WUNRN
ABAAD dialogues with religious leaders to end Gender Based Violence (GBV)
in the Middle East
Regional
Roundtable on “What Roles do Religious Leaders have in ending GBV?”
November 9 & 10,
2012-Beirut, Lebanon
BEIRUT, Lebanon ll Religious leaders
from around the Middle East (Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Jordan and Iraq) convened
to discuss ways of initiating common grounds with
CSOs to end Gender Based Violence (GBV). Muslim and Christian leaders came
together on
November 9 and 10 in a roundtable session organized by ABAAD at the Crowne Plaza
Hotel-Beirut in partnership with “Oxfam Great Britain” and the “Forum for
Development, Culture and Dialogue”.
Discussions highlighted the different forms
of GBV assessed by religious leaders within their practices and communities.
Main forms of violence facing women in societies were identified as domestic
violence, female genital mutilation, mal-application
of Personal Status Codes (custody, Quwama, inheritance, etc…), early/forced marriages, socialization and gender discrimination
against girls, honor killing, sexual harassment in public spaces, sexual
spousal violence among others.
Religious leaders identified many causal
factors behind the prevalence of GBV among their communities. Among these
factors are the lack of education on rights for both women and men, disparity
in the scientific capacities among religious leaders and misconception of
religion teachings. Religious leaders have also agreed that societal systems impose traditional and patriarchal
social norms in the name of religion. This, according to them, is the main
challenge facing them as well as women victims of GBV.
Moreover, the roundtable highlighted how civil society and religious leaders can forge a positive partnership for the future to work together to end GBV. It was agreed on the importance of creating a regional network of religious leaders to fight GBV. More discussion and awareness sessions for religious leaders who work directly with their communities on issues related to women’s rights is considered as an important step to promote women’s rights.
The roundtable concluded with identifying
tangible roles for religious leaders to play in ending GBV. Participating
religious leaders agreed that they have preventive, supportive, therapeutic, as
well as legislative roles.
This roundtable is a statement of potential
partnerships between civil society and religious leaders in addressing one of the grave violations of women rights. Most
importantly, it is an acknowledgement of the
possibilities of reform from within institutions and the desire to work
together, for women in the communities, to
build a society of dignity, equality, and freedom from violence.
More pictures of the roundtable can be found on http://www.flickr.com/photos/abaad_mena/
About ABAAD-Resource Center for Gender Equality
ABAAD is a non-profit,
non-politically affiliated, non-religious civil
association that aims to promote sustainable social and economic development in
the MENA region through equality, protection and empowerment of marginalized
groups, especially women. ABAAD comprises
a dynamic pool of resources, human rights activists, lawyers, consultants,
social workers and researchers that are all dedicated towards achieving gender
equality and women empowerment.
ABAAD envisions a world
in which men and women live as equitable partners and work together to secure better
lives for their future. Women are effectively empowered and participate in
democratic processes that affect their lives and their communities. In this
world there is no violence or discrimination, and women live in freedom,
dignity and inner peace. Women also have fair access to assets and resources
within their communities.
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Contact
Details
ABAAD-Resource Center for Gender Equality
Ms.
Ghida Anani, Director & Founder
Furn Chebbak,
Sector 5, 51 Bustani Street, Najjar Bldg., Ground Floor, P.O.Box: 50-048 Beirut-Lebanon
Tel\Fax: +961
(1) 28 38 20 ; +961 (1) 28 38 21
Email: abaad@abaadmena.org;
ghida.anani@abaadmena.org
Website: www.abaadmena.org