A small step for women's rights in UAE

As the debate went on in a recent parliament session about the draft legislation pertaining to the federal housing programme - the Zayed Housing Programme, my fellow parliamentarian (MP) and sister in parliament, seated next to me, looked over at me, and quietly said, just wait and see how they will oppose the clause in this law pertaining to women. By "they", she meant the majority of men and even some women in parliament.

First let me clarify that our parliament doesn't legislate, our parliament reviews draft legislation which comes from the ministries. So draft legislation is sent from the ministry to parliament, then this draft legislation depending on the subject of the legislation is sent to the relevant parliamentary committee. The committee studies the draft, amends clauses, introduces new clauses, and recommends either to accept or reject the draft law. The committee's proposal on the draft legislation is then presented in parliament for parliament to debate and take a final decision.

So my fellow Member of Parliament (MP) was referring to a clause in this draft legislation, a clause which said that an Emirati woman married to a non-Emirati man is eligible for government housing, only if her husband is incapable of providing a house for her, and only if her children have UAE citizenship and are residing in the UAE.

The parliament committee had amended this clause, by removing the condition of the children possessing UAE citizenship. This was done because the existing citizenship laws, don't make it simple or straightforward for the children of an Emirati woman married to a non-Emirati man to gain Emirati citizenship, which is no justification for not allowing an Emirati woman access to housing.

So as the law was being debated, my fellow MP and I agreed that we knew the clause would vehemently be opposed by many of our fellow MPs, and we would have to fight for it. Even if we couldn't make it pass, we would not stay silent.

As predicted, when the debate reached that specific clause, in unison a large number of our fellow male MPs raised their hands, requesting the floor to speak. I also raised my hand.

A fellow male MP got up and said that this was a dangerous proposal, and the clause must remain as it came from the ministry and not from the committee.

Then I was given the chance to speak. I said, to deprive an Emirati woman of the right to government housing, because she chose to marry a non-Emirati man, or because her children do not have Emirati citizenship, is an unjust principle. And that we must remember and take hold of a key principle in our constitution, which states the equality of all UAE nationals regardless of gender.

I also said we as women are not even asking for equality, we are asking for justice, because the clause proposed does not give an Emirati woman the rights of an Emirati man, it places conditions which it does not place on an Emirati man. All we were asking is to make this law fair, by not including the clause of citizenship for an Emirati woman's children, as the citizenship laws require development and should not be used to deprive women of the rights of citizenship.

The debate raged on as other MPs stood up to express their point of view on the issue. We really didn't think this clause would pass. But the Minister of Public Works, Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, supported the proposal vocally, as did the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr Anwar Gargash, and some of our fellow male MPs also did, and it was passed.

It was a victory. It was a proud moment. I knew that because of what we did, some day some Emirati woman will benefit.

But you had to be there to understand why I write about this, because this is but a small victory. We still have major hurdles, particularly in terms of reforming mindsets; mindsets that honestly believe an Emirati woman who marries a non-Emirati man somehow forfeits her right as a citizen. A mindset that applies a hypocritical double standard, judging women so harshly, and not applying any such judgement on an Emirati man who marries a non-Emirati woman, because by virtue of his gender he is above any such judgement.

A mentality that doesn't view a woman as a citizen in her own right, but as a weak being in need of constant guardianship of a male.

The law that we passed in parliament is just the beginning. The road to progress starts by breaking the silence in the face of practices and ideologies which we know are repressive and unjust, it starts by taking a stand, and it starts by creating awareness.

It's a long road ahead, but we are unwavering, and each small victory paves the way for greater justice in the advancement of the rights of Emirati women, until we get to a point where our society sees beyond gender and only weighs the merit of the human being.

Najla Al Awadhi is a member of the Federal National Council.

As one of the few Emirati women married to a non-Emirati, it gives me great pleasure reading this article. Though tiny but progressive democratic steps, women's rights, my rights and the rights of my future family are being taken into consideration.
Maitha
London,UK
Posted: April 03, 2009, 16:12

It is a very good article. I salute her for fighting for the right f every emirati women in this country. Equality is very important in our existance. I know that women can never be equal to men but there are some aspect in life that considerations need to be allowed. Good work...
Madie
Al Ain,UAE
Posted: April 03, 2009, 12:13

I think every government needs to recognize and honor the women of the world.Today's women are very bold and we should work as a team in getting justice for ourselves and the rest of the women folk who are yet to come forward due to their introvert nature. We have to guide them accordingly, thus providing them the courage to face these situations boldly.I would suggest you have one particular emirati filmmaker cover this issue.
Khunu
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 03, 2009, 10:53