Dr Aisha Al Mannai, Dean of the Shariah College at Qatar University, speaking at a seminar organised by the National Human Rights Committee, yesterday. Abdul Basit
DOHA: Social customs and traditions, not the Shariah laws have been hindering empowerment of women in the Arab world, a seminar on women’s rights here was told yesterday.
The seminar titled ‘Shariah and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women’ (CEDAW) at La Cigale Hotel was organised by the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC).
Speakers also said that Qatar had not ratified the Convention until now because it has reservations over some articles that are not in conformity with Islamic Shariah.
Addressing the opening session, Mariam Al Attiyah, NHRC’s secretary-general said that there is a need to develop a new culture in the Arab world that empowers women and utilise their creative potential.
“Despite efforts being made internationally and regionally, particularly in the Arab countries, women face legal and social discrimination which deny them even those rights that are given by religion,” said Al Attiyah.
Undeveloped societies give women a limited role in education and workplace as well as limited political and social representation. She stressed that women need to be empowered by law and social change.
Dr Aisha Al Mannai, Dean of the Shariah College at Qatar University said that Shariah laws are not guilty of what has been wrongly attributed to it, with regard to human rights.
“The problem is with social traditions which is responsible for delayed marriages, unjustified divorces, denial of women’s rights in the workplace and making them politically disadvantaged,” said Al Mannai.
She said the international convention- CEDAW- includes some articles that contradict directly or indirectly with Shariah such as the right to illicit sexual relations and legalising abortion.
“The UN is putting pressure on some Arab and Islamic countries to bury their reservations and sign the Convention,” said Al Mannai.
Muataz Abu Shaeer, legal consultant at the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, speaking at a session said Qatar wanted to implement the provisions of the international convention in line with Vision 2030 which aims to achieve human and social development.
“Qatar has identified the articles very precisely about which it has reservations,” he said.
Samar Al Tarauna, a woman legal activist presented a paper on the role of media and civil society organisations in empowering women.
“Still there is a yawning gap between men and women in this region, in terms of social and economic rights. Efforts for empowering women in economic life have faced set back despite their active role in the Arab revolutions,” said Al Tarauna.
She said many of the legislative systems in the Arab countries include articles that enhance discrimination against women.
“Civil society organizations have a big role to play. They can push the governments to sign the international convention, mobilize public opinion in favour of this agreement and review policies related to women’s rights,” said Al Tarauna.
The Peninsula
