Lack of governmental support hinders progress

Dubai: The lack of opportunity to discuss human rights issues with governments has been cited as a major flaw in the progress of civil society movements.

While civil society forums propose and draft suggestions in changing laws to reflect further progress in achieving democratic political and social change in the region, the opportunity to present these proposals is lacking.

Dr Abdul Hussain Shaban, Chairman of the Human Rights Network of Iraq, said: "I spoke to Governments on behalf of all civil society organisations (CSOs) for five minutes only. But this is a good step forward. We must develop our own mechanism; not wait for Governments to address the issues how and when they want.

"Some people's freedoms have been violated. Some of the efforts [to stop this] are not good enough, but we must not give up. We can't look to governments to make the suggested changes - we have to follow up. It is our duty as CSOs not to turn our backs on the issues," he said.

The comments were made on the second day of the Forum for the Future, being held in Dubai from October 14 to 17, which aims to draft proposals for the progress of the civil society movement through the Middle East and North Africa Region.

Civil society organisers also called for a permanent secretariat to co-ordinate the work of their organisations and to provide monitoring aside from that already provided by G8 countries in their supportive role.

Hani Hourani, Director General of Al Urdun Al Jadid centre, Jordan, called for a process similar to the Barcelona Process (Euro-Mediterranean Partnership).

"There is a dire need for G8 countries to continue with the enactment of the commitment that's in their hands," said Al Jadid. "We [civil society organisations] need support both from the G8 and from the US."

Women's rights

A set of seven recommendations have been drafted by CSOs for presentation to regional governments, detailing changes that aim to promote women's empowerment.

Delegates called for studies to be undertaken in order to determine the extent of violence against women and its social impact, which could be carried out in line with the United Nations Secretary General's report on violence.

Discursive suggestions also highlighted the need to ask governments to protect women from violence and provide family planning/contraception as a choice for all women in order to reduce poverty (by reducing the population). This, it was suggested, would consequently allow women to move into senior workplace roles, such as in the field of politics.

An increase in the number of reproductive health centres, giving women the chance to increase years between having children and to choose how many they give birth to, was also indicated as a major recommendation for consideration.

Recommendations for political reform to help empower women:

- Governments should sanction and adopt international treaties relating to women and find a national mechanism to enact treaties on local levels in all countries.

- The establishment of national independent associations for human rights, that will work and endeavour to promote human rights and women's rights in particular.

--Integrate at least two school courses that focus on human rights and women's rights. This should be mandatory, even from elementary school levels, in order to integrate the concepts into children's lives.

--Give more equality in the workplace, to allow high-ranking positions for both sexes, but still give women priority for a role in society/community. Provide jobs for women that are suitable to their situation.

--Change certain rules to make the process of executing and managing businesses easier for women. Help ease the process of managing a business.

--Help women start economic projects and encourage the establishment of their own business. Remove taxes that restrict women in the workplace.

--Encourage the media to show women in more positive light, and show that a woman can work in the economics and business sectors.