkey has affected not only women's representation in the PRA, but also society more broadly. The well-known religious leader Fethullah Gulen wrote an article in the Turkish newspaper, Zaman, in September 2008 on the topic of domestic violence. He stated that a woman should be brave enough to take legal action against her husband if she is beaten. Gulen referenced a newer interpretation of religious texts with a Sufi perspective to support his advice.
Gulen explained that in the case of domestic violence the husband should be perceived as zalim, meaning tyrannical, and judged guilty of exercising unjust power. Such interpretations can give women the legal backing to press criminal charges against their husbands, or to achieve monetary retribution for mistreatment. His comments provide invaluable scholarly justification for the many women who have long been advocating similar views.
Developing modern religious interpretations to address women's issues provides a rich and strong foundation for feminist discourses. The PRA has made significant progress in developing modern and accurate religious interpretations generally and specifically on the subject of women. Though Muslim women still have a long way to go to achieve the rights due to them in Islam, the PRA's reforms – including giving women access to clerical positions and the prevalence of new interpretations of religious sources – are slowly paving the road to empowerment.
Feminists are prompting many of these changes in religious interpretation. In turn, strengthening women's rights by referencing religion provides guidelines for women living in other Muslim countries, a project which is consistent with Turkey's mission to become a model of a modern Muslim country.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Bahrain: Bahrain's Shaikha Mai wants better laws, closer media cooperation
Gulfnews
By Habib Toumi, Bahrain Bureau Chief
Published: April 14, 2009, 15:03
Manama: Bahrain's culture and information minister has called for the codification of press freedom to help promote media standards and reinforce liberties.
"We will, persistently and inexorably, move towards the codification of the freedom of the press as part of the general and public freedoms that must be expanded and developed. All legal and administrative obstacles should be removed so that press freedom can be guarantees are built on robust foundations and exercised within an enlightened and advanced environment," said Shaikha Mai Bint Mohammad Al Khalifa.
"We strongly believe that the press plays a crucial role in the civil dialogue that reinforces freedoms and empowers people to comment on them and explain them," she told members of the International Federation of Journalists who were holding a forum in Bahrain.
According to Shaikha Mai, the media has a crucial role in helping the world confront formidable challenges that include creating employment opportunities, addressing problems related with population growth, wars, climate changes and the need protection of civilizations and heritages.
"In the face of such challenges, we need to stimulate solidarity within the media and develop general commitments to international rights and to civil and political pledges and covenants. We should transfer these international accords to our local legislation and review our laws and rules accordingly. We do need robust partnerships for the sake of the future of the press: ethically and professionally and in terms of knowledge and training," she said.
Genuine partnership with the Brussels-based International Federation of Journalists which has around 600,000 members, could result in improving performances, enhancing practices, spreading the values related to diversified media and bolstering professional standards through training programmess and outstanding initiatives, said the minister who was given the media portfolio last September in a limited cabinet reshuffle.
Bahraini journalists have been pushing for the adoption of a new press law that would guarantee greater freedom and the abolition of jail sentences for reporters and editors.
The government last year presented a law draft, but the parliament has yet to decide on its merits.
Journalists are weary that conservative lawmakers in the lower house would oppose lifting prison jails under the claim that people working in the media should not be given any special privileges.
The Bahrain Journalists Association has been lobbying for the promulgation of a more tolerant press law.
By Habib Toumi, Bahrain Bureau Chief
Published: April 14, 2009, 15:03
Manama: Bahrain's culture and information minister has called for the codification of press freedom to help promote media standards and reinforce liberties.
"We will, persistently and inexorably, move towards the codification of the freedom of the press as part of the general and public freedoms that must be expanded and developed. All legal and administrative obstacles should be removed so that press freedom can be guarantees are built on robust foundations and exercised within an enlightened and advanced environment," said Shaikha Mai Bint Mohammad Al Khalifa.
"We strongly believe that the press plays a crucial role in the civil dialogue that reinforces freedoms and empowers people to comment on them and explain them," she told members of the International Federation of Journalists who were holding a forum in Bahrain.
According to Shaikha Mai, the media has a crucial role in helping the world confront formidable challenges that include creating employment opportunities, addressing problems related with population growth, wars, climate changes and the need protection of civilizations and heritages.
"In the face of such challenges, we need to stimulate solidarity within the media and develop general commitments to international rights and to civil and political pledges and covenants. We should transfer these international accords to our local legislation and review our laws and rules accordingly. We do need robust partnerships for the sake of the future of the press: ethically and professionally and in terms of knowledge and training," she said.
Genuine partnership with the Brussels-based International Federation of Journalists which has around 600,000 members, could result in improving performances, enhancing practices, spreading the values related to diversified media and bolstering professional standards through training programmess and outstanding initiatives, said the minister who was given the media portfolio last September in a limited cabinet reshuffle.
Bahraini journalists have been pushing for the adoption of a new press law that would guarantee greater freedom and the abolition of jail sentences for reporters and editors.
The government last year presented a law draft, but the parliament has yet to decide on its merits.
Journalists are weary that conservative lawmakers in the lower house would oppose lifting prison jails under the claim that people working in the media should not be given any special privileges.
The Bahrain Journalists Association has been lobbying for the promulgation of a more tolerant press law.
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