The Charter of Committee to Defend Women's Right in the
"Committee to Defend Women's
Rights in the
We believe that secularism and the
separation of religion from the state are the basic pre-conditions for women’s
liberation in the
We believe in the universality of
women’s rights and consider cultural relativism as a cover to create a
comprehensive social, legal, intellectual, emotional, geographical and civil
apartheid based on distinctions of race, ethnicity, religion and gender. This
complete system of apartheid attacks women’s basic rights and freedom and
justifies savagery and barbarism inflicted on women by Islamic movements and
Islamic governments in the region.
The
major laws and measures that we demand and struggle for are as follows:
1- Abolition of the current Personal
Status Code, replacing it by a secular and egalitarian family law. Laying down
equal rights and obligations for women and men regarding the care and
upbringing of children, control and running of family's finance, inheritance,
choice of residence, housework, divorce and in case of separation custody of
children.
2- Abolition of honor killing laws.
Recognition of honour killing as a grave crime.
3- Putting an end to forced marriages
4- Prohibition
of imposing the Islamic dress code and veil. Freedom of clothing
5- Prohibition
of interference of authorities and family members in the private lives of women
6- Prohibition
of any form of segregation of women and men in public places.
7- Abolition
of any restriction on the right of women to work, travel and choose the place
of residence at will.
8- Equal
political rights for women, rights to vote and to be elected women's rights to
hold any position and office - political, administrative and judicial. Women's
rights to form women organizations and affiliation to political parties without
any restriction. Supporting and encouraging non-governmental women’s rights
groups.
9- secure equality of rights of women
and men in employment, wages, insurance, education and family affairs.
10 -Imposition
of severe penalties on abuse, intimidation and violent treatment of women and
girls in the family.
11- Prohibition
of polygamy
CDWRME- is formed to promote women's
rights and equality in the
Women's rights activists from
Committee to Defend Women's Rights in
the
September 2001
cdwrme@yahoo.co.uk
Tel: + 44(0) 788 4040 835
Fax: + 44(0) 870 831 0204
Web-site: www.middleastwomen.org