In Sudan, Women Forced to Line Up for Sex with Soldiers for Food: Report
New Age Islam News Bureau
23 July 2024
· In Sudan, Women Forced to Line Up for Sex with Soldiers for Food: Report
· Kalash Girl of Pakistan Wanting to Marry Foreigner Faces Community’s Opposition
· Al Nassr Keeper Sara Khalid Says ‘No Limit’ To Saudi Women’s Football Growth
· 3 Female Judges Employed at Technical Office of Egypt's State Council for First Time
·
Trust Appoints Its First Female Muslim
Chaplaincy, AlimahMaysoonShafiq,Lead
· NY Black Women Electeds Rallied for Harris On Massive Sunday Night Zoom Call
· Mermaids in The Red Sea: Jeddah Diving Course Offers New Aquatic Adventure
· Demand for Female Attorneys in Arab Countries Growing Exponentially
· Violence Against Women and Girls in UK A ‘National Emergency’: Police
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
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In Sudan, Women Forced to Line Up for Sex with Soldiers for Food: Report
July 22, 2024
Several women have come forward sharing
harrowing tales of RSF fighters sexually abusing them
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In war-torn Sudan, women are being forced to have sex with soldiers to get food to feed their families, a report by The Guardian said. Over two dozen women who fled the Sudanese city of Omdurman said that having sex with soldiers was the only way they could access food or goods that they could sell to raise money to feed their families.
One woman who spoke to the Guardian said the assaults took place in factories across the the city where the food is stockpiled. “Both of my parents are too old and sick and I never let my daughter go out to look for food. I went to the soldiers and that was the only way to get food – they were everywhere in the factories area," said a woman, who was forced to have sex with soldiers at a meat-processing factory in May last year.
The assaults reportedly began soon after a civil war broke out in the country which has seen the country's army face off against paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Reports of rape by armed men emerged within days of the conflict starting on 15 April last year.
The war in Sudan has killed tens of thousands of people, with some estimates placing the death count as high as 150,000. The war has created the world's worst displacement crisis -- with more than 11 million uprooted and brought the country to the brink of famine.
Several women have come forward sharing harrowing tales of RSF fighters sexually abusing them in a systematic manner in areas under their control. The soldiers have also demanded sex in exchange for access to abandoned houses where it is still possible to loot items to sell in local markets, the women told the Guardian.
One woman said that she was allowed to take food, kitchen equipment and perfumes from empty houses after she had sex with soldiers. “What I went through is indescribable, I would not wish it on an enemy … I only did it because I wanted to feed my children," she said.
Residents of the city claimed they see soldiers bringing women to abandoned houses where they were made to queue up as soldier picked the ones "they liked the look of". "A lot of women come and queue outside our neighbourhood. I sometimes hear screaming but what can you do? Nothing," one resident said.
Another woman told the Guardian that once she refused to have sex with the solider they tortured her and burned her legs. The 21-year-old said she had had sex with soldiers in exchange for being allowed to loot houses for food and goods, but went she refused to do so again the soldiers held her down and burned her legs.
A soldier, who denied ever assaulting a woman himself, said he had witnessed his colleagues. “It's awful. The amount of the sins in this city can never been be forgiven," he said.
Source: ndtv.com
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/in-sudan-women-forced-to-line-up-for-sex-with-soldiers-for-food-report-6159929
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Kalash Girl of Pakistan Wanting to Marry Foreigner Faces Community’s Opposition
July 23, 2024
CHITRAL: A Kalash girl’s marriage to a
Chinese national wasn’t solemnised here due to her community’s concerns over
his “identity and character. “
Ou Jun, 36, recently reached Rumbur valley from his Zhejiang region to wed Shaheen Ara, 24, after six-year-long friendship.
Activists of the Kalash community prevented the couple from going to a local court to solemnise their marriage and asked the Chinese national to produce a no objection certificate from his country’s embassy in Islamabad.
Chairman of the Rumbur village council Sultan Khan told Dawn that the community was concerned about the girl’s safety, so verification of the prospective bridegroom’s particulars was required.
However, the girl rejected the community’s opinion and claimed that she had the legal right to choose her husband.
“I’ve come of age and has the ability to discern what’s right and wrong for me,” she told Dawn.
Ms Ara complained that some community activists carried out a social media campaign, damaging her reputation.
She said that she met the Chinese man on Facebook in 2018 that led to their friendship.
“Ou Jun came here twice in the last five years but my parents didn’t agree to our marriage, so he returned. This time around, my parents have agreed to marry me off to him, but the community intervened, opposing out court marriage,” she said.
The Kalash girl said that the Chinese man had gone to Islamabad to obtain the sought-after NOC from the embassy.
Local senior lawyer Abdul Wali Khan told Dawn that if the girl was of legal age, then she didn’t require any NOC to marry.
He insisted that the Kalash community was denying the girl her fundamental right to make own choices and decide her future.
Source: dawn.com
https://www.dawn.com/news/1847415/kalash-girl-wanting-to-marry-foreigner-faces-communitys-opposition
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Al Nassr keeper Sara Khalid says ‘no limit’ to Saudi women’s football growth
22 July ,2024
Sara Khalid al-Dossary first fell in love with football as a fan watching her father’s beloved Al Ettifaq, but it is with Al Nassr where the goalkeeper’s passion has bloomed into significant sporting success.
In May, al-Dossary celebrated winning a third straight league title. The Saudi Women’s Premier League was inaugurated in 2022 and for the past two years, Al Nassr has been its dominant force – winning back-to-back trophies, the most recent by a 10-point margin.
Before that, al-Dossary also tasted victory in what was then called the SAFF Women’s National Football Championship with Al-Mamlaka in 2021-22. It inspired Riyadh giant Al Nassr to acquire the team and absorb the goalkeeper and her team-mates into the club.
“It makes it extra special to have won three in a row,” al-Dossary told Al Arabiya English in an exclusive interview. “Knowing that your work and the work of your team-mates has paid off is an indescribable feeling.”
“There have been a lot of hurdles, ups and downs, but it has been a great adventure for us. Now we don’t dream of lifting titles because we know that with hard work, our reality is that we will win them. What drives us is the achievements and the records we break.”
Al-Dossary marked the occasion of her third league title with what has become an annual photographic tradition: posting a picture on Instagram of her cradling the trophy in bed - the gold statue looking as secure in her arms as the ball does on matchdays.
“I took that photo when we won our first title and people seemed to enjoy it so I thought I’d make it my thing,” al-Dossary explained. “Fortunately, I’ve been able to do it another two times. I’ll keep doing it every time I win a trophy!”
Al Nassr was boosted in 2023-24 by some notable additions to the squad, with international forwards Clara Luvanga (Tanzania) and Lina Boussaha (Algeria) arriving from Dux Logrono in Spain and French giants PSG respectively. Luvanga scored 11 goals and Boussaha 12, with the latter named Best Player for her contributions.
“Lina had an incredible season and she really deserved this award,” al-Dossary reflected. “She assisted goals, she scored goals. She is my closest friend on the team and played a vital role in our success - she is such an important player for us.”
The footballer also said she takes pride in how the team members welcome new players.
“I am very proud of the way we welcome new players and make them feel at home. We are kind to each other on and off the field, and know how to navigate difficulties and obstacles together as a team. I think this is what makes us so strong.”
Al-Dossary’s pathway into football began at Al Ettifaq, where her father worked. Back then, women weren’t allowed to enter stadiums in the Kingdom, but her dad insisted on bringing a seven-year-old Sara to matches and she recalls that “no-one said anything.”
“This is how I fell in love with the game,” she added. “When my father passed away, I felt like football was the connection that kept him alive in my heart.”
“It started with just following the news and watching Al Ettifaq’s games and then I would also play with my nephews and nieces, but nothing really serious.”
Al-Dossary wanted to play more football but was left frustrated by the lack of competitive opportunities available in Saudi Arabia at that time so turned her hand to basketball instead. It was only when a futsal coach spotted her potential a couple of years later – in 2019 – that she switched back.
“I had drifted away from football but this coach asked me to try out as a goalkeeper,” she said. “I was hesitant at first and it took three months before I finally agreed but I loved it straight away.”
Being a goalkeeper comes with more pressure and a higher level of scrutiny than most positions on the football pitch, but al-Dossary relishes the responsibility.
“Sometimes it can feel as though you’re playing a different game than your teammates,” the 27-year-old explained. “It is a very physical role but with a lot of mental challenges too. Decision-making is so important – whether to stay, or dive, or catch. It is very demanding and all of your small mistakes are highlighted more than any other position.”
In February 2022, al-Dossary took on another level of responsibility – creating history as she captained the Kingdom’s women’s football team in its first ever match against the Seychelles. Now she is the team’s co-captain under respected Spanish coach Lluis Cortes.
“It means the world to me - having the trust of my teammates, the trust of the manager. It’s an honor and I hope that I’m doing my best in supporting my teammates physically, and emotionally. I want to be there whenever they need me, to be the person to make them believe they can be great athletes on and off the field.”
Playing for Al Nassr means that al-Dossary has had plenty of exposure to great athletes. As the goalkeeper and her team-mates fought to see off the challenge of Riyadh rivals Al Hilal to lift the inaugural Saudi Women’s Premier League trophy in 2022-23, the squad received some additional motivation from a special visitor.
“Ahead of a very important game that we had to win to stay top of the table, Cristiano [Ronaldo] came to wish us luck and we took a group picture. I met him and also met Talisca and many of the Saudi players on the team. They are very supportive,” the athlete told Al Arabiya English.
Al-Dossary and Al Nassr’s next bit challenge will be another first as the club enters the qualifying rounds of the newly launched AFC Women’s Champions League, determined to compete with Asia’s best.
The preliminary round draw on Thursday pitted the Saudi champions against Myanmar’s Myawady, Laotian side Young Elephants and Abu Dhabi CC; all three matches will be played over six days in August in the Kingdom.
“We know we deserve to be there so now we just have to show everyone what we’re made of,” al-Dossary said. “Right now this is where our focus lies because we will play the qualifiers before the new Saudi season starts.”
“We’ll train hard and it is an important priority for us to achieve good results in Asia. Playing against the continent’s top teams is a privilege and we will do our absolute best to compete with them,” she said.
“It is obviously going to be a big step up from our league – it will be tougher and we want to be as prepared as possible.”
With the Saudi Pro League having exploded in popularity over the past 12 months, al-Dossary feels the Saudi Women’s Premier League has a similar opportunity to build a lasting legacy, and is looking forward to seeing how big it can become.
“I feel very confident when I say there is no limit to the growth of the Saudi Women’s Premier League,” she said. “We’re getting enormous support from the Saudi Football Federation and the Ministry of Sport.”
Al-Dossary also believes Saudi Arabia will have one of the best leagues but described the journey as “a step-by-step growth.”
“But I honestly think we will have one of the best leagues in the world. This is still only our second year so the opportunities to develop in the coming years are huge.”
Source: english.alarabiya.net
https://english.alarabiya.net/sports/2024/07/22/al-nassr-keeper-sara-khalid-says-no-limit-to-saudi-women-s-football-growth
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3 female judges employed at technical office of Egypt's State Council for first time
22 Jul 2024
CAIRO - 22 July 2024: Head of the Egyptian State Council Counselor Ahmed Aboud issued a decision to hire three female judges at the technical office for the first time in the history of the State Council.
This decision is debut since the beginning of the move to hire women in the judicial sector within the council three years ago.
The Decision No. 473 of 2024 is to employ the three female judges to work in the technical office of the head of the Council comes in light of what the reports revealed regarding their excellence in the work assigned to them since they joined the State Council.
The decision was made due to the three judges' efficiency and dedication in performance and work.
The three female judges are:
1- Assistant Advisor (A) / Hind Ahmed Ali Aliwa Amara.
2- Assistant Advisor (A) / RadwaHelmy Ahmed Abdullah.
3- Assistant Advisor (A) / Mona Mahmoud Ahmed Rushdi Mahmoud.
Counselor Ahmed Abboud, Chairman of the State Council, stressed the great keenness to seek the assistance of female judges in all aspects of judicial work within the State Council, as it is their right, just like their peers among the Council’s eminent judges who spare no effort in achieving justice and fairness to rights holders, and maintain diligence as a means. Excellence in work is an approach.
Source: egypttoday.com
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/1/133655/3-female-judges-employed-at-technical-office-of-Egypt-s
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Trust Appoints Its First Female Muslim Chaplaincy, AlimahMaysoonShafiq,Lead
24 July 2024
MaysoonShafiq is a dedicated and active community member known for her efforts in bridging gaps between different faiths and beliefs. With extensive experience organising events, seminars, and conferences across West Yorkshire and the UK, she has played a vital role in fostering understanding and knowledge about Islam among both Muslim and non-Muslim communities.
In recognition of her contributions, Maysoon has been honoured twice with the ‘Religious Advocate of the Year’ award at the British Muslim Awards and has been named the ‘Most Impactful Alimah’ at the British Mosque Awards.
On her appointment, Maysoon commented: “I have always advocated for women’s rights, and this position will inspire other female Muslims who may feel hesitant or shy about applying for similar roles. I hope to be a role model and pave the way for them.”
The Chaplaincy Department at The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust provides spiritual, pastoral, and religious care to patients, staff, students, and visitors. Maysoon emphasised the inclusive support offered by the department, stating: “Our Chaplaincy team is committed to providing compassionate support and guidance to everyone, regardless of faith or beliefs. We offer a listening ear, spiritual counsel, and a safe space for patients, staff, and visitors to explore their spiritual needs and find comfort during challenging times.”
In addition to her new role, Maysoon is in the final stages of her PhD at Sheffield Hallam University, where her research focuses on the underutilisation of palliative care services by the Muslim community. Her goal is to educate both community members and medical practitioners on providing culturally competent care.
Source: therotherhamft.nhs.uk
https://www.therotherhamft.nhs.uk/news/trust-appoints-its-first-female-muslim-chaplaincy-lead-0
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NY Black Women Electeds Rallied for Harris On Massive Sunday Night Zoom Call
JULY 22, 2024
A number of Black women politicians from New York quickly rallied behind Vice President Kamala Harris Sunday night, joining more than 45,000 participants across the nation for a Zoom call to show solidarity and support for her presidential campaign mere hours after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race.
New York City Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers and Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson both posted on X about the massive call that had been organized by Win with Black Women – a group formed in 2020 to advocate for Black women in politics. Donations to support Harris’ campaign poured in during the call, which stretched late into the night, raising over $1.5 million in three hours, according to the group. New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, New York City Council Members Sandy Nurse and Nantasha Williams also participated in the call.
Gibson, the first woman and African American to represent the Bronx as borough president, watched the Zoom grow Sunday as thousands of Black women legislators, political leaders, senators, actresses, members of Congress, union leaders and more coalesced behind Harris. Throughout the lengthy call, organizers talked about what this moment means for women of color, acknowledged Biden’s decision to step down and shared information about Harris’ history and policy platform as well as action items on how to galvanize supporters.
The mood was one of excitement, Gibson recalled, but participants were also attuned to the realities Harris faces in what’s expected to be a tough battle against Trump. Recent polls show Harris narrowly trailing Trump nationally and in some key swing states. “We know it’s not going to be easy to beat Donald Trump,” she said. “I think the fact that she is a woman and a woman of color makes it even more difficult, but we want to focus on her record and her record of accomplishments and that she’s a proven leader.”
Pointing to long-standing low voter turnout in the Bronx, Gibson said she hopes to use her platform as borough president to encourage younger generations to back Harris.
While Brooks-Powers declined to go into specifics about what was discussed during the Zoom, she said participants’ energy and passion was palpable – stronger than any she’d felt on a campaign for a long time. She left the call prepared to help any way she can, be it raising money or talking to members of her community and others in battleground states. “I’m willing to put my chucks on and dust them off a little bit,” Brooks-Powers said.
She also emphasized that Harris is well qualified for the role of president, cautioning against categorizing her as just a woman or a woman of color.
“As a woman, as a woman of color, I obviously have a great level of pride for that, but even more of my pride comes from the fact that she’s qualified,” Brooks-Powers said. “She was an attorney general in as huge of a state as California. She was a senator, she’s been vice president for four years. She’s more qualified than Donald Trump.”
Nurse tried several times to join the Zoom but was unsuccessful given the number of people participating. Managing to catch the tail end of it though, she was heartened by what she saw as an “unbelievable ability to mobilize.”
“Democrats by and large felt a sense of relief, felt a sense that we were heading in a very unstable direction and there was not a clear path to victory. Now there’s a chance and we have someone who is younger, energized, and represents something that we’ve never seen before. That’s exciting,” she told City & State, adding that while Harris isn’t “the perfect person,” she’s the best option – one that Democrats need to coalesce around. Nurse said she plans to join and host phone banks and work with her colleagues to mobilize New York voters.
Already the first woman, first Black person and first Asian American to serve as vice president, the increasing likelihood of Harris becoming the first woman of color at the top of a major-party presidential ticket – and with it, her potential ascension to the presidency – would only further make history. That possibility on the heels of Biden’s Sunday exit appeared to inject fresh energy into the presidential race. A wave of donations and endorsements has steadily poured in for Harris over the past 24 hours. New York has been no exception. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffires aside, a slew of New York elected officials have steadily voiced their support for Harris.
In a state known for its Black political power, support for Harris may be particularly important. While many Black New York elected officials weren’t on the Sunday night call, some leaders have already gone beyond offering a simple endorsement. Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins told City & State that she was looking forward to doing everything in her power to help elect the country’s first Black woman president. New York Attorney General Letitia James announced she was leading a coalition of the nation’s six Black state attorney generals to back Harris for president.
Source: cityandstateny.com
https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2024/07/ny-black-women-electeds-rallied-harris-massive-sunday-night-zoom-call/398237/
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Mermaids in The Red Sea: Jeddah Diving Course Offers New Aquatic Adventure
July 22, 2024
JEDDAH: Inspired by mythical sea-dwelling creatures, a diving centre in Jeddah is offering a first-of-its-kind mermaid diving course for those wanting to splash around in cool waters during the summer.
Scuba Schools International at Al-Haddad Scuba in the coastal city offers a whimsical yet invigorating experience for those in search of an aquatic adventure.
All over the world, mermaids represent beauty, danger, transformation, duality, and feminine power. Today they continue to inspire literature, film, fashion, and even marine conservation efforts.
Arab News spoke to Corinna Davids, an Austrian scuba diving and swimming instructor known for her ground-breaking approach to mermaid diving. She developed the SSI Mermaid Program after years of expertise in free diving and swimming.
Davids became an instructor in swimming and scuba diving at SSI when she was 18 and has since revolutionized the diving industry, making waves with her innovative techniques and passion for the sea.
Mermaid diving, she explained, is an art form that combines the technique of dolphin kick used in swimming with an exaggerated, aesthetically pleasing movement. This unique style not only looks beautiful but also ensures efficiency and safety.
“By mastering various fun skills and tricks, SSI mermaids can perform beautifully while maintaining safety protocols,” she told Arab News.
Davids says that to become a mermaid one needs only basic water confidence. “The program is easily accessible, and to become a mermaid instructor, one needs to complete additional steps after becoming a mermaid,” she added.
The mermaid diving experience is incomplete without the mermaid costume. Davids recommends using high-quality monofins, such as the MahinaMonofin, which provides efficiency and aesthetic appeal. The tail skin, made from Lycra or scuba fabric, completes the look and will give mermaids the confidence to shine.
In April, Davids held the first mermaid diving course for instructors in Saudi Arabia, focusing on safety, technique and teaching methods to ensure that trainees are able to teach mermaid diving to students of all levels. The course comprises extensive theory sessions, in-water training, and evaluations of teaching abilities.
“The course received an overwhelmingly positive response from the trainees, who showed significant improvement throughout the program,” she said.
The newly certified instructors will be able to teach the mermaid diving program throughout Saudi Arabia.
“The primary aim of conducting this course in Saudi Arabia was to introduce a new, fun program that would appeal to kids and adults alike. Mermaid diving offers an exciting experience for those who may be hesitant to try scuba diving or freediving,” Davids said.
Four participants from diverse backgrounds took part in the course, including a swimming instructor and lifeguard, two scuba instructors (one of whom is a doctor), and a free-diving instructor who is also an air traffic controller.
Ali Ayoub, a certified mermaid diver and scuba instructor from Al-Haddad Scuba, told Arab News: “Saudi Arabia has been undergoing considerable social and cultural transformations, with more emphasis on leisure and recreational activities.
“Initiatives such as the Vision 2030 plan aim to diversify the economy and promote tourism, which includes the development of new recreational activities like mermaid diving.”
Ayoub added that mermaid diving requires strong swimming abilities and good physical fitness. “Practice swimming regularly, work on your breath-holding techniques, and consider taking free-diving courses to improve your underwater endurance,” he advised.
He added that mermaid divers can participate in educational programs for schools, community groups, and public events: “They can share information about marine ecosystems, the threats they face, and how individuals can help. Their captivating presence can make learning about these issues more engaging and memorable.”
Wafaa Al-Masry, 22, a Saudi model, took the mermaid diving course under the supervision of coach Ayoub. She told Arab News: “It was a fun and unique experience. Initially, I thought it would be difficult, but with the training and the coach’s guidance, I found it easy and enjoyable.”
She said that breathing techniques, relaxation, and mastering the fin method were new skills she managed differently throughout the mermaid course. “The trainer was excellent in providing instruction, making the experience fun, and delivering valuable information,” she added.
Davids has written a comprehensive guide for those interested in discovering the magic of mermaid diving in Saudi Arabia. The guide provides all the necessary information for new mermaids to stay safe, make informed decisions, and choose the right equipment.
Having trained more than 3,000 divers in the past five years, Al-Haddad Scuba specializes in unique activities such as snorkeling, deep diving and night diving, providing immersive experiences of the vibrant underwater world alongside a community of fellow ocean enthusiasts.
Source: arabnews.com
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2554441/saudi-arabia
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Demand for Female Attorneys in Arab Countries Growing Exponentially
By Jennifer Andrus
July 22, 2024
“It is our duty to strengthen the role of women in the legal profession, promoting equal opportunities and working to prevent and combat discrimination,” Fatima Mertad, Milan Bar Association, one of the sponsors of a program on Arabic Women in the Law.
In Iraq, record numbers of women are pursing legal careers. Female lawyers are needed to help Iraqi women in family law, estate law and criminal law.
In Saudi Arabia, women make up more than 30% of the student body at law schools. Those numbers have grown exponentially in the last decade, and the kingdom is now recognized as a top reformer among the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
In Turkey, half of the members of the Istanbul Bar Association are women.
“We see a huge focus on demand for women practicing in corporate, commercial banking, project construction, and energy law especially in the United Arab Emirates,” says Raya Abu Gulal, a government and business attorney practicing in the UAE and in Iraq and Oman.
At a New York State Bar Association program on Arabic Women in the Law, speakers provided these statistics to illustrate the increasing acceptance — and demand for — female lawyers in the Middle East and Eurasia. During the three-hour educational seminar, attorneys shared their successes and challenges, while being honest about the dichotomies that make up a complex region. Significant opportunities for advancement exist for educated women while challenges remain for many young women who want to become lawyers. The panelists also highlighted how the perceptions of women working in the Middle East don’t always match the reality.
D.C. to Dubai: Sheila Shadmand
Sheila Shadmand is an American lawyer of Middle Eastern descent. After working for a few years out of law school for Jones Day in Washington, D.C., Shadmand was offered the opportunity to relocate to Dubai in 2008 to open the firm’s new office. She discovered that she was breaking new ground as the first female managing partner of a major international firm in Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
Many friends and colleagues warned her against the venture, saying it wouldn’t be a success because she is a woman working in the Arab world. What she found proved them wrong.
“For most of the Arab men, who are our clients, the fact that I was a woman did not affect at all their view of our firm or my capabilities,” she said. “It was simply a misperception about how Arab women are viewed that exists in the West, less so in the East. We wrongfully paint the entire Middle East as one with whatever rights exist in one place must be the same in another country. Until the West sees these people and cultures independently, we will have a hard time getting over this misperception.”
Trailblazing Interrupted: Fatima Ghalib
Fatima Ghalib, a native of Saudi Arabia, acknowledges that being able to study abroad at Oxford in 1999 was good fortune. Her goal was simple: to return to her homeland to practice law and blaze a trail for women. After attaining the title of professional solicitor of England and Wales, she could not return home to practice law due to restrictions on women in Saudi Arabia at that time. This led her to practice in the UAE.
She continued her work on behalf of women’s rights in the region. One area of concern, Ghalib says, is the need for female representation on the bench and in professional organizations. Despite progress in educating women in law school, Ghalib says, Saudi Arabia still prohibits the appointment of women to the bench.
“Women need representation on bar councils from the top down and bar associations can lead in this area,” she said.
Raya Abu Gulal of R.A.G. Legal Consultancy agrees.
“The underrepresentation of women in the courts and tribunals is an issue; women remain a minority in the courtroom,” she said. “It’s important to amplify the voices of Arab women in the legal profession. We are here and often women in the Middle East are portrayed poorly in the media.”
Reducing Barriers to Female Education and Advancement
While acknowledging career opportunities for educated lawyers to pursue in the region, the experts are mindful of challenges girls face in accessing education in several Middle Eastern cultures.
First, addressing illiteracy among women and girls is key to providing upward mobility for women and their families. According to panelist JoséphineHageChahine, more than half of the adult women in countries such as Egypt, Morocco and Iraq are illiterate.
“This gender gap in education is also reflected in the working world. If women are illiterate, they will not get good jobs,” she said. “In the Middle East, a boy’s education is prioritized while girls are pressured to marry early, which interrupts their education.”
Second are concerns over the safety of girls living in war-torn areas and a shortage of female teachers as additional barriers to education. Lastly, the presence of enormous wealth in oil rich countries dissuades some young women from feeling the need to take on further education and enter a profession.
Chahine encouraged those in attendance to promote awareness of scholarships so that more girls can pursue a legal education.
“A legal education promotes democratic values, freedom of speech and equality before the law, giving women the ability to challenge discrimination, and participate in policy making,” she said. “We must create networking opportunities to bring women together and help them access mentors and resources for their education and advancement.”
Panelists detailed how much work still needed to be done to bring women into partnership roles in Middle East and international firms. Shadmand says newer, younger firms in the UAE can more easily adapt to the changes of modern life, allowing women to advance faster in their careers.
Abu Gulal remarked that some of her best mentors were men and it’s important for those men to advocate for the promotion of women in partnership roles. She also emphasized how bar associations can play a role in helping lawyers recognize unconscious bias and advocate for more family friendly workplace policies for both men and women.
“Let us change the conversation with our trusted male colleagues, dads, and brothers about the role of men at home,” Shadmand said. “If we can encourage them to have more responsibility in the home, it would do a great deal to advance women in the workplace.”
Other sponsors of the program were NYSBA’s Women In Law Section and the Milan Bar Association.
Source: nysba.org
https://nysba.org/demand-for-female-attorneys-in-arab-countries-growing-exponentially/
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Violence against women and girls in UK a ‘national emergency’: police
July 23, 2024
LONDON: Violence against women and girls in England and Wales is a “national emergency” with almost 3,000 offenses recorded daily, police warned in a new report published on Tuesday.
The study, commissioned by two law enforcement bodies, estimates that at least one in every 12 women will be a victim every year, with the exact number expected to be much higher.
“Violence against women and girls is a national emergency,” senior police chief Maggie Blyth said in comments accompanying the report.
The study found that more than one million violent crimes against women and girls were recorded by police in 2022-2023.
They accounted for just under a fifth of all police-recorded crime excluding fraud in England and Wales between April 2022 and March 2023.
The report said violence against women and girls had increased 37 percent between 2018-2019 and last year, with domestic abuse being one of the biggest demands on policing.
One in 20 adults in England and Wales, or 2.3 million people, will be perpetrators of crimes against women and girls annually, the study added.
“These are cautious estimates as we know much crime goes unreported and in policing, we often only see the tip of the iceberg,” Blyth said.
She warned that violence against females in the two countries had “reached epidemic levels” and called for government intervention in the “overwhelmed” criminal justice system.
Child sexual abuse and exploitation offenses meanwhile jumped by 435 percent between 2013 and 2022, the report estimated — from just over 20,000 to nearly 107,000.
Offenders are getting younger, with the average age of a suspect now 15, it said.
The report said stalking and harassment accounted for 85 percent of online-related offenses.
Britain’s interior ministry declared violence against women and girls a national threat to public safety in February last year.
More than 4,500 new officers have been trained to investigate rape and serious sexual offenses over the last year, with the report detailing a 38-percent increase in charges for adult rape from the year ending December 2022 to the year ending December 2023.
Source: arabnews.com
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2554706/world
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