Law reform

Lebanon debates introducing civil marriage

By: Abdel Rahman Urabi Date of publication 4 February, 2015

Analysis: If Lebanese couples of mixed religious backgrounds decide to marry, then they have to fly to Cyprus to have their union recognised - but perhaps not for much longer.

Sri Lanka: A Democratic Revolution in the Making?

The election of the New Democratic Front is an opportunity to restore democracy and reshape the constitution, and women should play a key role in the socio-political democratic transformation. We suggest how Sri Lanka might reshape its society and institutions after the brutal Rajapaksa regime was ousted in the January elections.

القاهرة للتنمية يطلق أول"ميثاق شرف سياسي"لمرشحات البرلمان المقبل

عقد مركز القاهرة للتنمية وحقوق الإنسان ورشة عمل بشأن المعوقات التى تواجه النساء في عملهن السياسى، وشارك فى الورشة أكثر من 15 مرشحة لانتخابات مجلس النواب المقبل.

IKWRO meet with the Law Society on Sharia

On Tuesday 13th January 2015, women’s rights groups, including Southall Black Sisters, One Law for All, Nari Diganta and the Iranian & Kurdish Women’s Rights Organisation (IKWRO), met with Mark Stobbs, the Law Society’s Director of Legal Policy at the SBS office. Our organisations welcomed the Law Society’s decision to withdraw its guidance on ‘Sharia’ compliant wills that endorsed discrimination against women and children. We also thanked the Law Society for making a public apology. The Law Society showed that it had listened to the voices of BME women’s rights campaigners and other secular organisations that had been alarmed by the original decision.

Saudi Arabia: Release Maysaa Alamoudi and Loujain Alhathloul

December 7th 2014, Via October 26th Driving Campaign

Please share this statement and attached pictures.

October 26th Driving campaign expresses its deep concern for the recent arrests and detention of two women activists who drove their cars to the Eastern border of Albatha'a in Saudi Arabia.

UK: Law Society Withdraws Sharia Succession Principles Practice Note

The press release shown below was issued today by the Law Society in the United Kingdom, announcing their withdrawal of a practice note issuing guidance for writing 'Sharia-compliant' wills.

In a letter to the Lawyers' Secular Society, the Law Society stated:

La CEDEF, un instrument imminent pour mettre fin aux discriminations sexistes

Maimouna Makoar Diouf fait partie du réseau WLUML au Sénégal. Veuillez cliquer ici pour voir l'article original publié sur ajonews.

La Convention sur l’élimination de toutes les formes de discrimination à l’égard des femmes (CEDEF), engage les États signataires qui ont pris l’option d’éliminer toute forme de discrimination à l’égard des femmes, et à favoriser leur plein développement dans les domaines politiques, économiques, sociaux, culturels et civils. Cela passe par la modification des lois et la prise de mesures de divers ordres par les pouvoirs publics de l’Etat partie.

UK: Forced marriage law sends 'powerful message'

A new law in England and Wales making it a criminal offence to force people into marriage sends "a powerful message", campaigners have said.

From today, parents who force their children to marry can be punished by up to seven years in prison.

The Real Story Behind Brunei's Sharia Laws Isn't the One That Gay Rights Groups Are Telling You

Hassanal Bolkiah, the Sultan of Brunei, is a cross between a Bond villain and Pastor Fred Phelps of Westboro Baptist Church. In his oil-rich lair, Bolkiah has devised an evil plot to kill all the gays. At least, that's what the Western press and U.S. LGBT groups are saying. Nine months ago, the Sultan promised to phase in a criminal code based on Syariah — Malay for Sharia, Islamic law. This week, Western gay activists decided that that means "outrageous anti-gay legislation." Enough said.

Yemen law on child brides and FGM offers hope of wider progress