Arab Region: The Dignity of Women

The increasing economic poverty in villages outside Ramallah in the West Bank is leading to unexpected changes in gender roles and is challenging the tradition of early marriage. Jane Gabriel has been listening to those involved in making changes on the ground.

Moroccan women won profound changes in their status when the Family law was reformed. Listen now

 

 

 

After three years of constant debate, the Karama movement is finding a common language with which to speak, and a ‘voice' on international platforms. Jane Gabriel spoke to Hibaaq Osman, Karama's founder. Listen now.

Podcast: The reform of the Moroccan Family Code (Mudawana) in 2004 was a watershed in the campaign for women’s rights. The change ushered in a new era in which it was possible to talk openly about such issues as violence against women. But five years on the levels of violence remains unchanged and the Women’s Action Union is now mobilising public opinion in the battle to win more protection for women. In Casablanca recently more than fifteen thousand signatures were collected in a day calling on the city council to build shelters for women and children fleeing family and domestic violence. 

Syrian Women's Rights: "The fight does not stop here, this is not the end of the story". Listen now

 

Also read: Bassam AlKadi - one man's fight to end 'honour killings'.

Iraqi women refugees: surviving in Syria. As the months turn into years, more and more women refugees in Damascus are becoming vulnerable to the human trafficking networks. Listen now

Femicide and Patriarchy in Lebanon:  The Lebanese judiciary has tried sixty six cases of 'honour killing' since 1999 and rejected all of them. Dr Azza Baydoun told Jane Gabriel the story behind the trials. Listen now.

The Lebanese government is about to decide whether to introduce the first ever piece of legislation to protect women from violence in their extended families. Jane Gabriel met the women's organisations and activists who have been campaigning for this law for more than fifteen years. Listen now.

Professor Balghis Badri speaks to Jane Gabriel about the women being empowered in the midst of conflict. Listen now.

Jane Gabriel meets the actors and writers of the Cairo-based Women and Memory forum. Listen now.

Afaf El Sayyad tells Jane Gabriel about living within a Muslim movement in Egypt, what drove her to leave, and how it felt to take off her veil

Hibaaq Osman on dignity and violence in the middle east. Plus: blogging 16 days

Afaf Jabiri talks about taking on the Jordanian government over women's rights. Plus: blogging 16 days

Listen now to Dr Hania Sholkamy on gender and empowerment in Egypt, and the challenge of engaging with global feminism