Empowerment

قصيدة بقلم رانية قدورة- سورية

بأيام كانت كلها خوف
قتل و خراب و جنون
رحلة حملتني لأرض مش بعيدة
حكمها زمان توت عنخ آمون
لقيت حالي بين شلة صبايا
من كل بلد و من كل لون
الكل غريب و ما بيجمعنا
غير الوجع ببلدنا الحنون
و بلحظة سريعة ما أخدت كتير
اتلفتت حواليا و شفت المضمون

WLUML gears up for WELDD training in Cairo

Cairo will be the setting for WLUML's third transformational feminist leadership workshop (and the second for the Middle East and North Africa region) between the 7th and 14th of December this year. The workshop - part of our Women's Empowerment and Leadership Development for Democratisation programme (WELDD) - will bring together young female activists from around the MENA region.

Women's Rights and Transitions to Democracy: An Annotated Bibliography

This bibliography intends to contribute to the desire for learning and engagement identified by activists in the Middle East and North Africa region when reflecting on the aftermath of fast unfolding transitions in the region. Such transitions, while specific to the context of MENA, are not unique in their occurrences around the world. Experiences and practices of feminists from around the world engaged in similar, even if not identical, struggles towards the democratization of their countries with a gendered lens and a feminist politics constitute an important knowledge bank that activists can draw upon, learn from, and engage with. This resource mapping aims to fill the gap realized in various convenings and conversations of a lack of information sharing and knowledge bridging among feminists across the regions that experienced similar uprisings; particularly along south-south and east-south lines.

La Nigérienne de la semaine : Mme Zeinabou Hadari

Comment souhaitez-vous vous présenter aux internautes de Nigerdiaspora ?

Je suis nigérienne âgée de 55 ans, historienne de formation. Dans la réalité j’ai plus travaillé dans le développement, et cela pendant plus de deux décennies. Je suis mariée, mère de 3 enfants (2 garçons et une fille), grand-mère d’une petite fille âgée de 3 ans. Je suis tante de nombreux neveux et nièces.

Je réside à Niamey où j’ai fait mes études secondaires et passé toute ma carrière professionnelle. Mon village natal est Birni Gaouré , une localité située dans la vallée du « Dallol Bosso» connue sous l’appellation de Boboye. C’est une zone d’échanges, de brassage interculturel et ethnique. Je suis née dans une famille modeste. Aujourd’hui, je partage mon temps entre mes fonctions professionnelles, associatives, sociales et familiales et mes divers centres d’intérêts. Comme toutes les femmes nigériennes de ma catégorie et de mon âge, je joue aisément mes rôles pluriels et assume mes identités multiples, nigérienne, musulmane, je crois aux valeurs universelles de progrès, de paix et de tolérance.

WLUML E-Gazette, 5th Edition

The WLUML E-Gazette is a monthly publication sent out to subscribers which aims to shed light upon the activities of the network as well as important news about women in the Muslim world. The contents of the newsletter include the achievements of several networkers and ICO members, several events and conferences of relevance to the WLUML network, and valuable news pieces. We hope you enjoy this edition of the Gazette!

China: setting the new standard for women in top jobs?

GENDER EQUALITY AND FOOD SECURITY: Women’s Empowerment as a Tool against Hunger

Food security and hunger eradication are among the top priorities on the international agenda today in view of the impact on agricultural productivity of global economic crises, food price spikes, and climate change. The extent to which gender inequalities in general, and the gender gaps in agriculture in particular, thwart attainment of these twin priority goals is a key concern given the vital role of women smallholders in household and community food and nutrition security.

Iran: Nasrin Sotoudeh 'among freed political prisoners'

Iran is reported to have freed at least 11 political prisoners, including noted human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh.

The eight women and three men are said to also include the reformist politician Mohsen Aminzadeh.

The move comes just days before Iran's new President Hassan Rouhani visits New York for the UN General Assembly.

In another development, Mr Rouhani described a recent letter sent to him by US President Barack Obama as "positive and constructive".

In an interview with US broadcaster NBC, he said he had full authority to negotiate a deal over Tehran's controversial uranium enrichment programme with the West.

Untying the Knot - Exploring Early Marriage in Fragile States

Tying the knot: an expression that for most of us evokes happy memories of one of the best days of our lives. However, the fun of planning the wedding and the heady excitement of the first weeks of marriage will not be the experience of 13.5 million girls this year. Instead, fearing threats, and encouraged or coerced into marriage as a means of protection, nearly one-in-three girls in developing countries will marry before the age of 18.

Egypt’s Journalists, Still Under Siege

CAIRO — I LOOKED on, astonished, as a man a few yards away told protesters that he would slaughter me.

He spoke resolutely and enthusiastically, and seemed utterly willing to carry out his promise.

The man, a leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, stood among thousands of stick-waving supporters, their beards long and their faces angry, as they chanted “God is great” and “Down with infidels.” They watched him make the familiar and menacing gesture of tracing his finger across his throat as he said, “We will slaughter Ibrahim Essa.”