Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ABUDHABI3037
2004-09-07 06:39:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:  

UAEG COMMITTED - IN PART - TO ELIMINATE

Tags:  PGOV KWMN TC 
pdf how-to read a cable
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Diana T Fritz 02/05/2007 05:43:08 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results

Cable 
Text: 
 
 
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 03037

SIPDIS
CXABU:
 ACTION: POL
 INFO: PAO RSO AMB DCM P/M ECON
Laser1:
 INFO: PAO

DISSEMINATION: POL
CHARGE: PROG

APPROVED: A/DCM:HOWINDECKER
DRAFTED: POL:RBASSIL
CLEARED: POL:JFMAYBURY

VZCZCADI343
RR RUEHC RUCNDT RUEHZM
DE RUEHAD #3037 2510639
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 070639Z SEP 04
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5800
INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0016
RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 003037 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR DRL, NEA/PI, AND NEA/ARP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KWMN TC
SUBJECT: UAEG COMMITTED - IN PART - TO ELIMINATE
DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN

REF: ABU DHABI 2095

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 003037

SIPDIS

STATE FOR DRL, NEA/PI, AND NEA/ARP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KWMN TC
SUBJECT: UAEG COMMITTED - IN PART - TO ELIMINATE
DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN

REF: ABU DHABI 2095


1. THE UAEG HAS SIGNED THE UN CONVENTION ON THE
ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST
WOMEN (CEDAW),BUT LIKE OTHER ISLAMIC COUNTRIES, THE
UAE WILL NOT ENFORCE PROVISIONS OF THE CONVENTION THAT
CONTRADICT SHARIA' LAW, OR UAE FAMILY LAW AND CUSTOMS.
BY ACCEPTING THE CONVENTION, THE UAE COMMITS ITSELF TO
UNDERTAKE A SERIES OF MEASURES TO END DISCRIMINATION
AGAINST WOMEN, AND TO ESTABLISH TRIBUNALS AND OTHER
PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS TO COMBAT DISCRIMINATION AGAINST
WOMEN.


2. WHILE THIS IS ANOTHER CLEAR INDICATION THAT THE UAEG
INTENDS TO GRADUALLY ELIMINATE DISCRIMINATION AGAINST
WOMEN, THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT PREPARED TO REPLACE
CERTAIN SHARIA' LAW PROVISIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, THEY DO
NOT AGREE WITH PROVISIONS IN THE CONVENTION THAT WOULD
GRANT WOMEN EQUAL RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO THE
NATIONALITY OF THEIR CHILDREN. NOR WILL THEY CONFORM
TO PROPOSALS DEALING WITH ACQUIRING, CHANGING OR
RETAINING A WOMAN'S NATIONALITY. IN ADDITION, THE UAE
WOULD NOT ACCEPT PROVISIONS RELATED TO HOW A WOMEN
ENTERS INTO MARRIAGE, CHOOSES A SPOUSE, RAISES
CHILDREN, ADOPTS CHILDREN, CHOOSES A FAMILY NAME AND A
PROFESSION, AND OWNS OR ADMINISTERS PROPERTY.


3. LOCAL PRESS INTERVIEWED 10 PROMINENT UAE WOMEN IN
THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS. HESSA AL MIDFAA, AN
APPOINTED MEMBER OF THE SHARJAH CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL,
WAS OPTIMISTIC THAT JOINING THE CONVENTION WOULD EXPAND
THE ROLE WOMEN PLAY IN THE SOCIETY AND COULD PAVE THE
WAY FOR A WOMAN TO BE APPOINTED AS A GOVERNMENT
MINISTER. "IT IS A MATTER OF TIME," SHE SAID. WHILE
THE MAJORITY OF THESE WOMEN BELIEVE THAT THE CONVENTION
WOULD REMOVE SOME LEGAL RESTRICTIONS, THEY ALSO FELT
THAT EXTENSIVE DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN STILL
EXISTS. FOR INSTANCE, THEY BELIEVE THAT UAE STILL
CUSTOMS RESTRICT WOMEN'S PARTICIPATION IN ECONOMIC AND
POLITICAL AFFAIRS. SOME WOMEN SAID UAE WOMEN ALREADY
ENJOY THE SAME RIGHTS AS MEN, AND THAT THE UAE
CONSTITUTION GRANTS THEM THESE RIGHTS.

SISON