Pictures of Women Support for Aboul Fotouh Rallies in Cairo

Afghan woman pushes for rights from behind the wheel

The morning after the Taliban fell Shakila Naderi shed her head-to-toe burqa, sat behind the wheel of a car for the first time and asked her husband to teach her how to drive.

Now Kabul's only female driving instructor, she teaches women a rare skill that confronts harsh opposition in ultra-conservative, Muslim Afghanistan.

"It bothers men when women drive," Naderi, 45, said from behind her desk in her four-room driving school near Kabul's city centre, decorated with traffic signs and instructions in her native Dari.

"But I wasn't scared of them then and I am not scared of them now," she said, adjusting her green headscarf.

Naderi opened the school four years ago with her husband Iqbal Khan, who as a taxi driver took pity on women he saw struggling to find transportation in a country where many will not speak to men other than relatives.

Women have regained rights such as education, voting and work since the removal of the Taliban and their austere rule a decade ago, but they enjoy far less freedom than men.

Women complain of unwanted gazes and physical harassment on the cramped, crowded minibuses that are often the only method of urban public transport.

When Naderi Driving School opened, Naderi received verbal threats from the more conservative sectors of society, who decry driving as un-Islamic for women. Those have died down, she says, but male drivers often taunt her and try to chase her car off the road, sometimes causing her to swerve dangerously.

Families also bar daughters from driving, fearing it could lead them astray. Naderi's own two daughters have been prohibited by their husbands' families from learning to drive.

TAKING CONTROL OF ONE'S LIFE

A white headscarf wrapped around her wrinkled face, student Khanum Gul Obedi, 46, says she wants to take control of her life.

The mother of two teen daughters has a disabled husband and cannot afford to take taxis with fares of 300 Afghani per ride. She walks for hours around Kabul every day dropping her kids off at school and buying food.

"I never opened a book in my life besides the holy Koran, I never entered through the doors of a school," said Obedi, who is illiterate like most Afghan women.

"I got married and felt imprisoned, but now I can control things and I feel like I've been set free."

The school once mustered only one to five students for a 36-day course, a precursor to applying for a licence.

Classes now number up to 80, and some students travel from nearby provinces. In a room filled with car parts and smeared with grease, Naderi also teaches women how to deal with breakdowns.

Naderi and her husband must read out driving manuals to students in a country where more than 80 percent of women cannot read or write, an illiteracy rate double that of men.

Their work has paid off.

Kabul issued a record 312 driving licences to women last year, the traffic department said. Herat in the west and Mazar-e-Sharif in the north gave out 64 and 48 respectively to women taught mainly by other women but also by some men.

The government backs Naderi's school and has encouraged female employees to attend. But the couple's ads on billboards are often defaced or torn down.

"Boys tease me because I want to drive," said college graduate Mersal Nawabi, 21. "But I am encouraged by my brothers and father."

Student Obedi says she would never take driving lessons from a man. "This is Afghanistan. People talk and by having a woman instructor gossip is kept to a minimum".

As Naderi leaves her school and walks towards her car, a group of men nearby scream: "Hey you! We can drive too".

"I react to them as men would," she says with a grimace.

"Once I got out of my car, yelled back and slapped one so hard he bled. Then I got back into the car to teach the girls".

Libyan women hope for gains in elections

Tripoli, Libya - Buoyed by the winds of change sweeping the region, Libyan women are eyeing a far greater role for themselves after next month's national assembly elections.

The June 19 poll - the first since the fall of dictator Muammar Gaddafi - will see the country electing 200 candidates to the body that will draft the country's constitution.

Recent polls in neighbouring Egypt and Tunisia have had mixed results for women, and the lessons are not lost on their Libyan counterparts.

In Egypt, parliamentary elections saw less than two per cent of the seats go to women - eight seats, compared to the 64 guaranteed to them by law. It was somewhat better in Tunisia, with 49 women getting elected.

Halloum al-Fallah, an independent candidate hopeful from the eastern city of Benghazi, said Libyan women are taking lessons from the Arab Spring in terms of how to fight for their place in politics.

"We are learning from the mistakes in Egypt and Tunisia, but also learning from what other countries are doing well," said Fallah.

'New journey'

New election rules for the 200 seats up for grabs have reserved 80 seats for parties and 120 for independents.

The candidate list submitted by political parties must contain an equal number of men and women - 40 seats for each - meaning that women could make up at least 20 per cent of the assembly.

There are no limits as to how many women can run as independents, so what will come of the 120 seats is also uncertain.

"The problem right now is that there is no flow of information, not even about how many women have applied to be candidates. We don't have a system of information sharing, or who is doing what, where they are. All we know is that there are positive indications that there are many female candidates," said Farida Allaghi, a rights activist who is coaching potential female candidates on how to debate and present their campaign platforms.

"Even if women don't win, it's the beginning of a new journey for women's political participation."
Party politics

Given that political parties need women on their ballots in order to be eligible for the elections, there is a possibility that parties might approach women who will simply follow the fold rather than push to elevate the status of women in Libya.

"Some political parties will put women on the ballot to get more votes or to be accepted. If I'm elected, I will have to do my bit to motivate them to contribute and to be ambitious," said Salma Ahmed Abu-Zadah, a legal consultant to the military council and potential candidate for Free Democratic Bloc Party, adding that as long as there are women in the assembly, they will work to ensure women's rights are included in the constitution.

"Women's role now is different than it was before, when [Gaddafi] used women to fill seats, to use them for his image... contributing to his regime."

Women rush to question election official Abdulla Fortia after he speaks about the rules for the  polls

The general vibe among women, many of whom found a new place in the community in the course of the revolution, is one of optimism.

Ayshe Rouemi, who hopes to be a candidate for the United for the Nation party, said that since the revolution, "when the chains and shackles were broken", Libyan women have been confident that they will be included in the country's power structure.

"Political parties are looking for women now and women can refuse their offers if we are not happy with their place - we can insist that they be put on the top of the ballot," said Rouemi.

"Just the idea [of] them looking for women for fear of being rejected without us is a good sign."
The changed circumstances have thrown open new opportunities for many.

Nourah Ali Salem El-Hebashi, from Tarhouna - 100km south of Tripoli - applied to run as an independent candidate.

"I am the only person to be nominated to be a candidate from my community - they encouraged me to run," said Hebashi.

Lingering doubts

There are concerns, however, that a single party, possibly the Muslim Brotherhood, will execute a power-grab as in Egypt, sidelining women.

"In Libya, the only way you're going to get rights is through religion," said Alaa Murabit, the founder of the Voice of Libyan Women, a women's empowerment and development NGO in Libya.

Murabit's is one of the groups helping women realise their political aspirations by organising events that include workshops with female politicians from other countries as speakers.

One of the Libyan women on the list of speakers of the group's event earlier this week was Majda Fallah, a member of the Libyan Muslim Brotherhood's shura council and head of the department of combating diabetes and obesity at the national centre for disease control.

"We want women to participate, and for her participation in a political party to be a real one and a true one, and not to just as a picture, so to speak, or someone who has no effective role," said Fallah.

"The right understanding of Islam was absent for a while and we want to revive the right understanding of Islam - that women have the right to participate in aspects of life."

Murabit said Fallah's message was very important as it countered the idea that Muslim women getting involved in politics risked "all hellfire".

Challenges

Fouad Hamdan, who is coaching some of the women who have applied for candidacy on how to effectively campaign, said he believes the women have what it takes to win.

"All of these women up there, they can do… and just for your information all of them [the potential ones attending his workshop] have been asked by men to become candidates… because Libyan men are not so retarded as many think they are. On the contrary, they are much more relaxed and open about women taking such a position in society."

He said that there are exceptions, and that women will no doubt face some challenges in Libya, which is "a conservative society after all".

"Let me start with the challenges all of them will have, men and women, because that's the main problem. None of them in this country has political experience, experience in speaking to the media, experience in debating, discussing and listening without freaking out and becoming emotional," said Hamdan.

"It is basically starting from zero… it's learning by suffering, but you know, I envy them. It's so beautiful. It's so pure."

Empowering women: Kingdom leads the way

Women teachers retire early to escape pressures of change

10 Saudi women take fight against breast cancer to Mount Eve...

Al-Aama: I expect more women leaders and decision-makers to ...

Women teachers retire early to escape pressures of change

An increasing number of women teachers have applied for early retirement. Some have applied between five up to 10 years before reaching the regular age of retirement. According to a Girls Education Administration’s 2011 report, 96 percent of women teachers want to retire early.

Elham Abdullah, 54, a teacher who applied for early retirement six years before she was eligible for a regular retirement pension, said the reason was mainly work pressures and the change of curriculum. 


“I don’t think a teacher at my age that has been teaching the same subjects and curriculum for long years has the capacity to comprehend the changes that are happening now and succeed in conveying the curriculum content the way she used to. To do this successfully takes effort and research and there are no incentives that encourage an old teacher to overcome difficulties and exert more effort,” she said.

Teacher Fatima Al-Mirghalani, 46, retired early because she “could not cope with the developments in education, especially the changed curriculums.” She said she wanted to be free to start a business. 

“When I applied for early retirement I knew I would be done with the long working hours and exhaustion that I suffered when I was a teacher. I think any teacher that has the courage and some financial capacity to start a business would not hesitate to make the decision to retire. But they should compensate the portion of their pension that they lost by retiring before their regular time.”

Sadiya Al-Muwallad, 48, another early retired teacher, said the reason for her decision to retire was the desire to take care of her children and home. “I wanted to have time to what I had been to busy for while teaching,” she said.

Al-Muwallad still has 13 years left to complete her service and receive a full pension. “But the fact is that my family needs me. Also, I didn’t have enough energy to continue educating and coping with the new changes in the field,” she said.

Al-Muwallad said she is now living a relaxed life away from the distractions she had before. “Money is not everything. Taking care of my home is way more important. I don’t regret it, actually, I feel reborn,” she said. 
Arwa Al-Bandar, 40, said she applied for early retirement because of the changes in teaching methods and the constant performance evaluations. “It is a very wearying field, especially when you’re getting older.” She said she was unable to keep up with the development researches that the ministry requires. “Lately I felt nervous every time a pupil asked a question. I became unable to convey the curriculum content as I used to.” Because of this, she decided to do without the salary that used to represent a large support.

Azzah Al-Harithi, an educational information supervisor at the Ministry of Education, said that many of the women who retire early have a long experience. She said that many complained about the constant evaluation. “The evaluation is necessary and important for the success of the educational process. Unfortunately, it seems that it has been applied in an environment that was not ready for it yet,” she said, adding that maybe the early retirees thought it would be faster and easier to escape the many extra-curricular activities and classes. 
Munira Al-Masoud, another educational supervisor, said she did not agree that change was the real reason for early retirement. “We compelled teachers, principals and school officials to train for using computers in teaching. 
For instance, they would learn how to put homework on CDs and correct them on the computer. They benefited from the experience and thought it was great, including those who disagreed with the idea of change.” 
Psychology and educational consultant Nizar Ramadan said women might think about early retirement for several reasons. “A woman could have other responsibilities at home that put more pressure on her. Another reason is psychological. 

When a woman reaches her late 30s or 40s, especially when her children have married, she might feel that it is time to rest. She would want to be free for hobbies, to exercise at sport clubs and enjoy her life in general.” 
Some would feel that they have not been fulfilling their duties toward families so they retire early to compensate, he added.

Empowering women: Kingdom leads the way

“I believe strongly in the rights of women. My mother is a woman. My sister is a woman. My daughter is a woman. My wife is a woman,” said Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah in an interview with Barbara Walters on American television station ABC in October 2005.

Saudi women have taken remarkable steps toward successful achievements thanks to King Abdullah’s full support in various areas.

On the occasion of the seventh anniversary of King Abdullah’s accession to throne, Saudi activist for children and women’s rights and member of the National Society of Human’s Rights’ executive board, Suhaila Zain Al-Abideen, said: Following the king’s decision in September 2011 to allow women to become members of the Shoura Council as well as vote and contest the municipal councils, Saudi women have been given a powerful political right.

“Political participation is one of the most significant rights that Saudi women have gained from our beloved king. Saudi women are more successful than ever because our king believed in us and gave us our rights,” she said. “Saudi women have proven they are qualified to hold leading positions and becoming fully involved in both Shoura and municipal councils helps them gain their social, political and civil rights,” she added.

“Saudi women are now lawyers, engineers, scientists and successful businesswoman and we are asking for more. Now that women do not need permission from their male guardians to apply for a job or start a business, we also ask that we be given other benefits that do not need the authorization of our male guardians like going on a scholarship for female students and going to the Saudi courts, where women need to accompanied by male guardians,” said Al-Abideen.

Naila Attar, businesswoman and founder of the Baladi (My Town) initiative calling for women to be able to vote and participate in the municipal council elections, said all Saudi men should follow their king and make him their role model when it comes to wise leadership and empowering women.

“We are living now in the golden age for Saudi women because we are witnessing a huge number of successes among us that has never seen before in the Kingdom,” she said.

“We are looking to be part of the political process in the municipal council and our initiative is to help those women gain experience and education to be decision makers. We have sent a report to the minister of municipal affairs demanding to start a female voluntary committee in municipal councils around the Kingdom to make sure women get the proper awareness, rehabilitation and training,” she added.

Columnist at Al-Watan newspaper and professor of linguistics at King Abdulaziz University’s girls’ college Amira Kashgari said she believes King Abdullah empowered Saudi women in so many different areas.

“This is notably the case in the political arena and there are so many other areas where women have been empowered in the Kingdom in the last seven years intellectually, socially, economically and politically,” she said.
“This political empowerment has transformed women’s ideas of themselves and the social balance in Saudi Arabia. To be part of the Shoura Council and to be able to vote and contest for the municipality councils is a major milestone in Saudi women’s lives because it will not only empower women but society as well,” she added.

“When you empower women, you empower the whole society because it reflects on the economic development of the Kingdom. Women’s participation is a must in all areas,” said Kashgari.

10 Saudi women take fight against breast cancer to Mount Everest

RIYADH: Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan and the Zahra Breast Cancer Association launched a campaign on Tuesday where 10 Saudi women will climb to the Mount Everest base camp in May.

The 10 climbers include Jude Al-Aitani, Asma Al-Sharif, Mashael Alhegelan, Mona Shahab, Noura Bouzo, Raha Al-Moharrak, Lina Almaeena, Samaher Mously, Hatun Madani, Alya Al-Sa’ad, Reema Al-Saud, and Marie Green. They will be accompanied by a filming crew.
The campaign, titled “A Woman's Journey: Destination Mount Everest,” will raise awareness about breast cancer and is being held under the patronage of the Saudi Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education.

Under the banners of Alf Khair (the CSR arm of Alfa International Limited “Harvey Nichols”) and Al-Bidayah Breastfeeding Resource and Women's Awareness Center, Princess Reema is heading the campaign.

Explaining the aims of the campaign, the princess said: “Alf Khair and Al-Bidayah are leading advocates for women's causes in the Kingdom and we want NGOs, schools, universities, activists, the government, and media to be part of this campaign to form a network that not only builds awareness but helps us achieve our vision of having healthier and cancer-free Saudi women. I am honored and proud to lend my voice to this collective group effort.”

The campaign, which was organized by Princess Reema and Dr. Modi Batterjee, highlights awareness on breast cancer prevention through adapting healthy lifestyle habits and staying physically active.
This is based on extensive research published in major scientific journals worldwide indicating that physically active women have a lower risk of developing breast cancer than inactive women.
In a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, investigators found that the amount of activity needed to achieve a 23 percent reduction in risk of breast cancer was roughly equivalent to 3.25 hours of running or 13 hours of walking per week.

Due to the 8,000 cases of breast cancer being discovered annually in Saudi Arabia according to the Saudi Cancer Registry at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, making it the most common type of cancer in Saudi women, this campaign seeks to encourage Saudi women to spread awareness about breast cancer and its early detection.
“The campaign's goals are threefold: Spread awareness, encourage greater participation, and promote healthier lifestyles. The Zahra Breast Cancer Association is privileged that Princess Reema has taken up such a noble cause and we hope this May Saudi women will join us when we climb Mount Everest, and walk for 15 minutes a day in support of the climbers and help spread awareness about this deadly disease,” said campaign spokesperson and breast cancer survivor Ola Abbass Al-Marzouky, who is also general supervisor for Zahra’s Makkah office. Besides promoting exercise, the campaign focuses on early detection, since 50 to 60 percent of cases in Saudi Arabia are diagnosed at a late stage.
Dr. Muna Baslaim, a breast surgeon at King Fahd General Hospital in Jeddah, urges women to have routine checkups. “Breast cancer is on the rise in the Kingdom and early detection can prevent cancer. Women aged 40 and above should have an annual mammogram screening. Women in their 20's and 30's should be aware of their health and how their breasts feel so they can seek medical advice early,” she explained.

Princess Reema and Batterjee were inspired by their previous success in breaking the Guinness World Record on behalf of Zahra in 2010 by forming a human pink ribbon chain in Jeddah.