UAE VIEW ON DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 002095 SIPDIS STATE FOR DRL, NEA/PI, AND NEA/ARP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KWMN TC SUBJECT: UAE VIEW 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 THE CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN (CEDAW), ADOPTED IN 1979 BY THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY. ¶2. THE UAE HAS DELAYED SIGNING THE CEDAW, AL-JARMAN 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 TRANSMISSION OF CITIZENSHIP FROM A WOMAN TO HER HUSBAND AND CHILDREN, WHICH CONTRADICTS NATURALIZATION LAWS IN MANY COUNTRIES. AL-JARMAN 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. HE SAID THAT THE UAE CONSIDERS CEDAW IMPORTANT AND FUNDAMENTAL TO 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. ¶4. AL-JARMAN SAID THAT CEDAW "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