UAE's empowerment of women stands as model across various fields: UAE's Minister of Culture
New Age Islam News Bureau
28 Aug 2024
· UAE's Empowerment Of Women Stands As Model Across Various Fields: UAE's Minister Of Culture
· Emirati Women's Day 2024: Here's What Eight Female Leaders From The UAE Want To "Share For Tomorrow"
· Acute Mental Health Crisis In Women On Rise In Afghanistan While The World Watches
· An Impossible Choice: Refugee Women’s Housing, Land And Property Rights In Syria
· Iraqi Kurdistan: Two Women Journalists, Gulistan Tara And Hero Bahadin, Killed And One Other Injured By A Suspected Turkish Drone
· 'I Don't See A Future For Afghan Women' Says Women's Rights: Activist Advocate Parasto Hakim
· EU Aid To Afghanistan Continues To Flow Amid Taliban's Restrictions On Women
· Taliban’s Relentless Assault on Afghan Women’s Bodies, Autonomy
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/uae-women-model-various-minister/d/133065
UAE's empowerment of women stands as model across various fields: UAE's Minister of Culture
Aug 27, 2024
Representative Image
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Culture, stated that the UAE (/topic/uae), since its establishment by the Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, has laid strong foundations for building a resilient nation. Marking Emirati Women's Day (/topic/emirati-womens-day), he stated, "Guided by science, knowledge, and faith, the country has been a pioneer in empowering women across vital sectors, investing in their capabilities, skills, and experiences. Today, this empowerment stands as a model across various fields." Sheikh Salem highlighted the UAE (/topic/uae)'s most recent remarkable achievement of ranking seventh globally and first regionally in the Gender Equality Index, according to the 2024 Human Development Report issued by the United Nations Development Programme. He emphasised that this milestone would not have been possible without Emirati women's unwavering support and empowerment, which has strengthened their presence and enabled them to realise their aspirations. He said, "This year's theme, 'Collaborate for Tomorrow', carried forward for a second year, reflects the confidence and trust Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (/topic/sheikha-fatima-bint-mubarak) (The Mother of the Nation), Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, places in Emirati women. It emphasises sustainability as a participatory process and an integrated approach that contributes to realising the state's aspirations and future visions." (ANI/WAM)
Source: aninews.in/
https://www.aninews.in/news/world/middle-east/uaes-empowerment-of-women-stands-as-model-across-various-fields-uaes-minister-of-culture20240827231706/
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Emirati Women's Day 2024: Here's What Eight Female Leaders From The UAE Want To "Share For Tomorrow"
AUG 28, 2024
Shutterstock.com
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Emirati Women's Day is celebrated every year in the UAE on August 28th, and this year, in line with the directives of H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, the UAE's Mother of the Nation, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, the country does so with the theme, "We share for tomorrow." In line with this motif, here are eight Emirati female leaders sharing key lessons they have learned through their lives and careers so far that should be taken to heart by any woman in the world today.
"Emirati women have proven their competence in undertaking all tasks, creating opportunities, and turning challenges into achievements across all fields locally, regionally, and internationally. They are the heart of the nation, helping raise a strong, promising generation capable of leading the future."
"The story of Emirati women is one of resilience, selfless contribution, and boundless inspiration. It's a story that resonates not just within our region but also around the world, highlighting women who are deeply rooted in their traditions while boldly embracing the future. Thanks to the UAE leadership's support, Emirati women have been playing a key role in our nation's progress—from government to education, and from business to technology. Their contributions are shaping our world, and their influence extends far beyond our borders as they continue to break new ground and set the stage for the future. As we celebrate Emirati Women's Day, we honor their achievements and look forward to a future where their contributions continue to inspire and elevate society, laying a strong foundation for generations to come."
"As an Emirati woman and a professional, I've learned the importance of seeking multiple perspectives before making decisions. It's crucial to listen to various points of view and understand different sides of a story before taking action. This approach ensures that all aspects are considered and is essential for connecting with people and fostering understanding, even if their perspectives may not ultimately align with the decision-making process. This responsibility is one I take very seriously."
"The UAE's unwavering commitment to women's empowerment has been transformative for my career. Encouraged from a young age to explore my interests in science and math, I pursued engineering, which laid the groundwork for my professional success. Initiatives like mandated female representation on corporate boards have created an environment where talent thrives, regardless of gender. My journey through management consulting to my current leadership role at Visa in the GCC reflects the UAE's dedication to supporting women in leadership. This supportive and inclusive environment has not only shaped my career, but also empowered countless Emirati women entrepreneurs, driving significant economic growth. The UAE's approach serves as a powerful example of what women globally can achieve when provided with the right support and opportunities."
"Over the years, Emirati women have played an indispensable role in shaping society and the nation and today we stand united in celebration of their contributions. The standards they are setting for future generations are admirable and serve as a source of inspiration for those who follow in their footsteps. As a proud Emirati, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the women in the UAE who have excelled in pivotal roles across both the public and private sectors, thanking them for their invaluable efforts."
"The women of the United Arab Emirates have made exceptional contributions across various fields, particularly in their role in advancing humanitarian and social causes. Their efforts are a testament to our nation's deep commitment to supporting communities around the world, grounded in principles of unity and human solidarity."
"Embrace your unique strengths and let your authentic self shine. Excellence comes from being true to who you are. Remarkable Emirati women lead with confidence, drawing on their individual qualities to make a positive impact. Your authentic approach benefits everyone around you - your team, your work, and society as a whole. Whether you excel at collaboration, nurturing, drive, or competitiveness, these traits are all valuable. The right people and places will be drawn to you naturally and by being your authentic self you will pave the way to your own success."
"Emirati Women's Day is a celebration of the incredible achievements of Emirati women. One key lesson I've learned is that to create meaningful impact, we must embrace innovation and strive for excellence. Emirati women have made significant contributions across various sectors, demonstrating the critical role that we play in shaping a knowledge-based economy. This is a powerful lesson for women everywhere—we ought to embrace innovation in each of our fields, this enables us to drive a positive impact on the economy and society at large."
Source: entrepreneur.com
https://www.entrepreneur.com/en-ae/leadership/emirati-womens-day-2024-capturing-lessons-learned-by/479023
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Acute Mental Health Crisis In Women On Rise In Afghanistan While The World Watches
August 27, 2024
Amid the Vice and Virtue Ministry of Taliban-ruled Afghanistan banning women from speaking in public places, United Nations Women reports a distressing number of rising mental health crisis among Afghan women. The UN Women representative Alison Davidian while briefing journalists in the New York over video conference on the misery of Afghan women, unfolded the hardships women face every day under Taliban regime.
Plight Of Women Under Taliban-Ruled Afghanistan
Talking about the world's attention diverted to the two on-going wars namely, Israel-Hamas and Russia-Ukraine, Alison said," while the world's attention may have turned elsewhere, the horrors have not stopped for Afghan women and girls."
Soon after dethroning Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani and taking over Kabul, the Taliban imposed a ban on women education, barring them from entering schools and colleges. In its three years of rule, Taliban has 'erased' women from public life, imposing a strict hijab, barring them from working in nonprofits, from entering parks, gyms or markets without a male family member and now even forbidding them from speaking in public citing a woman's voice is deemed intimate and so should not be heard singing, reciting, or reading aloud in public.
68% Afghanistan Women Reported "Very Bad" Mental Health State
With no reproductive rights, maternal healthcare and basic civil rights, hardship of women in Afghanistan is beyond imagination. According to the UN Women report, 68 per cent women and girls in Afghanistan are living with "bad" and "very bad" mental health.
Majority of women and girls under Taliban regime suffer from anxiety, depression, post-natal depression and an increased tendency of suicidal intentions. All these are being driven by social isolation and ban on women's basic civil rights.
Almost 8 per cent of Afghan women reported to knew at least one woman or girl who had attempted suicide. Domestic violence, honor killing and threat of getting stoned to death drives young women in Taliban ruled Afghanistan to commit suicide.
Reproductive Rights And Maternal Mortality
The UN report also sheds light on the alarming number of declining reproductive and maternal health in women. Prohibiting women from universities and workplaces, from going out alone and a stricter mobility restriction have increased the rate of maternal mortality and morbidity.
"Our analysis shows that by 2026, the impact of leaving 1.1 million girls out of school and 100,000 women out of university correlates to an increase in early childbearing by 45 per cent and an increase in maternal mortality by up to 50 per cent," Davidian stated.
Women are forced to give birth at home without proper maternal care. Not only this, but the Taliban also last year, imposed ban on selling and buying of contraception, threatening shopkeepers from selling them, depriving women of their reproductive rights.
Rejecting the UN concerns over the recent ban on women in Afghanistan, the spokesperson of Taliban responded, "If any non-Muslim expresses concern or rejects these laws, they should first educate themselves about Islamic laws and respect Islamic values. We consider such objections to Islamic Sharia as disrespectful."
Source: thehealthsite.com
https://www.thehealthsite.com/diseases-conditions/mental-health/acute-mental-health-crisis-in-women-on-rise-in-afghanistan-while-the-world-watches-1120192/
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An Impossible Choice: Refugee Women’s Housing, Land And Property Rights In Syria
27 Aug 2024
Syrian refugee women are being systematically denied their rights to housing, land and property (HLP). Securing women’s HLP rights in Syria can empower women to have greater control over their situations, alleviate their struggles, and help them rebuild their lives after more than a decade in exile.
Women’s property rights are enshrined in Syrian law. Despite this, family members draw on ‘customs’ or ‘traditions’ to pressure women into giving up their property rights to men. Women who try to claim rights risk exclusion from family support, social ostracism and violence.
This Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) study explores the social, cultural and familial barriers which Syrian women face when trying to obtain their HLP rights and consequences for women’s rights today. It also examines how traditional gender roles have developed during conflict and displacement, highlighting the continuing desire to evolve sociocultural norms, and identifies possible entry points for supporting this, including importantly reflections on this from women themselves.
Source: reliefweb.int
https://reliefweb.int/report/syrian-arab-republic/facing-impossible-choice-refugee-womens-housing-land-and-property-rights-syria
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Iraqi Kurdistan: Two Women Journalists, Gulistan Tara And Hero Bahadin, Killed And One Other Injured By A Suspected Turkish Drone
27 August 2024
Two women journalists from Chatr Media, Gulistan Tara and Hero Bahadin, were killed, and their colleague, journalist RêbînBekir, injured, on 23 August, when a suspected Turkish drone hit their car in the Said Sadiq district of Sulaymaniyah Province, northern Iraq. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate, the Kurdistan Journalists Syndicate (KJS), in condemning the journalists’ killing and urging the authorities of Türkiye and Iraq to launch an immediate investigation to hold the perpetrators to account.
On Friday 23 August, a car carrying a group of media personnel from Sterk TV, owned by the Chatr Media Company, was hit, while on a reporting assignment, by an alleged Turkish drone attack on the road connecting Sulaymaniyah city and Said Sadiq district. The Chatr Media Company is licensed by the Kurdistan Regional Government.
The drone strike killed two women journalists, Gulistan Tara and Hero Bahadin, and six others. Their colleague, journalist RêbînBekir, was injured in the attack.
This is not the first incident of drone attacks targeting journalists in the Kurdistan region. On 8 July, a vehicle carrying Çira TV media crew was bombed by a drone in Sinjar, northern Iraq. Reporter Murad Mirza Ibrahim was among the casualties, sustaining serious injuries which led to his death three days later. His colleague, woman journalist MydiaHussen, was injured in the same attack.
The Kurdistan Journalists Syndicate of Sulaymaniyah Branch strongly condemns this crime, which led to the death of Gulistan Tara and Hero Bahadin and, as a result of which, the journalist Rêbîn Beki was injured. "We call on both the Kurdistan Regional Government and the Iraqi government to deploy maximum efforts, both through diplomatic or other means available, to put pressure on the Turkish government to prevent such violations committed by the Turkish army against journalists and civilians."
The IFJ is calling on the authorities of both countries to conduct prompt investigations into the killings of the two journalists and bring the perpetrators to justice. IFJ Secretary General Anthony Bellanger said: "The killing of the two journalists in Sulaymaniyah reflects the extreme dangers faced by journalists working in conflict zones and highlights the urgent need for immediate measures to ensure their safety and hold those responsible for these crimes accountable. It is hoped that this tragic incident will increase international awareness of the risks that journalists face and lead to efforts to provide them with the necessary protection.”
Source: www.ifj.org
https://www.ifj.org/media-centre/news/detail/category/press-releases/article/iraqi-kurdistan-two-women-journalists-killed-and-one-other-injured
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'I Don't See A Future For Afghan Women' Says Women's Rights: ActivistAdvocate Parasto Hakim
ITG Global Exclusive
Aug 27, 2024
"The people who have killed our beloved ones in the schools, mosques, and streets... I don't see a future for Afghan women anymore in that country," says Parasto Hakim, a teacher and advocate for women’s rights, who fled Afghanistan in 2023 in an exclusive interview with India Today Global. Since the Taliban regained power, Afghan women have been stripped of their basic rights and freedoms, confined to their homes, and erased from public life.
Parasto, who now runs secret schools in Afghanistan, describes the situation as a return to the dark days of 1996. "Women in Afghanistan are facing the same restrictions. They are completely vanished and deleted from the communities," she said. The Taliban's latest dictates have intensified these restrictions, now mandating that women be fully covered, not speak publicly, and not even have their voices heard by men.
Reflecting on the early 2000s, Parasto recalls how the Taliban began their oppressive regime by poisoning schools. "I was a school child in 2010, and the Taliban started poisoning the schools. I witnessed my own friends and teachers being poisoned. This didn’t start in 2021; it began long before they took power," she shared.
Since fleeing Afghanistan, Parasto has seen the situation worsen. "Before I left in 2023, we could still work in some offices and take taxis without a guardian. Now, women can't even do that without facing violence from the Taliban," she explained.
In response to these dire circumstances, Parasto and other educators have set up underground schools to ensure that girls continue to receive an education. "We knew the Taliban wouldn’t open the schools, so we started teaching in secret, in the houses of our students and teachers. We've expanded this effort across Afghanistan," she said.
Funding for these schools comes largely from volunteer efforts, with some external support. "It's 70% volunteer work from the women of Afghanistan for the women of Afghanistan," Parasto emphasized.
Despite global condemnation of the Taliban's actions, the situation on the ground remains dire. "Afghan women feel betrayed and abandoned. We knew the Taliban would destroy everything beautiful. Now, we're preparing for even more restrictions," she said.
The future of Afghan women seems bleak. "I don't see a future for Afghan women in that country," Parasto admitted. However, she remains hopeful, pointing to the small but determined resistance led by Afghan women. "This is called resistance, hope, and creating hope for each other. We trust each other because we no longer trust the world."
Parasto also highlighted the crucial role of Afghan men in supporting these initiatives. "Men are standing with us. My father, and my brother, support and help us. They handle operations on the field because women can't move freely," she noted.
As Afghan women continue to fight for their rights in secrecy, the world watches. The question remains: Will the international community step up before it’s too late, or will Afghan women be left to resist alone in the shadows?
Source: indiatoday.in
https://www.indiatoday.in/global/story/i-dont-see-a-future-for-afghan-women-says-womens-rights-advocate-parasto-hakim-itg-global-exclusive-2589000-2024-08-27
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EU Aid To Afghanistan Continues To Flow Amid Taliban's Restrictions On Women
August 27, 2024
Afghanistan is one of the largest recipients of humanitarian aid from the European Union, EU officials said on August 27, one day after saying it was appalled by a new decree issued by the Taliban-led government further restricting the lives of women.
The European Union this year has provided 125 million euros ($139 million) to Afghanistan for humanitarian-aid purposes, BalazsUjvari, European Commission spokesman for budget, human resources, humanitarian aid, and crisis management, said at a European Commission news briefing in Brussels.
In addition to classic aid distribution, the EU has also organized 35 “air-bridge” flights carrying 1,600 tons of aid since 2021.
“This shows that in a broad variety of areas, we are deploying a variety of humanitarian and civil-protection tools as well to try and alleviate the ongoing difficulties in the country," Ujvari said.
European Commission chief spokesman Eric Mamer added that when the EU distributes humanitarian aid, it works with partner organizations, not the government.
Nabila Massrali, spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief JosepBorrell, said the EU reacted very quickly on August 26 to the Taliban’s so-called Law on the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, but at the same time she defended keeping ties with the Taliban.
“When it comes to the engagement with the Taliban, we do maintain contact...to allow the dialogue for political priories of the EU and to ensure that the EU can provide support to the Afghan people, and this is very important,” she said at the briefing. “The EU engagement with the Taliban is not an acknowledgement of legitimacy.”
In addition to saying it was appalled by the August 26 decree, the EU statement called it a “serious blow undermining the rights of Afghan women and girls, which we cannot tolerate.”
The decree imposes further restrictive dress codes for women and says that voices of women must not be heard in public, “which effectively deprives Afghan women of their fundamental right to freedom of expression,” the EU statement said.
The European Union said the decree, issued on the third anniversary of a suicide bombing at Hamid Karzai International Airport that killed 13 U.S. soldiers and scores of Afghans during the chaotic U.S. withdrawal, also gives the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice a mandate to enforce it.
“This, together with the restrictions imposed, punishable under Taliban law, violates legal obligations and treaties to which Afghanistan is a state party, including by undermining Afghan people’s right to due process,” the EU statement said.
It also noted that the decree creates another obstacle to normalized relations and recognition by the international community -- goals that the Taliban publicly aspires to.
Source: rferl.org
https://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-women-eu-commission-aid-taliban/33094799.html
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Taliban’s Relentless Assault on Afghan Women’s Bodies, Autonomy
Sahar_fetrat
August 27, 2024
Last week, the Taliban in Afghanistan published outrageous new laws on “vice and virtue” that require women to completely cover their bodies, including their faces, in public at all times.
In issuing the law, the Taliban claimed that women's voices could lead to vice, referring to their voices as aurat (a term in Sharia, or Islamic law, that signifies a man or woman’s intimate parts, which must be covered).
Reducing their voices and bodies to things and sources of sin is an egregious act of sexualizing and objectifying women. These laws attack women’s personhood and autonomy, contributing to their further erasure from society. The Taliban have also announced that women should not be heard speaking, singing, or reciting aloud in public.
When the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan three years ago, some were optimistic that “version 2.0” would be different and more open to women’s rights and human rights, as if their initial rule from 1996 to 2001 was not already defined by oppression and misery for the people of Afghanistan, particularly women and girls. For much of the international community, it seemed the Taliban’s past record, marked by unrelenting repression, flogging, stoning, and public executions, was easily forgotten. Many diplomats seemed quick to overlook the civilian lives lost due to Taliban attacks throughout the previous republic era.
Since 2021, the Taliban have persistently attacked women's autonomy, oppressing them from every angle. They have banned girls and women from education beyond sixth grade, many forms of employment, and from public life. Having reduced women and girls to the status of non-humans, they severely restrict their movement, denying them any sense of agency or autonomy.
After the new laws were announced, many Afghan women bravely defied the ban. Some women inside Afghanistan posted videos of them singing. Others gathered in parks outside the country, singing about freedom and women’s resistance, chanting that no one and nothing can silence the women of Afghanistan.
Source: hrw.org
https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/08/27/talibans-relentless-assault-afghan-womens-bodies-autonomy
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