We Are Here to Tell the Taliban That It Has to Face, Respect and Accept the New Afghanistan: Afghan Women in Doha Talks Team
New
Age Islam News Bureau
17
September 2020
Fawzia Koofi, Sharifa Zurmati and Habiba Sarabi in Qatar
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• Women
Claim Their Space in Arab Business World
• Saudi
Arabia Looks to Close Gender Pay Gap
• Yemeni
Women Protest Normalization Deals with Israel
• Meet
the Saudi Arabian Women Running A Date Factory
• Saudi
Education Minister Opens Two Digital Colleges for Women
• Saudi
Woman Barber Brushes Off Taboo
• Man
Spat at Muslim Woman in Niqab In Tooting
• Young
Muslim Women's Experiences of Drugs in Bradford Examined in New Study
• Will
the UK’s Sharia Councils Struggle to Meet the Challenge Of Covid Divorces?
• Ovarian
Cancer Awareness A Key Focus at First Saudi Women’s Cancer Summit
• Sindh
Govt To Increase Number of Women Complaint Centers: Shahla Raza
Compiled
by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/we-here-tell-taliban-that/d/122875
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We Are Here to Tell the Taliban That It Has to Face, Respect and Accept the New Afghanistan: Afghan Women in Doha Talks Team
by
Divya Goyal
September
17, 2020
A
woman sits next to the grave of her daughter who was killed in a suicide attack
in an educational centre two years ago, as Afghan government officials and the
Taliban hold talks in Doha aimed at ending 19 years of war in the country, in
Kabul, Afghanistan September 14, 2020 | REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail
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THEY
FACED the threat of mutilation for wearing nail polish or lipstick. They were
publicly flogged for violating the dress code. They were barred from stepping
out of home without a male companion. They were denied education.
Today,
the three women in the Afghan government’s 21-member team that is holding peace
talks with an all-male Taliban delegation in Qatar’s Doha have drawn the line
for any roadmap that emerges: “We are here to tell the Taliban that it has to
face, respect and accept the new Afghanistan.”
“We
aren’t reading from any book, but speaking from what we have experienced; what
we, the women, have lived under Taliban rule from 1996 to 2001. We faced
systematic discrimination, when women were not treated as humans. A girl could
not go to school, our clothes were controlled, a woman could not even visit a
doctor without a male companion. But now, the Taliban has to understand that
things have changed,” says Fawzia Koofi, a lawmaker from Badakhshan province
who is also the Deputy Speaker in Parliament.
The
45-year-old is among the three women at the peace talks that started on
September 12, along with Habiba Sarabi, a former minister and teacher, and
Sharifa Zurmati, a former journalist. A fourth member, Fatima Gailani, who is
the former president of Afghan Red Crescent Society, is expected to join the
delegation soon after her arrival was delayed due to health reasons.
Speaking
to The Indian Express on phone from Doha, Koofi says she recently survived an
assassination attempt when a gunman opened fire at her vehicle on August 15,
injuring her arm.
“Be
it pre-Taliban, Taliban or post-Taliban, women in Afghanistan have been through
a lot. But it has only given us more strength to speak up. We are fighting for
a country where everyone will have the right to cast their vote regardless of
their gender, religion, sect, etc. Women’s rights and issues have to be
included everywhere, they cannot be segregated,” she says about her
expectations from the crucial summit.
Koofi
had set up a home school for girls during the Taliban regime and later was the
face behind ‘Back to School’ campaign for girls in 2001.
“Peace
talks are almost always a complicated process across the world. Here, it is
more so because there is the Taliban. We are carrying a double responsibility
on our shoulders. We are representing not only women but also our country. We
have to preserve our democracy without which peace cannot happen. And democracy
will find its meaning only if we include all citizens and ensure their voices
are equally heard,” she says.
Sarabi,
64, says she taught girls and immigrant women in Pakistani camps during the
Taliban regime after her own daughter was stopped from attending school.
“I
want to forget those horrifying times of how women lived under the Taliban, but
some things in life are impossible to forget. We had no rights, we could not go
out without mahram (male companion). My daughter was in grade 5 when her
schooling was stopped. And it was for her education that I moved to Pakistan. I
had to leave my beloved country because Taliban stopped my daughter’s
schooling. Today, she holds three degrees from Germany, US and India, has
worked for Afghanistan’s Finance Ministry and is now with the UN. This is the
girl the Taliban had stopped,” says Sarabi, adding that she returned to
Afghanistan after the Taliban were ousted and set up a school.
But
having once headed the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, she knows that change is
easier said than done. “An all-male delegation has come from their side which
shows their mentality has not changed. Some of them do not even like to talk to
women. They have to change. We can start from Islam. They have wrongly
interpreted Islamic texts and implemented them as anti-women. But they cannot
ignore us any more. Right now, we are only three in number here, but no aspect
is discussed without our involvement. The Taliban has to accept and respect the
new Afghanistan. They have to give equal rights to women, in fact to every
citizen of our country in all aspects,” says Sarabi.
Former
advisor and spokesperson of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, radio journalist
and broadcaster from Paktia province, Sharifa Zurmati says they won’t allow a
repeat of the atrocities that took place under the Taliban.
“I am
not alone in this struggle. I can’t even speak English but I am here to fight
for our women. How women lived during the Taliban, we haven’t forgotten
anything, but we won’t let them repeat it,” says the 52-year-old who has
studied Pashto literature. “The unending war has killed many men but the worst
sufferers are the women left behind. We have to preserve what we have achieved
in the past two decades. For Afghan women, education, employment and freedom in
every aspect has been hard-earned. We won’t lose what we have gained after so
much struggle. Our dream is a durable ceasefire, and dignified and sustainable
peace in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, which is about its people.”
https://indianexpress.com/article/world/afghan-women-in-doha-talks-team-taliban-have-to-face-respect-us-6599091/
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Women
Claim Their Space In Arab Business World
16/09/2020
The
Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce women’s committee and the Women Inside Trade
group hosted a webinar on the opportunities and challenges facing female
professionals in the Gulf
------
São
Paulo – Webinar “Challenges and opportunities for women doing business with the
Arab countries” was hosted this Wednesday (16) by WAHI – Women Who Inspire, the
women’s committee of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) alongside
the Women Inside Trade (WIT) group. The featured women argue that there are
things to be done before they are on an equal footing with men when it comes to
doing business. However, a lot has been achieved in terms of equality and
recognition in North Africa and the Middle East.
The
head of operations at the Middle East and North Africa Office of the Brazilian
Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil), Karen Jones, said that
while the 22 countries that comprise the Arab world have shared features such
as language, they also differ in many respects.
“In
the United Arab Emirates there is a great number of expatriates and Emiratis
alike who work and are very successful. It’s a pleasure to see them succeed.
Even in Saudi Arabia, which is more conservative, we can see advances, and
that’s beneficial to the country’s development,” said the Dubai-based Jones,
who’s going on 20 years of living in the Middle East. “There are challenges,
and they require understanding the business culture, speaking eye-to-eye and
being close with people. And Brazil is very well positioned in that region.”
Brazilian
Food Industry Association (ABIA) board chairwoman Grazielle Parenti said
opportunities are available for women to not only claim their space in business
but be business leaders as well. “I’ve always been interested in Arab culture,
and once I became familiar with I was really surprised. I have met amazing
women. I have seen them be uncomfortable being in leadership positions, but I
can tell that things are not that different here in Brazil,” she compared,
adding that it’s a good thing for there to be more and more female leaders.
“There’s an affinity when it’s time to negotiate, and there are more and more
women doing negotiation. There’s a magical line that binds us.”
In
addition to the presence of female business leaders in the Arab countries, the
webinar addressed what has been achieved and the challenges ahead. A strategist
on personal branding and positioning, communication and female leadership,
Kellen Amorim said that women have been relegated to inferior positions for
centuries. “For the time being, we are a minority due to historical issues. At
the same time, I see changes coming about with women managing crises as
government authorities and business leaders. It’s all a bit new to us. Some
women have dared before others would, and it is important for them to mentor
other women.”
The
meeting was kicked off by ABCC president Rubens Hannun, with moderation from
ABCC Institutional Relations manager also featured were WAHI board chairwoman
Alessandra Frisso; WIT cofounder and BMJ Institutional Relations manager
Verônica Prates; Citibank Group Gulf and Iraq global subsidiaries cluster head
Shamsa Al-Falasi; and the cofounder of the FoodeShow international exhibition,
Heuda Farah Guessous.
Guests
also included businesswomen Cecilia Mendes Araújo, the CEO of cosmetics
manufacturing company Vitta Gold, and Julia De Biase, who’s a partner of
perfume shop Al Ward, açaí and date manufacturer Royal Queen, and the Brazil
and Latin America representative for dates and date products brand Date Crown.
The
businesswomen shared their experiences doing business with Arabs. “Never have I
been so respected,” said Araújo, who exports product to Middle East and North
Africa countries, especially Egypt. De Biase presented her açaí and date mix,
made from one typically Brazilian and one typically Arab fruit. The product
started selling in Dubai last May. In addition to sharing her knowledge, she
cleared up a few doubts when it comes to increasing sales. And she got a tip
from Karen Jones that’s useful to any entrepreneur: “Identify the market you
wish to be in and find out if your distributor (in a given country) also caters
to other countries.”
https://anba.com.br/en/women-claim-their-space-in-arab-business-world/
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Saudi
Arabia Looks To Close Gender Pay Gap
September
17, 2020
It
is the latest move to create an encouraging and safe work environment.(AN
Photo)
------
JEDDAH:
The Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development recently issued an
order to ensure there is no gender-based discrimination in employees’ wages.
It is
the latest move to create an encouraging and safe work environment, provide
decent and sustainable job opportunities for all citizens and address the
challenges facing workers and employers.
The
ministry said that “the employer is prohibited from distinguishing between
their workers, whether during the performance of work or when hiring or
advertising it, such as sex, disability, age, or any other form of
discrimination.”
At
the Misk Global Forum 2019, the Saudi energy minister, Prince Abdul Aziz bin
Salman, said that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is providing all Saudis with
equal opportunities.
“We
know that our women now are enabled, they have an education program,” he said.
“We have equal pay for both men and women.”
The
move was widely welcomed by Saudis. Electrical engineer Mohammed Al-Ali told
Arab News that it would encourage more women to join the workforce.
“This
decision is a step forwards towards equality for women. It encourages more
women to be part of the workforce and will turn our economy into a prosperous
one,” said Al-Ali.
“Saudi
Arabia, as part of its 2030 vision, is going through rapid changes towards a
more inclusive society, where women and men work side by side with no
discrimination.”
Saudi
admin assistant Rozan Al-Nahari said that women work just as hard as men, and
this move would bring financial relief to many. “We spend the same working
hours at the office, complete the same tasks and many of us try to prove
ourselves in any establishment,” she said.
“I’m
very happy that all of the social reforms are so supportive of women.”
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1735791/saudi-arabia
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Yemeni
women protest normalization deals with Israel
16.09.2020
Scores
of Yemeni women on Wednesday rallied against the plans for Israel to normalize
relations with the Gulf states of the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.
The
rally was organized in the southern Abyan province in defiance of the
UAE-supported Southern Transitional Council, protest organizers told Anadolu
Agency.
The
demonstrators held Palestinian flags, burned the Israeli flag, and chanted
against what they called the UAE's "colonial projects" in the Socotra
Archipelago, an area officially part of Yemen that was seized this June by the
UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council.
Speaking
to Anadolu, one of the protestors blasted the UAE and Bahrain normalization
deals with Israel as "treason."
On
Tuesday, the UAE and Bahrain signed US-sponsored agreements to establish
diplomatic relations with Israel.
The
Palestinian Authority and resistance factions have denounced the normalization
deals, saying they ignore the rights of Palestinians and betray the Palestinian
cause.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/yemeni-women-protest-normalization-deals-with-israel-/1975674
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Meet
the Saudi Arabian women running a date factory
16
September 2020
Inside
this dates packaging factory in Saudi Arabia, it is women who run the show.
The
factory is operated by 100 Saudi women, who fill the ranks from management,
accounting, quality control and packaging, to health and nutrition.
For
all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
Their
colleague, Aqeelah Ali even drives a forklift to transport date packages.
“At
first there were some difficulties - driving heavy transport trucks was thought
to be for men only,” said Ali. “But I’m happy that I could prove that women can
enter into new fields and succeed.”
The
Ibn Zaid factory produces and sells dates in Saudi Arabia’s al-Ahsa eastern
region.
Al-Ahsa
is home to nearly two million palm trees producing over 100,000 tonnes of dates
every year, according to local estimates.
The
factory was previously run by foreign expat workers, but the owner decided to
hire local Saudi women instead, in keeping with the country’s new direction of
integrating women into the labor force.
He gradually
replaced expat workers with women, and it has been run by women for more than a
year.
In
recent years, Saudi Arabia has introduced several reforms to increase women’s
presence in the public sphere.
In
2017, King Salman bin Abdulaziz announced that the ban on female drivers will
be lifted.
Crown
Prince Mohammed bin Salman also launched the Vision 2030 reform plan, which
aims to diversify the Kingdom’s economy and includes increasing women’s labor
force participation.
Since
then, dozens of Saudi Arabian women have been appointed to official positions,
the guardianship law was eradicated, and women no longer need permission to
live alone.
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/variety/2020/09/16/Meet-the-Saudi-Arabian-women-running-a-date-factory-
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Saudi
education minister opens two digital colleges for women
September
17, 2020
RIYADH:
Hamad Al-Sheikh inaugurated the first two digital colleges for women in Riyadh
and Jeddah on Wednesday.
The
ceremony was held in the presence of the governor of the Technical and
Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC), Ahmed Al-Fuhaid.
The
colleges will provide specialized training programs for about 4,000 trainees in
several fields. Programs on offer include network systems management, media
technology, software, the Internet of things, smart cities, robotics
technology, artificial intelligence and machine learning.
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1735796/saudi-arabia
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Saudi
woman barber brushes off taboo
TAREQ
AL-THAQAFI
September
17, 2020
MAKKAH:
A Saudi children’s hair stylist has become the first woman to break into the
profession, which has long been an exclusively male domain.
Wafaa
Sakr, who appeared in a viral video inside a barber shop in Taif, said she
styles children’s hair, but does not cut men’s hair.
She
said the salon, inside a Taif mall, has been closed due to the non-renewal of
its license, but will soon resume its activities after renewal by the local
municipality.
Sakr
has worked as a hair stylist for many years and saw in her work a great
importance in caring for people, especially children, “whose hearts are filled
with real happiness after seeing their haircut, which can paint a permanent
smile on their faces.”
Known
as the Taif barber, she said her presence as a female barber is a new phenomenon,
and sometimes unwelcome by a society used to seeing women in government jobs,
like teaching or nursing.
Saudi
society has not realized that women can work in all fields with competence and
efficiency, she said.
“My
profession made my life a state of constant challenge with myself, especially
since I have been a professional hairdresser for many years,” she told Arab
News.
The
job became a source of income for her and her family and she excelled in
creating modern looks for young boys and girls, which eventually forged her
reputation as the best barber in Taif.
“I
feel happy and proud that I, as a Saudi woman, broke into the labor market. I
did not wait for a job to knock on my door. Any person can create jobs, develop
them and hold on to them, and it is an honorable profession,” she said.
“I am
still practicing this profession for a monthly income in return, but I am
thinking of establishing my own business that I manage myself in the future. If
a person has ambition, no one will be able to stand in their way. What is
important is taking steps to reach our goals instead of backing down,” she
added.
Sakr
said she disagreed with the sentiment that Saudi women should not be “forced”
to work certain jobs.
“Why
not? The doors to livelihood are open in all fields, and people should not be
ashamed of their profession, as long as they practice it, love it and it
generates an income for them,” she said.
“Some
ideas must change. We are going through a dramatic era in which energies and
competencies must be invested. Society does not only want engineers, doctors
and pilots, society needs all its worker components” Sakr added.
“The
labor market is filled with different people from different races that have
different customs, who are building their societies with their own hands, and
they are proud of that,” she said.
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1735711/saudi-arabia
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Man
spat at Muslim woman in niqab in Tooting
Sep
16, 2020
A man
spat at a Muslim woman who wears the niqab as he bent down to collect his
lighter, the saliva landed on her thigh and the sleeve of her abaya, causing
her great shock.
The
assault occurred on the morning of August 17 in Tooting, south London.
Wishing
to maintain her anonymity, the woman consented to have her story told to raise
awareness.
She
described how upon leaving a Superdrug store, a grey-haired male, aged in his
mid-to-late fifties and slim build, had approached her before dropping his
lighter, adding that he had a flushed appearance.
The
man remained silent, even after the Muslim woman said, ‘you just spat at me,’
and soon walked away.
She
soon removed the abaya and was thankful for wearing layers, as a member of the
offered to help her wash the garment at a nearby shop, assisting her further
with hand washing.
Speaking
of her restraint, she wanted to set a good example and refrained from
responding with profanities and felt blessed that the saliva had not hit her
face. Reflecting on past experiences of anti-Muslim and Islamophobic abuse, she
described how two men had referred to her as ‘Batman’.
Tell
MAMA continues to document the disproportionate targeting of Muslim women who
wear the face veil.
In
2018, six per cent of Muslim women reporting to Tell MAMA wore the niqab or the
face veil in combination with the abaya.
https://tellmamauk.org/man-spat-at-muslim-woman-in-niqab-in-tooting/
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Young
Muslim women's experiences of drugs in Bradford examined in new study
By
Felicity Macnamara
Sep 16,
2020
A NEW
report has shone a spotlight on young Muslim women’s experience of drugs and
drug-related activity in Bradford.
The
study, one of four, was carried out as part of the Muslim Women’s Council (MWC)
Think Tank programme, established last year with the aim of ensuring Muslim
women can influence policy and decision-making at all levels.
After
completing a training programme, those involved identified a list of key
research areas which emerged from their lived experiences - some difficult and
rarely addressed in research.
The
first to be released examines the experiences and views of 50 young Muslim
women on drug-related activity in Bradford.
Bana
Gora, CEO of MWC, said “Our community research teams have demonstrated
sustained commitment and dedication while developing the research themes and
questions. We are proud to present the first of four cogent and timely studies
on community-based issues.”
The
Think Tank community research teams pinpointed this as an under-researched
topic, said the MWC, and were keen on drawing attention to what they know, from
experience, is a “growing epidemic within their communities in order to explore
and develop effective solutions without criminalising or judging the young
women’s choices”.
The
report found that just over half of the young Muslim women interviewed were
involved, or knew someone who was involved in drug-related activity. One in
three had been offered drugs, one in six admitted taking them regularly and one
in 10 did so by the age of 15.
Meanwhile,
more than half of those who refused drugs said they did so because of their
faith commitment.
Those
taking drugs gave a number of reasons for doing so, including loneliness and
anxiety, peer pressure and a need to belong. The most popular recreational drug
was cannabis, while other drugs identified included cocaine, crack, MDMA and
speed.
Half
of those taking drugs used social media platforms like Snapchat and Instagram
to purchase drugs, but took personal risks by going to unsafe collection
points.
One
young girl told the study: “They [drug dealers] are always on there, and easy
to find.”
All
those interviewed agreed on the negative impact of drugs, and one in five
flagged up the impact on their relationship with their family if they found
out.
The
report says: “They believed there was a gendered stigma in the community and
that they would be judged far more harshly than boys.”
Others
highlighted the impact on their mental wellbeing, their faith and the potential
toll on physical health. The report makes a number of recommendations including
culturally-sensitive training and targeted support for young Muslim women
including a confidential helpline, drop-ins at schools and specially trained
staff who understand the cultural and religious context.
It
also recommends peer support initiatives, law enforcement working alongside
social media platforms and collaborative working with mosques.
https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/18723037.young-muslim-womens-experiences-drugs-bradford-examined-new-study/
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Will
the UK’s Sharia Councils Struggle to Meet the Challenge Of Covid Divorces?
September
16, 2020
Sharia
councils across the UK could be facing a potentially significant rise in their
workload as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, and many don’t have the
resources to cope.
The
predicted rise in divorce rates and reported increase in cases of domestic
violence associated with lockdown measures will touch Muslim relationships just
like any others. But many sharia council services are run on a voluntary basis
with little funding, so it might not be possible to process all the cases on
the horizon.
Sharia
councils have operated in Britain since the 1980s but other religious
tribunals, such as Christian ecclesiastical courts and Jewish batei din date
back much further. Each has evolved to serve specific purposes within their
respective faith groups. Sharia councils are used by Muslims in Britain to seek
advice, manage their affairs, and settle their disputes in accordance with
Islamic principles found in the Qur'an (Holy Book) and Sunnah (prophetic
example).
The
first sharia council was established in 1982 with the objective of guiding
Muslims in managing their personal affairs and settling their matrimonial
problems. Over the past four decades, other sharia councils were established,
often growing out of mosques and Islamic centres. Some continue to operate from
there while others have moved on to running separate offices.
The
number of sharia councils in Britain is unclear. One mapping exercise puts the
figure at 30 while another estimates 85.
How
sharia councils work
A
sharia council is usually run by a panel of scholars. The administration is
overseen by volunteers from the community.
Most
sharia councils report that their services are open to all Muslims irrespective
of their background although, in practice, ethnic diversity and different
schools of thought mean that different courts interpret Islamic law in
different ways.
Despite
initially aiming to provide more variety in their services, sharia councils
mainly work on settling marital disputes and granting Islamic divorce to Muslim
women when their husband fails to pronounce a unilateral divorce or refuses to
consent to the wife’s request for divorce.
Depending
on the sharia council, one or more meetings are arranged to obtain testimonies
and information from the person applying for a divorce, as well as with the
other people involved in the case. Sometimes meetings are arranged to attempt
reconciliation between the couple. The final decision is usually taken in an
independent meeting between the council scholars, who then issue the Islamic
divorce.
This
Islamic divorce is not an alternative to civil divorce. Research shows that
where a couple have had an English marriage, the sharia council usually
requires or encourages them to seek a dissolution of their civil marriage as
well.
Sharia
councils have been widely criticised and there is documented evidence of bad
practice and discrimination against women. Sometimes, men’s testimonies are
privileged over women’s and there have been cases in which women have been
forced into a process of reconciliation against their wishes.
However,
academic research into sharia councils tells us that despite the criticisms and
the many shortcomings of sharia councils, the mechanisms still provide an
important service to Muslim communities. They are particularly useful for
Muslim women who want to terminate marriages. Without the intervention of a
council, some women might have no other way to leave their marriages.
COVID
divorce
Now
these councils need to contend with the fallout of the global pandemic. One of
the consequences of lockdown is expected to be a rise in divorce rates. “Covid
divorce”, as some have labelled it, is a trend that was first observed in
China, where the rate of separations was seen to have steadily increased since
the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in Wuhan.
In
the UK, there have been reports of similar trends based on testimonies from
lawyers and law firms. Legal professionals have also warned about the
probability of significant delays in divorce proceedings and of future case
overload as divorce applications increase.
A couple
of months into the national lockdown in England, one prominent sharia council,
the Islamic Council of Europe (ICE), reported a more than 280% increase in its
cases since April, and had to expand its team to meet the extra demand.
A
number of sharia councils are likely to struggle to adapt to this sudden
increase in workload, particularly as most of these institutions are known to
have limited resources in terms of space, personnel and funds. In addition to
the fees they charge to cover administrative expenses, most sharia councils are
known to rely on community donations to cover the expenses for applicants who
cannot otherwise afford their services.
Sharia
councils are an important community mechanism for victims and survivors of
domestic and gender-based violence, helping them put an end to abusive
relationships. With emerging evidence highlighting the increase in cases of
domestic violence, the need for these services is even more evident. However,
with their limited resources and case overload, applicants could witness delays
of several months before they see their cases resolved.
If
the better-known sharia councils become overloaded with enquiries and cases,
there is also the risk that people will seek help from less credible
organisations with less oversight and transparency, which leaves much room for
problematic practices and abuse of power. It would be very unfortunate to see
Muslim women and couples more generally struggling in unsuccessful
relationships with limited support and options.
https://theconversation.com/will-the-uks-sharia-councils-struggle-to-meet-the-challenge-of-covid-divorces-145642
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Ovarian
cancer awareness a key focus at first Saudi Women’s Cancer Summit
September
16, 2020
JEDDAH
— The Saudi Society for Internal Medicine (SSIM) at King Abdulaziz University
and the Saudi Oncology Society (SOS), in cooperation with AstraZeneca,
organized the first virtual Saudi Women’s Cancer Summit earlier this week.
Entitled ‘Redefining Care for Women’s Cancer’, the event brought together a
distinguished group of experts from both inside and outside the Kingdom to
discuss the latest advances in the treatment of tumours.
The
Summit, attended by 441 women’s cancer experts, reviewed the latest
developments in the diagnosis and treatment of ovarian and breast cancer types.
A key element discussed was the role of Multidisciplinary Teams (oncology,
gynaecological oncology, surgery, radiation oncology and pathology) in ensuring
the early detection and treatment options in the management of ovarian and
breast cancer in Saudi Arabia.
According
to the National Cancer Research Institute in the United Kingdom, blood tests
can be used to help detect ovarian cancer in its early stages in women with
concerning symptoms. The American Institute for Cancer Research (2018) found
ovarian cancer to be the eighth most common cancer among females worldwide,
affecting more than 295,000 women annually.
Ovarian
cancer is also one of the main causes of cancer deaths with an incidence rate
of 6.6 per 100,000 patients in 2018. This is largely due to the fact that most
women are only able to get a diagnosis after the cancer has already spread,
making it more difficult to treat.
The
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Health Council, in collaboration with the National
Health Information Centre, published a cancer registry and incidence report in
2015 detailing the age-standardised rate (ASR) and crude incidence rates for
all cancer sites diagnosed within this year.
With
220 recorded cases, ovarian cancer was ranked as the seventh most common type
of cancer among Saudi females and accounted for 3.3% of national cancer cases
in 2015. The age-standardized rate (ASR) of ovarian cancer in 2015 was
5.9/100,000; the Riyadh region had the highest ASR in the Kingdom with
9.7/100,000 cases, followed by the Makkah region with 7.1/100,000 cases.
Breast
cancer is the most common malignancy among Saudi females, with a recorded prevalence
of 21.8% in the year 2015. According to a recently published survey of
cancer-related mortality, it is the ninth leading cause of death among Saudi
women.
The
age-standardized rate for breast cancer was 24.3/100,000 in 2015, led by the
Eastern region with a rate of 37.1 /100,000 cases, followed by the Riyadh
region with 33.0/100,000 cases.
Dr.
Shadi Khayyat, a consulting oncologist and assistant professor of internal
medicine and oncology at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, and the
conference chairman, commented on the importance of raising awareness about
cancer research.
“Cancerous
or malignant tumours are considered to be one of the biggest obstacles faced by
societies today. In fact, the vast majority of people consider cancer to be
cause for major concern and distress. Women in particular are considered to be
vulnerable to certain types of malignant growth, such as ovarian and breast
tumors.”
Dr.
Khayyat emphasized that, with a growing number of cancer diagnoses, the primary
aim for holding this conference was to discuss recent advancements in research
and the various treatment options available to patients.
He
thanked the Saudi Society for Internal Medicine at King Abdulaziz University
for its sponsorship of this conference and extended his gratitude to
AstraZeneca for its continuous support.
Dr.
Meteb Al-Foheidi, president of the Saudi Oncology Society; co-chairman of the
conference; Consultant of Oncology at Princess Nourah Centre and National Guard
Hospital in Jeddah; Assistant Professor at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University
for Health Sciences in Jeddah, said, “Both local and international experts
participated in the Summit to shed light on the advancements in gynaecological
cancer treatments and exchange expertise.
“This
Summit was the first Saudi conference to specifically discuss gynaecological
tumours, and I look forward to organising it annually to continue to raise
awareness about ovarian and breast cancer and the steps we can take to support
Saudi patients.”
The
medical director of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries at AstraZeneca, Dr
Ahmed Soliman, commented “It is important to keep all members of the scientific
community, from pharmacologists through to doctors, up to date on the
advancements in drug research related of ovarian and breast cancer. There is no
doubt having an ongoing discussion via the right platforms will be beneficial
to the medical professionals and, ultimately, to patients and caretakers”. — SG
https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/598043
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Sindh
Govt To Increase Number of Women Complaint Centers: Shahla Raza
17
Sep 2020
KARACHI:
Sindh Minister for Women Development Syeda Shahla Raza Wednesday said the
provincial government has set up Women Complaint Centers in various districts
to ensure the dignity of the oppressed women and to provide them full legal
assistance.
According
to a news release, the minister said the provincial government was going to
increase the number of Women Complaint Centers.
While
receiving the annual performance report of the Women's Directorate in
Jacobabad, Shahla Raza said the staffers at the Women Complaint Centers were
committed to provide assistance to the women.
She
said the Department of Women Development was making every effort to provide
protection and legal assistance to the women victims of molestations and in
this regard, a cell has been set up in the Minister's Office where victim women
can lodge their grievances.
Briefing
the provincial minister, Deputy Director Jacobabad Khalida Soomro told that the
Directorate of Women Development Jacobabad had registered 300 cases of various
kinds including kidnapping, harassment, acid attacks, violence, child
marriages, custody of children and others during last year.
In
all these cases, the affected women were assisted by providing all possible
legal assistance.
The
deputy director said that temporary accommodation for the affected women and
children was also arranged by the Directorate of Women Development in
Jacobabad.
Khalida
Soomro informed the Directorate, to provide women with full opportunities in
society, organized an event on International Women's Day to raise awareness
among the public about women's rights and related laws.
In
addition, various community improvement programs were organized in
collaboration with SRSO.
In
collaboration with the district administration, training workshops, sports day,
cultural day, open forum were also organized.
Syeda
Shahla Raza appreciated the performance of Jacobabad Directorate and stressed
on the need for steps to further improve it.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40019085/sindh-govt-to-increase-number-of-women-complaint-centers-shahla-raza
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