New Age Islam News Bureau
11 December 2021
• Teenage Marriages Likely Under-Reported, Says Malaysian
Women’s Group
• Allow Women to Work, Girls to Get Education:
European Union to Taliban
• Quebec Teacher’s Removal for Wearing Hijab A
‘Cowardly’ Move, Minister Says
• Empowerment of Women: Pakistan President Highlights
Key Factors
• Ehsaas and NCSW, Pakistan, Join Hands for Welfare Of
Women And Girls
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
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Dr Najla Bouden Romdhane, First Female Arab Premier in
North African Expanse As Well As In the Whole Arab World
Dr Najla Bouden Romdhane, Prime
Minister of Tunisia
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Elf Habib
December 11, 2021
The appointment of Dr Najla Bouden Romdhane, as the
first ever Prime Minister of Tunisia, on September 29, brought her the unique
honour of being the first ever female Prime Minister in the North African
expanse as well as in the whole Arab world.
Her ascent has also added yet another titillating plus
to Tunisia, already known to have set in the Arab Spring, pioneered the first
ever transition to democracy in the entire Arab world and garnered the mood and
the movement that rocked the regimes in Libya, Egypt, Syria, Yemen and Bahrain.
A female Premier similarly may stimulate the female
struggle for more rights and equality in a rather quite patriarchal Arab world,
that has already witnessed female participation and success for gender parity
in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Lebanon and defeated the combined might of the fundamentalist
religious lobbies and the dictatorship of the generals in Sudan.
Bouden has so far not been in any political limelight
or shown obvious loyalties, but is rather known as a university academic with
training, research and expertise in geophysics engineering. She completed her
doctorate in Paris, working on earthquake engineering, focusing on the seismic
hazards in her region and then worked as a professor at the National
Engineering School at Tunis El Manar University.
In 2011, she was appointed as the director general to
lead the quality management at the Ministry of Higher Education. In 2016, she
was entrusted to help implement World Bank projects for Higher Education and
Scientific Research in the same Ministry and continued with this assignment
until her elevation as the Prime Minister.
Given her scientific research and management trove,
she may have a precise and logical approach to the problems being faced, yet
her actual leadership and authority in the system would be quite constrained by
the powers concentrated by the President Kair Saied.
On July 25, he sacked the government of Hichem
Mechichi, suspended the Parliament, ended the immunity of the parliamentarians
and took over the Judiciary. Barely five days before inducting Dr Bouden, he further
extended the suspension of the Parliament and expanded his legislative and
executive powers even further. He also abolished the authority established in
2014 to watch over the constitutionality of various actions and started to rule
by decrees.
Superimposed upon this is an excruciating economic
challenge wrought by the rising debts, erosion of GDP that fell by 8.8 percent
last year, receding foreign investment and rising unemployment surging to 17.8
percent by the first quarter of this year. This figure, even before the Covid
crunch, had soared to 15 percent.
The GDP growth rate has plummeted to a paltry 0.3
percent while rising inflation has pushed about six hundred thousand Tunisians
below the poverty line. The threat of a new Covid variant would further impact
the country’s agriculture, industrial and tourism sectors. Dr Najla , however,
announced plans to refurbish the economy and raise living standards.
Her success to stem the economic slide and improve
livelihood is threatened essentially by the uncertainty about the continuity of
the present system, contrived to become more Presidential just by the
presidential decrees purported to be issued in the larger national interest.
The President plans to hold a referendum to seek wider approval for this transformation.
But the Parliamentary Constitution altered by him had
evolved through a long torturous path and had established the Parliament as the
ultimate centre of the national discourse and power. It was also a first rare
feat in the Arab world. The process commenced in February 2012, almost two
years after the Spring emerged, weathered tensions among various factions
particularly the Islamist and secular segments.
The Islamists insisted on firm guarantees for Sharia
and Islamic activity that had been almost suppressed for decades while the
seculars stressed to keep religion out of the state’s affairs. Promulgated
finally in January 2014, it was hailed as a great success of the compromise and
consensus, by the Tunisians as well as by the foreign observers. In 2019, it
accomplished the first peaceful transfer of power from one democratically
elected government to another as Tunisia elected its second President and
second Parliament under this constitution.
How the Tunisians people, their suspended Parliamentarians,
political parties and various pressure groups, would now react to the proposed
referendum, would evidently determine the fate of this Presidential gamble and
the image, popularity and legacy of the Premier he selected. Some civil society
sectors have already denounced these Presidential steps as a drift to derail
democracy and a pretext to purloin the absolute power.
There is also international concern at the arbitrary
orchestration of the system. Angela Merkel, for instance, urged Tunisia to return
to the consensus and the elected parliamentary practice. The success of her
government thus would also depend upon the aid and loans from various foreign
donors and the government’s ability to balance various conflicting interests of
the donors like the western countries and Saudi Arabia.
IMF would likewise have its prescriptions and
preconditions. In the regional context economic recovery and progress would
also be influenced by the prognosis in Lebanon, crisis in the neighbouring
Libya and access to the Red Sea routes while the national agriculture and
industrial sectors would also be affected by the position and the pangs of the
pandemic, its mutations and the emerging variants.
Dr Bouden’s experience and expertise of working with
the World Bank can indeed contribute to her access and interaction with the
donors. However, her actual contribution and legacy, may be linked to this vast
and complex array of variable factors, far beyond her control, her very stature
of being sought and selected for this challenge, has assured her this first
unique niche in the history of the Arab World.
Source: The Nation Pakistan
https://nation.com.pk/11-Dec-2021/the-first-female-arab-premier
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Teenage
Marriages Likely Under-Reported, Says Malaysian Women’s Group
The
government says that 411 girls and 34 boys dropped out of school last year to
get married.
-----
Wong
Pek Mei
December
11, 2021
PETALING
JAYA: A women’s organisation has speculated that there has been a higher
incidence of teenage marriages during the pandemic than shown in official
figures.
“It
is possible that the number 445 does not reflect the actual prevalence of child
marriages during Covid-19,” a spokesman for the All Women’s Action Society
(Awam) told FMT.
She
noted that Unicef Malaysia had expressed concern about the likely increase in
child marriages due to school closure and the need felt by parents to marry
their children off for financial survival.
Religious
affairs minister Idris Ahmad recently said that 411 girls and 34 boys dropped
out of school last year to get married.
A
hundred and eighty-three of them were from Sarawak. Sabah recorded 86 cases,
Kelantan 43, Pahang 38, Terengganu 21, Perak 21, Kedah 17, Selangor 12, Johor
10, Perlis four, Penang four, Negeri Sembilan three, Melaka two and Labuan one.
The
Awam spokesman said the report should not be taken lightly whatever the
numbers.
“The
high risk of gender-based violence and oppression in child marriages makes even
a single child marriage one too many,” she said.
She
urged the government to revive the National Strategic Plan on Addressing the
Causes of Child Marriage.
“We
do not have to reinvent the wheel. What we need to do now is allocate proper
resources to put the national plan into action,” she said.
Another
women’s group, Sisters in Islam (SIS), alleged in a tweet that the education
ministry had failed to handle the education crisis that came with the pandemic.
It
said the learn-from-home initiative was “unsystematic and uncomprehensive” and
this had resulted in the failure of students to use their time meaningfully.
SIS
noted that women, family and community development minister Rina Harun once
said the government was committed to overcoming child marriage.
“However,
it has not been followed through by action or amendments to policies,” it said.
Except
for Selangor, state governments have yet to amend their laws to make 18 the
minimum age for marriage although Penang, Sabah, Johor, Melaka, Perak and the
Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur have agreed to do so.
Child
rights activist James Nayagam said the report about teenage marriages presented
a worrisome trend in the country.
Source:
Free Malaysia Today
“I
don’t see any strong political commitment towards addressing this issue,” he
said.
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Allow
Women to Work, Girls to Get Education: European Union to Taliban
Dec
11, 2021
Kabul
(Afghanistan): European Union Special Representative for Afghanistan Tomas
Niklasson on Friday urged the Taliban to allow women to work and girls to go to
school. Niklasson termed girls in Afghanistan not going to school and women not
going to work a frozen asset, reported Pajhwok Afghan News.
He
wrote on his Twitter account, "I am deeply concerned about #Afghanistan's
frozen financial assets. But girls not going to school, women not being allowed
to work, to provide services through NGOs, or to create and lead businesses
providing jobs are another frozen asset. The interim government can unfreeze
it." "The #EU will continue to uphold the #universality of
#humanrightsand exercise vigilance against any attempt to undermine
international commitments," added Niklasson.
The
Taliban, after taking control of the country in mid-August, had closed the
schools with thousands of girl students confined to their homes, attracting
criticism by the international community. The Taliban takeover of Afghanistan
has resulted in the loss of work for Afghan businesswomen who are largely
confined to their homes owing to the group's harsh interpretation of Sharia
law."#Afghanistan will survive, rise and prosper, once it includes its
#women. #AFGgirls2School," said Niklasson in the tweet.
Source:
Zee News
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Quebec Teacher’s Removal For Wearing Hijab A ‘Cowardly’ Move, Minister Says
By
Rachel Gilmore
December
9, 2021
Multiple
politicians are speaking out to condemn the reassignment of an elementary
school teacher in Western Quebec, who was forced to leave her job after being
told her hijab violates the province’s law that forbids teachers from wearing
religious symbols.
That
law, known as Bill 21, was passed in June 2019 and bans the wearing of
religious symbols such as hijabs, kippas and turbans by teachers and other
government employees deemed to be in positions of authority.
“It’s
cowardly,” said Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Marc Miller, who is also a
Montreal-area MP.
“This
type of discrimination isn’t reflective of the Quebec society I want to live
in.”
Miller
pointed out that under Bill 21, International Development Minister Harjit
Sajjan “couldn’t teach music class in Quebec, because of the turban that he
wears on his head.”
“He
shouldn’t, because he’s a lousy musician, but that’s the only reason he should
be excluded from teaching, frankly…it’s disheartening and it’s picking on
someone vulnerable.”
NDP
Leader Jagmeet Singh, who has previously shared stories of hatred he faced for
wearing a turban, also slammed the school board’s decision.
“There
are no concerns about her capacity and ability to teach, no concerns about
whether she’s providing good education to kids, simply because of the way she
looked and the way she dressed, she is no longer able to teach those kids,” he
said.
“On
a personal note, I know what that’s like — to feel like you don’t belong
because of the way you look, and to not be able to do what you love because of
the way you look. That’s what’s happening right now, and why this bill is so
wrong.”
Parents
from the Chelsea Elementary School said they found out the teacher was being
removed last week, when they received a letter about it. Some later learned it
was due to her hijab, and the teacher herself ultimately confirmed that fact in
an interview, according to The Canadian Press.
In
a statement sent to The Canadian Press, the Western Quebec School Board — which
has previously come out firmly against Bill 21 — declined to comment
specifically due to confidentiality surrounding human resources issues.
Director
general Mike Dubeau did say, however, that the board’s stance on Bill 21 has
not changed — but he said it is subject to provincial laws that regulate
employment in the public sector.
The
statement did little to quell concerns, however, as politicians of all
political stripes continue to speak out against the decision.
Conservative
MP Kyle Seeback took to Twitter to express his concern, saying he “cannot in
good conscience keep silent on this anymore.”
“This
is an absolute disgrace. It’s time politicians stood up for what’s right. Bill
21 has to be opposed. In court, in the house of commons and in the streets,” he
wrote.
Liberal
MP Iqra Khalid — who led the 2017 push to get MPs to agree to M-103, the
anti-Islamophobia motion — also took to Twitter to say she is “deeply
concerned” about the teacher’s removal.
“We
have seen what happens when policies are used to reinforce systemic prejudice
and divide Canadians. We have felt their tragic consequences,” she wrote.
“We
are better than this.”
Conservative
Leader Erin O’Toole refused to take a swipe at Quebec over Bill 21 during a
Thursday press conference — while reiterating that he’s not a fan of the law.
“I
personally oppose Bill 21 and the measures in it. I’ve also said that I will
try and respect provincial jurisdiction and the competences of the provincial
governments to make decisions like in the case of Quebec,” he said.
“We
would never apply a bill like this on the federal jurisdiction…but it is a
question for Quebec to decide. And I do think we have to make sure that
everyone is respectful and respected in these discussions about secularism.”
Indigenous
Services Minister Patty Hajdu added that “women should have the right to wear
what they want to wear,” a sentiment Liberal MP Salma Zahid echoed.
“It
should be a woman’s choice what to wear and what not to wear. I wear a hijab.”
she said.
“I
will always be there to stand up for those women who want to wear a hijab…and
in this incident, which has happened with the teacher in Quebec, I think it’s
not right.”
Zahid
added that “governments don’t have a business in telling women what to wear and
what not to wear.”
Deputy
Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland spoke slowly and carefully when she was asked
about the teacher’s removal, pointing to the government’s position on Bill 21.
“The
Prime Minister was very clear during the election campaign…he was very clear
about our government’s position, and of course, that remains our government’s
position.”
During
a campaign stop on Montreal’s South Shore in September, Trudeau said the
government haven’t ruled out intervening against the secularism law.
“We
have not taken off the table intervening at a later date because no federal
government should take off the table the ability to stand up for people’s
fundamental rights,” he said.
The
secularism law is already being challenged by several groups. Hearings in
Montreal combined four lawsuits challenging the law on the grounds it
discriminates against religious minorities, particularly Muslim women, and were
ongoing last month.
The
National Council of Canadian Muslims and the Canadian Civil Liberties
Association pledged to appeal an April ruling by a Quebec Superior Court judge
that largely upheld the law, despite acknowledging it violates the rights of
Muslim women and has dehumanizing consequences for those who wear religious
symbols.
That
ruling did strike down parts of the bill concerning English-language school
boards in the province, and members of the provincial legislature.
Source:
Global News
https://globalnews.ca/news/8437742/politicians-denounce-bill-21-quebec-teacher-removed-hijab/
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Empowerment Of Women:
Pakistan President Highlights Key Factors
10
Dec 2021
ISLAMABAD:
President Dr Arif Alvi said that the digital and financial inclusion, safe
environment and good health were the key factors to contribute to empowerment
of the women in a society.
The
president expressed these views, while addressing the launching ceremony of the
National Gender Data Portal, here on Thursday.
The
president said it was a must to go back to our roots when Islam had liberated
women from exploitation and provided her inheritance rights some 1,500 years
ago.
He
said there could be no empowerment sans right in inheritance and financial inclusion.
He said that the laws in Pakistan always protected women’s inheritance rights,
which had been further ensured by empowering the offices of federal ombudsmen,
which would ensure her inheritance right as well as retrieval of her grabbed
property.
The
president said the West had granted women their rights not more than a 100
years ago as prior to that, in the UK, the woman as well as all her belongings
used to be considered the man’s property.
Referring
to a higher dropout rate of girls from schools, he said it was society’s
responsibility to provide them a safe environment also keeping in view the
cultural and traditional norms.
He
said that it was also equally essential to protect women’s health by avoiding
frequent pregnancies as infant and maternal mortality would never let the women
empower.
He
also called for providing safer public space to women for their fearless
movement to and from educational institutes or work places. President Alvi, who
earlier launched the portal, told the gathering that the government was about
to start disbursing cash assistance to women through their bank accounts, which
would provide her a better control over the money besides increasing her value
in the family.
He
said the government and the society including chambers should arrange
employment for the educated women and skill training for illiterate to enable
them sells out their products in the markets or through e-marketing.
Reiterating
the importance of the data, the president however disagreed with Pakistan’s
“inaccurate” ranking for gender gap but he simultaneously also expressed his
concern about the situation and called for the remedial measures for women
inclusion and empowerment.
The
president mentioned the government’s pro-women initiatives such as easy loans by
banks considering the women more reliable in repayment.
Chairperson
of National Commission on Status of Women Nilofar Bakhtiar apprised the
gathering of the successful ongoing 16 days of activism on violence against
women. She lauded the active participation of the people in South Punjab,
tribal areas, Sindh and Balochistan.
She
disagreed with the country’s international ranking on gender gap and hoped the
portal would help provide correct data to report the correct situation.
Regarding the cases of violence against women, she said the Covid-related
frustration among men owing to unemployment, and other economic issues could
also be among the reasons.
Additional
Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nabeel Munir said Pakistan’s commitment
for women empowerment was derived from the religion which also reflected in its
policies.
He
said Pakistan’s women were engaged in every forum having contributed to the
highest offices like prime minister, National Assembly speaker, and top
positions in military. He said the portal would provide accurate data and
ensure better coordination among federating units and leading to a better
reporting on international obligations and for decision making.
Source:
Brecoder
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40139091
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Ehsaas
and NCSW, Pakistan, Join Hands For Welfare Of Women And Girls
December
11, 2021
Commemorating
sixteen days of activism campaign against gender-based violence, the event
titled, ‘Humein Ehsaas Hai Khwateen Ka” was held today under the umbrella of
Ehsaas. Senator Dr. Sania Nishtar, SAPM on Social Protection and Poverty
Alleviation was the chief guest on the occassion.
The
event was co-organized by Ehsaas, National Commission on the Status of Women
(NCSW) and Quaid -e-Azam University.
Addressing
the occasion, Dr. Sania said, “Gender-based violence is not acceptable at any
level and it should be stopped for the development of society and economy. Our
government is fully committed to empowering its women.
Ensuring
sustainable women empowerment, Ehsaas fifty percent plus rule is squarely
embedded in all Ehsaas initiatives including Ehsaas cash transfers, Ehsaas
undergraduate scholarships, Ehsaas interest free loans and Ehsaas Amdan asset
transfers.
Currently,
Ehsaas is also ensuring financial inclusion of 8 million Ehsaas Kafaalat
beneficiaries through the provision of bank accounts; the entire process will
be complete in six months.” She also reiterated that education is essential for
the socio-economic empowerment of girls and women.
“Ehsaas
is the only programme worldwide that offers a higher stipend amount for girls
compared to boys under its conditional cash transfer (CCT) programmes; Ehsaas
School Stipends and Ehsaas Nashon uma”, she highlighted further.
Dr.
Sania also applauded the collaboration between NCSW and Ehsaas and expressed
hope that this event will lead to longstanding and meaningful women empowerment
centric partnership in the coming days.
In
the opening remarks, Chairperson NCSW, Nilofar Bakhtiar expressed her joy at
being back at Quaid-e-Azam University where she briefly studied during her
academic career.
She
went on to share a brief historical perspective of 16 Days of Activism against
Gender-based Violence and explained how this violence is the most pervasive and
least convicted crime in the world. She also appreciated the efforts of Ehsaas
programme in their unyielding efforts for uplifting the women in Pakistan.
Earlier,
welcoming guests at the ceremony, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ali said financial and
economic empowerment of women can ensure gender equality. He said that women
still face discrimination and exploitation in our rural areas and we can end
this menace by creating awareness.'
Source:
Pak Observer
https://pakobserver.net/ehsaas-and-ncsw-join-hands-for-welfare-of-women-and-girls/
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