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Associated Press, January10, 2005 Gulf Forum Urges
Governments to End Violence against Women DATELINE: MANAMA, Bahrain Human rights organizations and activists on Monday urged governments throughout the Gulf region to take immediate action to combat violence against women in their societies. "All governments must send a strong message to those responsible for violence against women that such violence is a crime and will not be tolerated," said Abdel Salam Sidahmed, Middle East program director for Amnesty International. The regional forum, which brought together more than 60 participants, was organized to discuss ways of halting violence and discrimination toward women in the traditional, male-dominated Islamic nations - some of which have resisted western concepts of the rights of women. The subject is considered taboo in parts of the culturally conservative region. A statement released on Monday called on regional governments to introduce legislation criminalizing "inherent" violence against women in their countries. "Violence against women - whether perpetrated by state or non-state actors - must be criminalized," Sidahmed said in a press release handed to reporters at the end of the two-day forum. The conference recommended that a regional research center be set up to monitor the situation. It should work closely with other institutions that deal with violence against women, the statement said. The conference also appealed to the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council and Yemen to ensure there is no impunity for those responsible for acts of violence against women, provide appropriate housing facilities for battered women, and create hot lines linked to institutions that offer protection to the victims of violence. The recommendations, which will be included in a letter sent to the governments of the GCC nations and Yemen, also urged them to ratify the International Convention to Eliminate All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. Participants said they will pressure authorities to follow up on the recommendations. "We have to push and we will keep pushing for our rights," said Ghada Jamsheer, who heads the Bahrain Social Partnership for Combating Violence Against Women. The conference follows last July's fact-finding mission to the region by Amnesty International. Participants praised Bahrain for its progress in women rights and for hosting the conference. In April, Bahrain's monarch Sheik Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa appointed a woman to the cabinet for the first time. Bahrain has women in its parliament and in senior posts in government ministries. << Associated Press -- 1/10/05 >>
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