In 2006 there was a lot of activity among women’s rights groups. There have been many calls for gender equality and various countries, according to their ideological affiliations, reacted differently to such demands. In Arab and Muslim countries the debate was strong. Implementation of Islamic rules pertaining to gender equality has no room in some countries.
An important United Nations report called for the eradication of illiteracy among Arab women by the year 2015.
UNICEF’s flagship publication — “The State of the World’s Children 2007” — also examined the status of women around the world. It concluded that an end to gender discrimination would produce the “double dividend” of benefiting women and children, which in turn would have a positive impact on the health and development of societies everywhere.
These two reports are in accordance to the teachings of Islam that stress the need for taking care of women and children.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) emphasized the role of the mother three times more than that of the father. There are many rights afforded by Islam to women that must make Muslim women the world over proud.
Both reports agreed on the importance of protecting women from domestic violence, a phenomenon that impacts a woman’s ability to help her offspring and nourish their mental and physical health.
Undoubtedly, this is very important in bringing up a healthy next-generation. An abused mother who surrenders to her situation will only present to society disturbed and imbalanced children who are only able to express themselves through violence.
The Arab Humanitarian Development Report confirmed that Arab women are in need of guarantees to ensure their protection from physical and emotional abuse.
This was the case because there is still a level of incompetence among people who are responsible for executing justice in the Arab world. They find it very difficult to comprehend and understand the plight of women.
Even though the status of women has progressed in the past few decades, there is still a dark image that covers the lives of many weak and disrespected women.
Honestly, we are bored of official reports that call for equality and reject discrimination against women. We need the UN, UNICEF and other public and private organizations to start doing something to help save many of these women who have been deprived of their rights. Awareness about their plight needs to be increased.
