1. Human Rights – Gender Issues

2. Human Rights Universal Declaration on Human Rights 1948
Established following WWII and ratified by 48 countries of the UN. 8 abstained including Saudi Arabia and USSR
Orientalism? Cultural hegemony?

3. 2016 Saudi Arabia elected to UN human rights council.
Russia is removed

4. How Did this Happen? Lack of competition
Seats are divided into five regional groups
Asian group 4, Eastern Group 2
Only four candidates put forward in the Asia group, Saudi, Iraq, China, Japan
In the Eastern group 3 candidates for 2 seats, Russia, Croatia, Hungary

5. Cairo Declaration on Human Rights
Some Muslim countries and scholars critical of UDHR as it does not account for cultural and religious contexts of non-Western countries
Organisation of the Islamic Conference
Highlights human ‘dignity’ over ‘rights’
guarantees many of the same rights as the UDHR, while reaffirming Islamic law and tradition
no other crimes or punishments than those mentioned in the sharia; corporal punishment capital punishment by stoning or decapitation
Women: own rights to enjoy, duties to perform, financial independence, right to retain name and lineage
right to express opinions freely as long as the principles of Shariah are not violated

6. Human Rights Index Azerbaijan 44.40% Bangladesh 47.20% Egypt 42.67%
Indonesia
29.29%
Iran
36.22%
Iraq
30.42%
Jordan
45.83%
Kazakhstan
47.09%
Libya
36.95%
Pakistan
38.61%
Qatar
47.80%
Saudi Arabia
27.08%
Turkey
47.64%
United Arab Emirates
61.49%
Yemen
41.91%

8. Gender Inequality Index Out of 135
Middle East / North Africa
Asia
Yemen 135
Saudi 131
Iran 127
Turkey 124
Jordon 121
Algeria 120
Qatar 115
UAE 107
Pakistan 134
Indonesia 97
Bangladesh 86
Kazakhstan 31
Other
Azerbaijan 99
Nigeria 110

9. Gender Politics Feminism in the Middle East North Africa
Western conceptions of women’s rights emphasize individual autonomy
Islamic women’s rights advanced, with an emphasis on respect for family, religion, and community
global women’s movement will inevitably ignore and undermine the unique elements of indigenous Middle East feminism which have arisen as a result of history and religion

11. Women’s Dress
No compulsion on dress: Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Turkey
Appropriate dress required, Iran, Saudi
Modest dress expected in the Gulf States

13. Theocracy

14. Saudi Arabia Things Saudi Women Can’t do Drive.
Travel without the consent of a male family member
Marry, without the consent of a guardian
Work, without the consent of a guardian
Appear in public without covering herself in a black abaya
Receive the same amount of inheritance as a man
Work in certain jobs
Mingle with unrelated men in public places such as restaurants
Divorce as easily as a man

15. Sexual Assault
In Saudi Arabia and the Gulf this is particularly problematic
50% of women claim they would not report
Statutory rape is not a crime
Female victims are often punished for being in the company of unrelated men, or charged with adultery in the absence of proof of sexual assault.
Conviction requires either confession of the accused or 4 witnesses.

16. Saudi women can:
- Vote in municipal elections, the kingdom's only polls for public officials (2015)
Sit on the Shura Council, an appointed body which advises cabinet
Hold the most senior corporate executive posts
Work in government administration and an expanding number of private sector areas, including as lawyers

17. IRAN
A record 17 women will become lawmakers in the 290-seat parliament
one more than the number of clerics
Gender inequality index 107th

18. Women Political Representatives Around the World
3% - Lebanon and Papua New Guinea
6% - Nigeria, Thailand, Iran
12% - India, Sierra Leone, Syria
19% - Tajikistan, USA
24% - China, Estonia, Vietnam
29% - UK
44% - Sweden, the Seychelles
49% - Cuba
53% - Bolivia
64% - Rwanda