http://news.meedan.net/ Meedan Event | Syrian anti-women’s rights lobby ‘gaining power’ Thursday, September 9, 2010 16:21:52 PDT Meedan en http://news.meedan.net/index.php?page=events&post_id=287028#post-287030 2009-11-26 02:52:58 mikewhills mikewhills 192.168.1.112index.php?page=events&post_id=287028#post-287030 Interestingly, al Kadi says the underlying cause of attempts to reduce freedoms for women is “masculine mentality” in government and a specific strategy of trading off social changes against economic reforms. From The National: “Women’s rights are a bargaining chip. Religious conservatives support changes to the economic system in exchange for moving women’s rights backwards.” Interestingly, al Kadi says the underlying cause of attempts to reduce freedoms for women is “masculine mentality” in government and a specific strategy of trading off social changes against economic reforms. From The National: “Women’s rights are a bargaining chip. Religious conservatives support changes to the economic system in exchange for moving women’s rights backwards.” http://news.meedan.net/index.php?page=events&post_id=287028#post-287031 2009-11-26 02:56:43 mikewhills mikewhills 192.168.1.112index.php?page=events&post_id=287028#post-287031 There’s a good interview with al Kadi on the SWO website. Asked about why he, a man, spends his time fighting for women’s rights, he said: “When you violate women’s rights, restrict their development and treat them as second-class citizens, you create an unstable marital relationship and an unbalanced family. This takes its toll not only on women, but on husbands, children and the whole of society.” There’s a good interview with al Kadi on the SWO website. Asked about why he, a man, spends his time fighting for women’s rights, he said: “When you violate women’s rights, restrict their development and treat them as second-class citizens, you create an unstable marital relationship and an unbalanced family. This takes its toll not only on women, but on husbands, children and the whole of society.” http://news.meedan.net/index.php?page=events&post_id=287028#post-287033 2009-11-26 02:59:09 mikewhills mikewhills 192.168.1.112index.php?page=events&post_id=287028#post-287033 The report from SWO coincides with another report that focuses on Syria by Human Rights Watch. Rather than women’s rights, however, HRW turns its attention to the rights of Kurds in Syria, saying: “Syrian authorities should end their unlawful and unjustified practices of attacking peaceful Kurdish gatherings and detaining Kurdish political and cultural activists.” The report from SWO coincides with another report that focuses on Syria by Human Rights Watch. Rather than women’s rights, however, HRW turns its attention to the rights of Kurds in Syria, saying: “Syrian authorities should end their unlawful and unjustified practices of attacking peaceful Kurdish gatherings and detaining Kurdish political and cultural activists.” http://news.meedan.net/index.php?page=events&post_id=287028#post-287041 2009-11-26 05:45:20 Wessam Wessam 192.168.1.112index.php?page=events&post_id=287028#post-287041 From (Syrian Women Observatory): A number of Syrian government officials have declared, in more than one occasion, their renunciation of the celebration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, claiming that Syria does not suffer from this form of violence at all! While many studies provided by the General Federation of Syrian Women showed that a woman out of every 4 women in Syria faces domestic violence, and they tried to hide these results. These results are merely a glimpse, presented to the ordinary reader, of the real picture which is a lot worse. It is true that Syria has been ahead in paving the way for the rights of women either through the constitution or labor laws and social security laws, or through the integration of women in the workforce and in some decision-making positions. But this is a different Syria that what we see now! More specifically, the Syrian government wants it to be different because it is plotting for taking back all these positive steps and eliminating them, and take Syria back to the dark ages! It is doing so by refusing to give license to many associations working for the elimination of domestic violence, and impeding the work of existing organizations! Also, the government is preventing the Syrian media from tackling the discourse against domestic violence, while manipulating its topics and pushing them towards other directions! From (Syrian Women Observatory): A number of Syrian government officials have declared, in more than one occasion, their renunciation of the celebration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, claiming that Syria does not suffer from this form of violence at all! While many studies provided by the General Federation of Syrian Women showed that a woman out of every 4 women in Syria faces domestic violence, and they tried to hide these results. These results are merely a glimpse, presented to the ordinary reader, of the real picture which is a lot worse. It is true that Syria has been ahead in paving the way for the rights of women either through the constitution or labor laws and social security laws, or through the integration of women in the workforce and in some decision-making positions. But this is a different Syria that what we see now! More specifically, the Syrian government wants it to be different because it is plotting for taking back all these positive steps and eliminating them, and take Syria back to the dark ages! It is doing so by refusing to give license to many associations working for the elimination of domestic violence, and impeding the work of existing organizations! Also, the government is preventing the Syrian media from tackling the discourse against domestic violence, while manipulating its topics and pushing them towards other directions! http://news.meedan.net/index.php?page=events&post_id=287028#post-287042 2009-11-26 07:01:52 Wessam Wessam 192.168.1.112index.php?page=events&post_id=287028#post-287042 The report of Damascus Center for Theoretical and Civil Rights Studies "Syrian Women: Between Reality and Aspiration": The Damascus Center for Theoretical and Civil Rights Studies points to the existing contradiction between legislative acts in the constitution which give women equal rights to men and consider them as Syrian citizens on one hand, and Family Law that is based on Personal Status Law that gives full authority for men over women, and hence, places women in a inferior position, on the other hand. This is one of the most crucial reasons for the injustice against women. The existence of contradicting laws on women impedes their effective participation in building the nation at all levels: political, cultural and economic. Moreover, these contradictions are furthered by the lack of recognition of women's full rights, the economic value of their work, and their ability to perform all roles and tasks, traditionally performed by men, that are required by the nation and the community in its way towards development and progress. The report of Damascus Center for Theoretical and Civil Rights Studies "Syrian Women: Between Reality and Aspiration": The Damascus Center for Theoretical and Civil Rights Studies points to the existing contradiction between legislative acts in the constitution which give women equal rights to men and consider them as Syrian citizens on one hand, and Family Law that is based on Personal Status Law that gives full authority for men over women, and hence, places women in a inferior position, on the other hand. This is one of the most crucial reasons for the injustice against women. The existence of contradicting laws on women impedes their effective participation in building the nation at all levels: political, cultural and economic. Moreover, these contradictions are furthered by the lack of recognition of women's full rights, the economic value of their work, and their ability to perform all roles and tasks, traditionally performed by men, that are required by the nation and the community in its way towards development and progress. http://news.meedan.net/index.php?page=events&post_id=287028#post-287076 2009-11-27 05:17:30 حامد حامد 192.168.1.112index.php?page=events&post_id=287028#post-287076 In our Muslim societies this issue has been a subject of debate since hundered years between two groups. There are those who believe that the Western approach to understanding women's needs is the ideal approach to be adopted; even if it is against nature or Islam. This group does not mind turning their ideas into binding laws backed by governments who see being friends with the West as a way to survive; even though many laws in this area have complicated things and created new problems for society and individuals. However the supporters of these ideas did not keep quite and believe that they are going from one victory to another. This while the citizens are suffering because of theirs dreams that are so disconnected from society. On the other end, there is an intransigent group who deny all rights to women, except those permited by traditions and cutoms even if they are cruel and have nothing to do with Islam or Sharia. A middle position is taken by the moderates whose voice is hardly heard and who have no influence. That is why this account is ill-intentioned, as it is a message to the West to exercise more pressure on Syria or other countries to pass laws, which seem lenient but are a cause of suffering for the Syrian citizens. In our Muslim societies this issue has been a subject of debate since hundered years between two groups. There are those who believe that the Western approach to understanding women's needs is the ideal approach to be adopted; even if it is against nature or Islam. This group does not mind turning their ideas into binding laws backed by governments who see being friends with the West as a way to survive; even though many laws in this area have complicated things and created new problems for society and individuals. However the supporters of these ideas did not keep quite and believe that they are going from one victory to another. This while the citizens are suffering because of theirs dreams that are so disconnected from society. On the other end, there is an intransigent group who deny all rights to women, except those permited by traditions and cutoms even if they are cruel and have nothing to do with Islam or Sharia. A middle position is taken by the moderates whose voice is hardly heard and who have no influence. That is why this account is ill-intentioned, as it is a message to the West to exercise more pressure on Syria or other countries to pass laws, which seem lenient but are a cause of suffering for the Syrian citizens. http://news.meedan.net/index.php?page=events&post_id=287028#post-287106 2009-11-27 13:33:28 layla layla 192.168.1.112index.php?page=events&post_id=287028#post-287106 This is not new either for Syria or the whole Arab World. A Syrian woman cannot, till now, grant her nationality to her children. It is as if she is a second grade. There are thousand of victims of the so called "honour crimes" in Syria. When the much-anticipated law amendment entered into force, it turned out to be useless. I believe that any cooperation between a government and a religious authority is the need to survive (to remain in power). This happens since the dawn of history. It can be dubbed "a diabolic union" with the mere aim of survival. I do not think that nations are more aware of ( their country situation) than governments do. " Nations always imitate their rulers". So there is no hope at the end of the tunnel…. Perhaps there is a glimpse of hope offered by our think tanks and a few of our wise people, if they survive." This is not new either for Syria or the whole Arab World. A Syrian woman cannot, till now, grant her nationality to her children. It is as if she is a second grade. There are thousand of victims of the so called "honour crimes" in Syria. When the much-anticipated law amendment entered into force, it turned out to be useless. I believe that any cooperation between a government and a religious authority is the need to survive (to remain in power). This happens since the dawn of history. It can be dubbed "a diabolic union" with the mere aim of survival. I do not think that nations are more aware of ( their country situation) than governments do. " Nations always imitate their rulers". So there is no hope at the end of the tunnel…. Perhaps there is a glimpse of hope offered by our think tanks and a few of our wise people, if they survive."