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The Role of Women in the Middle East


Based on your knowledge right now, what do you know about women in the Middle East?
When you see others wearing hijabs, what do you think? Are they unfamiliar? How does it impact your perspective of Arab culture and politics?

 Some strange questions for a Monday night, huh?

 Manal Al-Sharif, one of the most renowned women advocates in the Middle East, ​​draws​ ​upon​ ​existing​ ​gender​ ​inequality​ ​within​ ​Saudi Arabia​ ​on​ ​a​ ​completely​ ​new​ ​level​ ​–​ ​a few years ago, she​ ​unintentionally​ ​sparked​ ​a​ ​women​ ​rights’​ ​social movement​ ​by​ ​posting​ ​a​ ​Youtube​ ​video​ ​of​ ​herself​ ​driving.​ ​As you may know, ​Saudi​ ​Arabia​ ​implements numerous limitations on women, including the right to drive. Although​ ​creating​ ​a​ ​divergence​ ​between​ ​Saudi​ ​Arabian​ ​ruler​ ship and​ ​her​ ​own​ ​personal​ ​freedom,​ ​Manal​ ​Al​ ​Sharif​ ​has become​ ​an​ ​international​ ​icon​ ​in​ ​advertising​ ​the need​ ​for​ ​inner-change​ ​and​ ​international​ ​human​ ​rights.​ ​

 So, how does this have anything to do with our topic regarding terrorism?

 Just recently, The New York Times published an article recounting the events of IS (Islamic State) invading Northern Iraq in 2014. Consequentially, thousands of Yazidi women were kidnapped by the Islamic State, sold into slavery and raped. As just one of the recurring events in the Middle East, the role of women in the Arab world has drawn attention towards gender equality, further calling upon the international community to counter-terrorists policies, and most importantly, advocating for women rights as victims of terrorist organizations.

 Article Link:
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/10/opinion/sunday/yazidis-islamic-state-rape-genocide.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FTerrorism&action=click&contentCollection=timestopics&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=collection

 So.... what do you think? How should the Arab League/UN respond to this? What is your country's position on gender equality?

 BROWNIE POINTS for comments below!

 See y'all soon,
Serena Wang

Comments

  1. AnonymousFebruary 19, 2018 at 4:25 PM

    The Delegate of Morocco is deeply troubled by the unfortunate suffering of the Yazidi women. Such atrocious violations of Human rights must be addressed in the Arab League. Strong action against the perpetrators, the Islamic State, must be taken. However, the nations of the Arab League must first address the issue of gender equality in their own nations.
    The Kingdom of Morocco understands the importance of gender equality and has been in a transition phase to guarantee equal rights and opportunity to all and make itself an open-minded,reformist and tolerant state. The new Constitution, passed in 2011, guarantees equal rights to both men and women. The country’s progressive Family Law secured important rights for Moroccan women, including the right to self-guardianship, the right to divorce, and the right to child custody and a change in the legal marriage age. The criminal code has taken strides against acts of gender based violence, cracking down on non-partner sexual assault and repealing the rape marriage law, which allowed a rapist to evade punishment by marrying his victim.
    Terrorists of the Islamic State fear female soldiers as they believe that if they're killed by a woman, they shall go to hell. Female soldiers have been essential in the in the recapturing of major territories from ISIS. Women play and can continue to play a key role in the fight against the Islamic State. The establishment of gender equality will help make the nations of the Arab League progressive, tolerant and reformist.

    -The Delegate of Morocco.

    P.S. Can't wait for BMUN 2018!

    ReplyDelete

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