WUNRN
Women's Learning Partnership
Women Claiming Equal Citizenship
Women’s right to equal
citizenship is guaranteed by the majority of Arab constitutions, as well as by
international law. Yet across the
In almost
every country in the MENA and Gulf regions, women who marry men of other
nationalities cannot confer their original nationality to their husbands or
children. Only fathers, not mothers, can confer their nationality to their
children.
Discriminatory laws
denying women equal nationality rights undermine women’s status as equal
citizens in their home countries. Such laws send the message that women do not
enjoy a direct relationship with the state, but must access their citizenship
rights through mediation of a male family member, such as a father or a
husband. Until women in the MENA and Gulf regions are recognized as full
nationals and citizens, they cannot participate fully in public life, nor claim
the other rights to which they are entitled as equal members of their
societies.
The denial of women’s
nationality rights also created real suffering for dual nationality families
living in the woman’s home country. Children and spouses are treated as
foreigners and must obtain costly residence permits. Children are often
excluded from social services such as social security, healthcare and
subsidized or free access to education. In many countries, spouses and children
have limited employment opportunities and are unable to own property. In terms
of psychological impact, many women feel isolated and guilty because they feel
responsible for the difficulties faced by their families, while children suffer
from low self-esteem because of their second-class status.
Goals of the Campaign
The Women’s Learning
Partnership joins with regional partners in the Middle East,
·
Legal reform enabling women to confer their
nationality to their husbands and children without condition
·
Full implementation of reformed nationality
laws and equal access to these laws for all women
·
Recognition of women as equal citizens in
all areas of life