27 Sep. - 3 Oct. 2001
Issue No.553
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Al-Ahram Weekly Online 27 Sep. - 3 Oct. 2001 Issue No.553 |
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Putting the politics back in gender
Reem Leila reports on efforts to take women's rights to the highest level
Coming together at the invitation of Mrs Suzanne Mubarak, head of the National Council for Women (NCW), 18 delegations from Arab countries, Arab League representatives and the NCW convened recently in the coastal city of Borg Al-Arab. On the agenda of discussions: achievements in the field of women's development, as well as the creation of Arab Women's Organisation (AWO) under the umbrella of the Arab League.
Women's issues are taking centre stage in many institutions throughout the Arab world, and women's pivotal role in society is gaining wider recognition -- at the official level, at least, and among the more educated segments of society. The majority of Arab women, however, must now come to the realisation that their role is crucial -- and take responsibility for shouldering it fully. Arab societies, too, must acknowledge the indispensable tasks women carry out, as part of the labour force and as nurturers on whom the family's survival depends.
According to Farkhonda Hassan, secretary- general of the NCW, while the international community as a whole is paying more attention to women, the road ahead is a long one. Those who take it must face the difficult challenge of scraping away at thick layers of tradition that have kept so many women on the margins of public life for generations. Hassan herself is optimistic, however: "With joint work and open dialogue, exchange of expertise and cooperation in drawing up plans of action, all supported by the will to make a leap forward for our societies, the challenges of the present will be overcome and the future is sure to be bright," she said.
Many traditions in the Arab world still constitute a hindrance to the acceptance of women's involvement in practical life. While the vast majority of women work -- whether or not this work is remunerated officially -- this contribution is rarely acknowledged by society or in statistics. Nor are women encouraged to express their opinions and participate positively in life outside the family sphere. Throughout much of the Arab world, women remain virtually absent from the political and social arenas -- despite the success achieved in some countries, which have adopted legislation and social measures designed to integrate women fully into society.
While Egyptian women often feel that they are alone in fighting for recognition of their rights, Badriya Soliman, consultant to the Sudanese president for the legal affairs, agrees that changing the cultural norms and values deeply embedded in certain traditions is no easy task, and requires time, effort and above all persistence.
Why the emphasis on promoting women's rights? The NCW has done much to bring women into the spotlight of state concern; among its efforts is the Extraordinary Arab Women's Summit (AWO), to be held in Cairo on 11 and 12 November. Clearly, the question of women's participation in development cannot be ignored. Indeed, their role as major contributors to economic, social, and political progress is the reason for the establishment of the AWO.
All the Arab delegations agree on the need for an organisation devoted exclusively to the protection and promotion of women's rights; and because the AWO, while remaining an independent entity, will be under the umbrella of the Arab League, thus ensuring both its institutional representation at the regional level and the recognition by representatives of its specific social and cultural concerns. These representatives are the spouses of Arab leaders (indicating, perhaps, that women at the highest levels of government, whose role was once restricted to that of "first lady," will be taking a more active part in policy decisions), as well as delegates from non- governmental organisations. Members of the AWO will be committed to fulfilling its resolutions and recommendations.
In Egypt, the NCW's current goal is to eradicate women's illiteracy, a task its representatives believe will be complete five years hence. The council has also played a considerable role in amending several articles of the personal status law, and is lobbying for additional changes to legislation. On the personal level, "the complaints department helps women solve the problems facing them. There are also several lawyers working on a pro bono basis," says Hassan.
Other countries have their own strengths, which the AWO will make it possible to share. Tunisia, for instance, has had unique and very successful experience in the field of family planning. According to Fawzi Bou Yehia, of the Tunisian Ministry of Women's Affairs, the family planning programme has reduced the population growth rate "to 0.3 per cent a year. By 2004, we will have reached 0 per cent."
In the United Arab Emirates, female literacy rates are at an all-time high. Ibrahim Al-Abed, member of the Emirates delegation to the AWO and counselor to the UAE's minister of information, revealed: "The ratio of educated women to that of men is 2:1. We are extremely proud of this achievement. Moreover, we will soon have our first female judge."
Common Arab endeavours also have dimensions reaching beyond specific gender concerns. For example, Egypt has provided material support to Palestinian women, "sending LE5.5 million as well as ambulances and medicine to help women and children resist the aggression of the Israeli forces," noted Hassan. Tunisia and Algeria have also organised events of which the proceeds have gone to support Palestinian women.
While equality between men and women is theoretically not subject to debate, and is enshrined in the constitutions of virtually all the Arab nations, women's political participation remains low region-wide. In the absence of such participation, activists believe, women will never be able to impose their concerns on national agendas. Syria, with the highest percentage of female representation in parliament among the Arab countries, boasts a paltry 10,6 per cent. According to Hanaa Kadoura, member of the executive bureau of the Syrian Women's Federation, women's silence within this basic political organism is a principal reason for the persistence of gender inequity. Most efforts to increase women's participation in politics have concentrated on enabling gender equality throughout society, and so "this issue still tends to be perceive as a women's question, rather than an essential human concern. Yet prosperity can only result from people exercising equal rights and obligations. Equality is the safeguard of development and stability, and vital to the survival of democracy," said Kadoura.
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