Arab Parliament to Hold 1st Parliamentary Summit of Arab Women MPs in Tashkent
03
July 2022
• Arab Parliament to Hold 1st Parliamentary Summit of
Arab Women MPs in Tashkent
• Six Weeks And Three Days Pregnant 10-Year-Old Ohio
Girl Denied Abortion After Abortion Ruling
• Kourtney Kardashian, an American Media Personality,
Thanks God For Healing Travis Barker
• South African Constitutional Court Judgment Which
Recognises Muslim Marriages Seen As A Victory For Muslim Women
• Afghan Clerics Vow Loyalty To Taliban, But No Word
On Girls' Schooling
• Pakistan’s Entrepreneurship And Startup Sector Still
Has Clear Gender Gap
Compiled by New
Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/arab-parliament-summit-tashkent-/d/127391
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Arab Parliament to Hold 1st Parliamentary Summit of
Arab Women MPs in Tashkent
Speaker of the Arab
Parliament (AP) Adel Al Assomi discussed with Tanzila Narbaeva, Speaker of the
Senate of Uzbekistan, the procedures for organizing the First Parliamentary
Summit of Arab and Muslim Women Parliamentarians in Tashkent.
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by Omnia Ahmed
July 2, 2022
The summit aims to support the empowerment of women
MPs in the Arab and Islamic worlds in order to promote communication with
influential Arab and Muslim women MPs in non-Arab and non-Islamic countries.
Al Assomi and Narbaeva discussed the summit on the
side-lines of their participation in the First Conference of the Non-Aligned
Movement Parliamentary Network, hosted by Azerbaijan from 30 June to 1 July
2022, which was inaugurated by the Head of State.
During the meeting, Al Assomi emphasized the AP‘s
keenness to strengthen parliamentary relations with Uzbekistan at the
parliamentary level and with the Islamic world in general, to serve Arab and
Islamic issues in various regional and international fora.
In this context, the two sides agreed to sign a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the coming period, thereby contributing to
the institutionalization of relations between the two sides, and regulating
their areas of cooperation and coordination with respect to issues of mutual
concern.
On her side, Narbaeva stressed her keenness to enhance
relations with the AP and joint coordination on issues of common interest
through the MoU to be signed.
Source: See.News
https://see.news/ap-to-organize-1st-summit-of-women-parliamentarians/
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Six Weeks And Three Days Pregnant 10-Year-Old Ohio
Girl Denied Abortion After Abortion Ruling
Abortion rights demonstrators protest outside the US Supreme Court after overturning the landmark Roe v Wade abortion decision. (Photo Credit: Reuters)
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Chandrashekar Bhat
03 July, 2022
A 10-year-old girl six weeks and three days pregnant
in Ohio was denied an abortion in the state after the Supreme Court of US
overturned the Roe vs Wade decision last week.
The patient is now travelling to Indiana for an
abortion, the Hill reported on Saturday. A child abuse doctor in Ohio contacted
Dr Caitlin Bernard, an obstetrician-gynecologist in Indiana, after receiving a
10-year-old patient who was six weeks and three days pregnant, the Indianapolis
Star reported.
That patient is now heading west to Indiana given that
an abortion ban in Ohio, which prohibits the medical procedure when fetal
cardiac activity begins, around six weeks, had become effective quickly after
the court issued its decision, reported The Hill.
While several groups filed a lawsuit seeking to block
the state law from taking effect on Wednesday, an emergency stay of the
abortion ban was rejected by the Ohio Supreme Court on Friday, meaning that the
ban can be upheld as the case is reviewed, Cincinnati Enquirer reported.
Ohio is among a number of states that have rolled back
abortion access since the Supreme Court eliminated the constitutional right to
an abortion. Some laws have been paused pending legal challenges.
But Indiana could soon find itself passing its own
abortion law later this month given that a special session has been scheduled
for later in July and the legislature is expected to touch on a ban on the
medical procedure, WFYI reported.
On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court of the US
abolished abortion rights while overturning the constitutional right granted to
women in a historical 1973 ruling called Roe vs Wade. Through this abortion was
legalized across the states.
The Supreme Court has struck down Roe vs Wade,
eliminating the nearly 50-year-old constitutional right to abortion and ruled
that states may regulate the practice of it, according to a media report.
“The Constitution does not confer a right to abortion;
Roe and Casey are overruled; and the authority to regulate abortion is returned
to the people and their elected representatives” the ruling said.
Meanwhile, the Bombay High Court in an order passed on
June 27, 2022, granted liberty to a minor girl to undergo medical termination
of her pregnancy.
Bombay High Court allowed the termination of a 16
weeks’ pregnancy of a minor who was a victim of sexual abuse and noted that the
Apex Court in its order in 2009, has observed that reproductive choice is an insegragable
part of a woman’s personal liberty as envisaged under Article 21 of the
Constitution of India.
The Bombay High Court bench of Justice Urmila Joshi
Phalke and Justice AS Chandurkar in an order noted, “She contended that said
pregnancy is unwanted. Admittedly, she cannot be forced to give birth to a
child. As observed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court that it is the right of a woman
to have a reproductive choice. She has a choice to give birth to the child or
not.”
The Court noted that the Medical Board opined that the
pregnancy could be terminated if the petitioner is a minor girl. She is
subjected for sexual assault. It is difficult for her to carry said unwanted
pregnancy.
Source: Eastern Eye
https://www.easterneye.biz/us-10-year-old-ohio-girl-denied-abortion-after-abortion-ruling/
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Kourtney Kardashian, an American Media Personality,
Thanks God For Healing Travis Barker
Jul 03 2022
Kourtney Kardashian on Saturday shared a update on her
husband Travis Barker's health.
The reality TV star took to Instagram stories to share
a statement.
"What a scary and emotional week it has been. Our
health is everything and sometimes we take for granted how quickly it can
change," she said.
She then revealed how her husband ended up with a life
threatening disease.
Kourtney Kardashian shares Muslim scholars quote, thanks God for healing Travis Barker
"I am so grateful to God for healing my
husband," she added.
After thanking doctors and hospital staff for taking
care of Travis Barker, Kourtney shared a quote by 13th-century poet and Islamic
scholar Jalaluddin Al-Rumi.
"I love Rumi's quote, 'I close my eyes and spoke
with you in a thousand silent ways," she wrote.
Source: Geo.Tv
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
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South African Constitutional Court Judgment Which
Recognises Muslim Marriages Seen As A Victory For Muslim Women
Rafieka Williams
03-07-2022
Cape Town - Much more work is needed following a
watershed Constitutional Court judgment which has compelled the president and
the Cabinet to amend legislation or pass new legislation that would effectively
recognise and regulate Muslim marriages.
The WLC had approached the Constitutional Court
seeking relief in order to empower Muslim women after they go through an
Islamic divorce known as “Talaq”.
“We said there was an obligation on the state to enact
legislation or to amend existing legislation to be able to protect the rights
of Muslim spouses, but in particular Muslim women because we know that it’s
Muslim women who are disproportionately impacted by this lack of regulation,”
Samaai said.
She said that while they welcomed the judgment, it was
a bittersweet moment considering the length and breadth of what they had gone
through since 2014 when they first approached the Western Cape High Court.
“I’m ecstatic and sad because there were many women
that we couldn’t directly assist because of this non-recognition, but it’s off
the backs of these women that we are carrying this particular case. It’s a
bitter pill to swallow that the state allowed us to go 14 years whereas with
the Constitutional Court they conceded. There was discrimination – from the
high court up until the Constitutional Court when this concession was made,”
Samaai said.
Ayesha Royker, 47, is a mother of three who was
inspired by her own experience to educate Muslim women on their rights after
she was almost left destitute when her 19-year marriage ended. She said if the
provision already existed, her situation would have been different.
“Since there was no legislation governing Muslim
marriages, I was at the mercy of my ex-husband and the legal process which took
almost six years before we finally reached a settlement agreement.
“Had there been adequate protection for women while I
was married, or even at the time of my divorce, then I would have been entitled
to claim a share of the assets we accumulated together over the duration of our
marriage,” Royker said.
Imrah Mallick, 28, an attorney who has also been
through an Islamic divorce said: “I think previously Muslim men took advantage
of the fact that they knew Muslim women had no remedy to approach courts in
order to challenge any decision but these women now have the power to make the
decision for themselves if they choose to approach court in order to safeguard
their financial stability as well as the stability for their minor children.”
“I was extremely sceptical that the judiciary can
actually compel the legislature to pass legislation so it came as a very
pleasant surprise that the court has put the legislature to terms, so they have
24 months for them to get their act together and that bodes very well for not
only Muslim women but for Muslims generally.
“It’s an embarrassment and it’s even worse when your
child is regarded as extramarital and it’s terrible when you die and you’ve
been married for however long and your death certificate says that you are not
married, so hopefully this will change the situation,” he said.
Source: Iol.Co.Za
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Afghan clerics vow loyalty to Taliban, but no word on
girls' schooling
JULY 02, 2022
Thousands of Afghan clerics pledged loyalty to the
Taliban on July 2, but ended a three-day meeting without recommendations on how
the hardline Islamist group should govern the crisis-hit country.
The men-only gathering was called to rubber-stamp the
Taliban's rule, and ahead of the meeting officials said criticism would be
tolerated and they could also discuss thorny issues such as secondary school
education for girls.
Media was barred from the event, although speeches
were broadcast on state radio - including a rare appearance by the Taliban's
reclusive supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada.
Taliban officials presented the gathering as an
opportunity for clerics to independently say how they wanted the country to be
governed, but the meeting's final declaration was mostly a regurgitation of
their own doctrine.
It called for allegiance to Akhundzada, loyalty to the
Taliban, and the complete acceptance of sharia law as the basic principle of
rule.
"We not only strongly support it, but will also
defend it. We consider this to be the national and religious duty of the entire
nation."
Since returning to power in August, the Taliban's
harsh interpretation of sharia law has imposed severe restrictions on Afghans -
particularly women.
Secondary school girls have been barred from education
and women dismissed from government jobs, forbidden from travelling alone, and
ordered to dress in clothing that covers everything but their faces.
The Taliban have also outlawed playing non-religious
music, banned human figures in advertising, ordered TV channels to stop showing
movies and soaps featuring uncovered women, and told men they should dress in
traditional garb and grow their beards.
The final declaration made no mention of girls'
schooling, but called on the government to pay "special attention" to
modern education, as well as justice and the rights of minorities "in the
light of Islamic law".
It said the new government had brought security to the
nation - despite an attack on the meeting on June 30 by two gunmen that was claimed
by the Islamic State group, which has regularly carried out bomb blasts and
ambushes since the Taliban's return.
"We call on the countries of the region and the
world... to recognise the Islamic Emirate as a legitimate system," the
declaration read.
Afghanistan, long dependent on international funding
for survival, has been in the grip of an economic crisis since the United
States froze nearly $7 billion in assets held abroad - earmarking half for the
families of victims of the 9/11 attacks.
US officials, wary of releasing assets that could be
used directly by the Taliban, are currently meeting with them in Qatar to see
how they might be able to free up some funds to provide relief to tens of
thousands affected by a deadly earthquake in the east of the country last week.
The highlight of the clerics' meeting was Friday's
appearance by Akhundzada, who has not been filmed or photographed in public
since the Taliban returned to power.
The "Commander of the Faithful", as he is
known, rarely leaves the Taliban's birthplace and spiritual heartland of
Kandahar and apart from one undated photograph and several audio recordings of
speeches, has almost no digital footprint.
In Geneva on Friday, the United Nations human rights
chief urged the Taliban to look to other Muslim countries for inspiration on
improving the rights of women in a religious context.
Addressing an urgent council debate on the situation
of women and girls in Afghanistan, Michelle Bachelet said they were
"experiencing the most significant and rapid roll-back in enjoyment of
their rights across the board in decades".
"I strongly encourage the de facto authorities to
engage with predominantly Muslim countries with experience in promoting women
and girls' rights, as guaranteed in international law, in that religious
context," she said.
Source: The Hindu
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Pakistan’s Entrepreneurship And Startup Sector Still
Has Clear Gender Gap
Jul 2, 2022
According to Global Gender Gap Index 2020, the gender
gap in Pakistan stands at 153 out of 156 countries, that remains worst in the
world. The deep-rooted patriarchal norms as well as limited economic
opportunities available for women are some of the significant factors that have
dampened the potential of women in Pakistan.
While, women across the world are advancing to open up
their own businesses and some are making name in high profile business lines,
Pakistan remains to be grappling with the dilemma of gender gap and women
struggling to step out and make a name. The female participation in comparison
to male participation in severe fields in the country is approximately
negligible with many women working on unpaid jobs doing unskilled labor.
The reason of such low participation can be attributed
to low female literacy rate that has reduced the size of opportunities
available to women. In Pakistan, we do not emphasize on improving female
literacy rate which has resulted in overall high illiteracy rate of women in
the country against their male counterparts. Despite the introduction of
regulatory methods, only half of the female population is literate, compared
with 72.5 percent of male population. While on the other hand, the female labor
force is mostly unskilled and untrained to perform technical jobs and stands at
only 20 percent.
“More substantive gender responsive legislation will
be critical… along with steps to further prohibit workplace discrimination and
harassment, an increase in the women’s quota to at least 30%, legal assurances
of pay equality, and the provision of workplace day-care facilities and safe
and secure transportation back and forth to workplaces,” notes gender and
adaption specialist Kosar Bano.
“Inspections by labour departments on adherence to
workplace equality guidelines and the provision of legal action for their
enforcement can go a long way in supporting gender transformative change.”
Women who participate in entrepreneurial activities
form only a small piece of pie i.e. 1
percent as opposed to 21 percent of male that too working in informal
sector(MSMEs). Most women who run their own business are operating in
conventional business lines such as textiles, vocational training or food. The
opportunities to explore other fields are limited for women in a male-dominated
society who finds it uneasy to accept a female running and owning a business
with male members working under her.
According to Invest2Innovate’s report, gender
disparities are prevalent in startup ecosystem and only 1.4 percent of all
investments raised during past seven years were based on women-run startups.
Much of the gender disparity in entrepreneurial
setting might also be present due to the fact that married women have double
responsibility of looking after their home and running a business. They find it
convenient to drop out from work-force and avoid long working hour outside home
that put a strain on their personal life. Most of the women complain about
having negligible or no support from their family. Women who want to pursue
business also lack sources of start-up capital, proper counselling, absence of
separate bank accounts, finance for growth of business, and limited financial
information associated with business lines. The gender-wise distribution about
loan delivered by SBP shows that only 3 percent of small-medium business loans
go to women and 97 percent are given to men. Similarly, only 19 percent of the
microfinance loan is awarded to women while 87 percent of it goes to men.
A survey “Women entrepreneur in Pakistan” conducted on
women in Pakistan revealed that 66 percent of women believed that their “sex”
is the major constraint in obtaining finance for business start-ups.
The World Bank published its findings about the
worsening status of female entrepreneurship in Pakistan and said, “the
challenge is to help those self-employed or potential entrepreneurs who aspire
to grow by helping then overcome the barriers to entry and subsequent growth,”
it said.
“Some of the current self-employed could benefit from
comprehensive entrepreneurship or personal initiative training as well as access
to finance to improve the productivity of their activities and earnings”, it
further stated.
Experts say the status of female participation in
entrepreneurial activities can only be improved in Pakistan if they are given
conducive environment to engage in mainstream economic activities. They insist
it is important to remove the roadblocks that hinder them to advance their
potential and be a professional businesswoman.
“Policy makers and regulators in Pakistan have an
opportunity to make agent networks more accessible to women, but this can’t be
done without addressing gendered social norms,” notes social entrepreneurship
expert Naeha Rashid.
“By accounting for social norms and being
gender-intentional, policy makers and regulators can make adjustments to policy
and regulatory formulation to advance women’s digital financial inclusion,”
Rashid adds.
Source: Nation
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/arab-parliament-summit-tashkent-/d/127391