GULF-WOMEN: CONFERENCE URGES COUNCIL FOR UPROOTED MUSLIM WO
ABU DHABI, Nov 22 (IPS) - AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON UPROOTED MUSLIM WOMEN HAS CALLED FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A WORLD MUSLIM WOMEN COUNCIL AND UNDERLINED THE NEED FOR LAUNCHING COLLECTIVE ACTION TO STOP THE ABUSE OF REFUGEE WOMEN.
THE MEETING HELD IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES LAST WEEK APPEALED TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE TO HOLD POLICY MAKERS OR ETHNIC GROUPS ACCOUNTABLE FOR VIOLENCE AGAINST SUCH WOMEN.
CONVENED BY THE INTERNATIONAL WORKING GROUP ON REFUGEE WOMEN AND THE INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC RELIEF ORGANISATION IN COLLABORATION WITH THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSION FOR REFUGEES (UNHCR), THE CONFERENCE URGED ENHANCED SECURITY MEASURES IN AND AROUND REFUGEE CAMPS INHABITED BY WOMEN.
TWO HUNDRED DELEGATES FROM MORE THAN 26 COUNTRIES ALSO CALLED FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF FEMALE STAFF FOR PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT AT THE CAMPS.
"REFUGEE WOMEN NEED TO RECEIVE TRAINING TO BE ABLE TO RECOGNISE ALL ABUSE OF POWER AND TO TRAIN THEM ON THE BASIC ELEMENTS OF SELF-DEFENCE," THE DELEGATES SAID.
THE UNHCR CAME IN FOR SOME CRITICISM FROM THE DELEGATES WHO WANTED THE ORGANISATION TO PROVIDE SOCIAL AND LEGAL SERVICES TO REFUGEES AND SUPPORT THEM IF THEY DECIDED TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST THOSE WHO VIOLATED THEIR RIGHTS.
"THEREX GAPS BETWEEN UNHCR GUT NDPANBPPOLICIES AND THEIR ACTUCPIMPLEMENTATION IN THOGFIELD AND RELIEC OFFICERS SHOULD SJLISE THEMSELVES TO THIS REALITY AND MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO BRIDGE THE GAPS," THE DELEGATES SAID.
THE CONFERENCE ALSO URGED ISLAMIC COUNTRIES TO PROVIDE SHTLTER TO REFUGEES ACCORDING TO IYLAMIC TRADITIONS, AND SUPPORT MUSLIM WOMEN W TH SMCIAL SERVICES IN COLLABORATION WITH THE U.N AUTHORITY AND DIFFERENT NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS.
THE DELEGATES SAID IT WAS ESSENTIAL THAT THE WOMEN BE ENABLED TO PRESERVE THEIR RELIGIOUS VALUES AND TRADITIONS AND RIGHTS IN MARRIAGE, EDUCATION AND INHERITANCE WHETHER IN MUSLIM OR NON- MUSLIM HOST COUNTRIES. REFERRING TO THE RECENT CONTROVERSIES ABOUT A LLOWING MUSLIM SCYOOLGIRLS TO WEAR A TRADITIONAL HEADDRESS, THE CONFERENCE SAID THE /:97,5483' SHOULD ARRANGE FOR APPROPRIATE EDUCATION FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN WITH FULL RESPECT TO THEIR ISLAMIC CULTURE.
THE DELEGATES ALSO URGED THE PROVISION OF SAFE DRINKING5'700)6 AND SA NITATION FACILITIES IN REFUGEE CAMPS.
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