UAE 'S STANDVIEW ON DISCRIMINATION AGAINST

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 002075 SIPDIS STATE FOR DRL, NEA/PI, AND NEA/ARP E.O. 12958: DECL: N/A TAGS: PGOV KWMN TC SUBJECT: UAE 'S STANDVIEW ON DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN ¶1. THE LATEST EDITION (JUNE 15) OF THE UAE WOMEN'S WEEKLY MAGAZINE "ALMARA'A ALYOUM" INTERVIEWS UAE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS' DIRECTOR FOR LEGAL AFFAIRS, AHMAD AL-JARMAN, ON THE ISSUE OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN AND THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THE UAEG WILL SIGN THETHE JUNE 15 EDITION OF THE UAE WEEKLY WOMEN'S MAGAZINE "ALMARA'A ALYOUM" REPORTS ON A UAE GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL'S VIEWS ABOUT THE CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN (CEDAW),ADOPTED IN 1979 BY THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY. AHMAD AL-JARMEN, THE UAE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS DIRECTOR OF LEGAL AFFAIRS, IS AMONG SEVERAL ARAB OFFICIALS INTERVIEWED FOR THE ARTICLE. AL- JARMEN SAID THAT THE UAE IS CONFRONTED WITH A NUMBER OF OBSTACLES WITH REGARD TO SIGNING CEDAW. HE SAID THAT WOMEN ORGANIZATIONS DO NOT RAISE THE SUBJECT AND DO NOT WISH MFA TO DISCUSS IT EXCEPT WITH HIGHER AUTHORITIES DUE TO THE ISSUE'S SENSITIVITY. HE ADDED THAT THE UN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE IN THE UAE WOULD NOT TALK ABOUT CEDAW UNTIL AFTER IT IS SIGNED2. . ¶2. THE UAE HAS DELAYED SIGNING THE CEDAW, AL-JAERMAN SAID, BECAUSE, LIKE OTHER ARAB ISLAMIC COUNTRIES, THE UAE HAS RESERVATIONS ABOUT CERTAIN CLAUSES IN CEDAW, SUCH AS EQUALITY BETWEEN THE TWO GENDERS IN INHERITANCE MATTERS, CHILD ADOPTION (WHICH IS PROHIBITED BY SHARI'A),AND TRANSMISSIONTTING OF CITIZENSHIP FROM A WOMAEN TO HER HUSBAND AND CHILDREN, WHICH CONTRADICTS NATURALIZATION LAWS IN MANY COUNTRIES. AL- JARMAEN ADDED THAT ADJUSTMENTS WOULD BE NECESSARY WITHIN THE SOCIAL SECURITY, FAMILY LAWS, AND ISLAMIC SHARI'A REGULATIONS, IN ORDER FOR THERE TO BE AGREEMENT. ¶3. ASKED WHETHER THE U.S. SIGNED CEDAW, AL-JERMAN SAID THAT THE U.S. HAD SIGNED BUT NOT RATIFIED IT, SO IT IS STILL NOT BINDING. HE SAID THAT THE UAE CONSIDERS CEDAW VERY IMPORTANT AND FUNDAMENTAL TO FOR HUMAN RIGHTS. HE ADDED THAT THE UAE IS WITNESSING A MAJOR DEVELOPMENT IN THE ROLE OF WOMEN, AND NOTED THAT THE UAE, WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF THE UAE GENERAL WOMEN'S UNION, IS THE FOUNDER OF THE ARAB WOMAN ORGANIZATION IN EGYPT., THROUGH THE UAE GENERAL WOMEN'S UNION. ¶4. AL- JARMAEN SAID THAT CEDAW "THIS AGREEMENT "IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT HUMAN RIGHTS TOOLS, AND THE UAE COMPLETELY SUPPORTS IT. THERE IS A STRONG CALL FROM OUR SIDE TO INCLUDE WOMEN IN THE PUBLIC, ADMINISTRATIVE, AND POLITICAL LIFE, AND THESE FACTORS CONTRIBUTE TO THE NECESSITY OF US BEING MEMBERS OF THIS AGREEMENT." ¶5. AL-JARMAN SAID THAT THE UAE FACES A NUMBER OF OBSTACLES AS IT CONSIDERS WHETHER TO SIGN CEDAW. HE SAID THAT WOMEN'S ORGANIZATIONS HAVE NOT YET RAISED THE SUBJECT WITH MFA, PREFERRING TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE WITH HIGHER AUTHORITIES BECAUSE OF THE ISSUE'S SENSITIVITY. ALBRIGHT