Session Monday Afternoon on the Arab Spring

U.S. Federation for Middle East Peace – Connecting Continents for Peace

Facilitator, Mrs. Sally Kader

Arab Spring: Voices of Women

Welcome by  Sally – relationship between gender and politics and religion – women refashioning their role, long suppressed under patriarchal regimes. Tunisia – lit a fuse – Tunisia became known as the vanguard - Rising wave of protest. Women felt liberated – able to discuss their ideas – speak to more new audiences then ever before. Significance incredible. Women offered their thoughts during Arab Sring. No one knows better than women, the abuses and suffering. Women’s actions in the name of human rights are part of trend world wide. They put safety on the line – made others realize change has to happen, but it’s not easy. Caretakers of corrupt governments, Women – always non violent. Shameful attach by military , but believ Egypt can become better place. Recent Dec. 20^th many women expressed outrage. Women that were protesting, they were young old, mothers, grandmothers. Directed violence against them. In the court of public opinion, women are winning. No amount of violence can hold Arab Sring down. Enabled ordinary people to challenge status quo. Examples outside prison in Libeia, woman   in Arab Spring turned into gain. Issues of empowerment – inheritance, land, now reachable goals, women long believed to be under utilized. Chanelled into peace. Equal opportunity – to make it happen. Has been a toll on economy – loss of 600,000 jobs in Egypt alone, tourism, any change is good change – in Egypt, Sally met with over 300 organizations – all parts of society.  Illiteracy – unimagina ble – stories now there is hope, all share in this revolution. Sustain what they have started. The Arab Spring stimulated a major mobilization of women. Global  revolutionary movement. We have to change their belief system. Brought women’s voices in direct contact with their government. Wonderful change – sparked way more than ever dreamed of.

Fatiima – Bahrain – 7 children. Teacher –

Optimistic – as a business woman – recognize we hear and see media. Bahrain have contributed much for women, since 1920s, attended schools for women – holding jobs in government, and private sector. 2000 competence raised further ground – national action charter which safeguarded their rights. All citizens equal before the law. Charter gurarantees their rights to participate in election process. Supreme Counsel for women in 2001. Granting of full political rights to vote and run for election. Bahrain have high positions in government. Real and active participation in government positions. 5 Bahrainian women appointed to cultural affairs – College deans, head of banks, head of university, prosecutors, business woman chamber of commerce, ambassador, telecommunications – political participation of women – Charter – 2002 women participated in municipal election – 2006 – women didn’t succeed in gaining seats – women in shura council – women participation from 10% to 15%, to 25% in 2006. Bahraininan women working in private sector – number of working 48.61% participation rate of women in private sector. Have labour unions, 4 unions chaired by women. Supreme Council – SCW – manifest of promoting status of women, chaired by 1^st lady – assume a greater role – ensure rights protected. Training programs, establishing award – first of its kind in Arab world. We know women married to non Bahranian husbands, because of supreme council, children get Bahrainian passport. Challenges – stereotype of women in society, women’s issues not integrated – religious beliefs. Positions of women in organizations. Changing women thru public media, government include women in action plan, qualify women to get into job market. Rural women – have incubator system for business ideas -  supporting each women for 2 years – place to go for idea – get free training, auditing – until business is stable. Huge and practical – 2003 – rural women became business women.

2^nd Speaker from Egypt

Egypt – new face for Egyptian women. Translated – happy to be here to be here for CSW. Will speak on 1. Revolution for democratic human rights. 2.– revolution, how it relates to other revolution of Jan 25, 3. own story and what witnessed.

Begin with – applaud anyone that was arrested – about a year ago, when millions of people in the Arabic world went out on the street to demonstrate. Arabic revolutions followed Tunisia – now the whole Arabic world is changing – Young people – traditional view of Arab women as isolated has changed. Men and women’s unity. Egyptian women participated. The revolution of jan 25^th included women of all classes of Egypt. Families were in the square – facing tear gas and other forms of violence. Resolution brought out women who justice, for social justice. Pushing revolution forward. Made sure peaceful revolution. Women who have to raise a generation with the changes that were happening. Youth looking forward to rights they can hold on to. Millions gathered the square – no violence. After revolution a reconstruction group of National Council of Women. A female candidate running as president – first time – Will it b e beneficial for women? Is revolution lost? Permanent democracy to demand her rights. Transitional stage. They realized a bitter truth, pushed away from decision making positions. No women on constitution committee. Quota dropped – New election – 9 women in the parliament. Not happening get into high position. Almost impossible for women to win – only 2% representation.

Taking back all laws protecting women – claims that these laws were by a corrupt government. Women in Egypt living in fear of uncertain future. Islamist moving up to ruling chair – Prophet says respect the women – Egyptian has had this for a long time – quality of life and rights not up for discussion.

Question – Egypt recognize previous obligations? They have ratifie – human rights. New government, is a transient government – will wait – Role of UN – no one voice that speaks for government.

Question - From Iraq – hearing all the rights, and good story from Bahrain – why a revolution – clarify – what happens a very small part of Bahrain – brainwashed by other countries. Looking for something else. Outside agenda. No day did we close the schools. Media not doing a good job in Bahrain.

Question about medical students – lost rights for university. Medical students not allowed to go back to school. Students kicked out of school – they are back. Great excitement, how are you now?

Question – In Egypt, how are organizations coming together? Noone knows – haven’t police, many problems – There is a problem in Bahrain – see it in social TV – As a woman from the country – 2 sects of Muslims – lived as brothers and sisters, every house, mixed marriage. What to do to the children. Not a religion – who suffering – children. We don’t say sunni or shia – we can solve it internally, walk together. Big parade – all of them walking together. Misinterpreations of men and women – prophet Mohammed and his wife – he supported wives. Nursed sick. Don’t look at  – all equal. Organizations coming together – in Egypt.

Anything the corrupt regime did – everything misunderstood – the president’s wife – seen as her University in 1890 in Egypt and Lebanon. Not because Mrs. Mubarak – not her invention – she took claim for CEDAW etc. and many of the advances of women in Egypt, and now some people turn against the Mubarak government, and what his wife stated she had done, which was not true. It was not her, but the UN’s work, and resolutions.