Women and Protests in the Middle East

Women have been at the heart of protests all across the Middle East. They continue to march and chant for change and reform and their calls for an end to gender discrimination in all areas of public, political and social life have rippled across the region. They have taken the same risks as men when exposing human rights abuses committed by the state and calling for accountability; as leaders and agents of change in the uprisings they are not exempt from the worst of the violence.  Many women protesters have been harassed, arrested, tortured and otherwise ill-treated in gender-specific ways because they are women, defying convention and exercising their rights to freedom of expression and assembly. 

International Women's Day 

In 2012, as women continue to fight for equal access to public space and to exercise their freedom of expression, they must be fully involved on an equal footing with men in the process of political and human rights reform in the Middle East and North Africa. Women and men must be accorded equal rights to political participation and decision-making, equal rights in law, including in relation to marriage, divorce, child custody and inheritance. Women must have legal protection from gender-based violence, including domestic violence and marital rape, and sexual harassment.

Syria

As the First Lady of Syria, Asma al-Assad has long portrayed herself as a champion of women and children's rights in Syria. For example, in 2007 she sponsored the Women for Peace Cycle ride in a bid to promote women's rights. For the last ten months of bloodshed in Syria, Asma al-Assad has not publically commented on the brutalities committed by the Syrian security forces, but she did appear in a pro-regime rally on 10 January 2012 when President al-Assad made a public speech in which he blamed a foreign conspiracy for trying to destabilise Syria. 

It is time to remind Asma al-Assad that human rights and women's rights are universal and that they should be respected in Syria as well as internationally. 

Saudi Arabia

Protests in the Middle East and North African region have been a catalyst for an increase in calls from women's rights activists in Saudi Arabia. Women are still unable to travel, engage in paid work or higher education, or marry without the permission of a male guardian.

In 2011 women activists re-launched an internet campaign protesting against the ban on women driving and calling on women with international driver's licences to take to the roads from 17 June 2011 onwards. Scores of women supported the campaign and got behind the wheel, many of whom filmed themselves driving and posted it on YouTube. Some were arrested as a result and were made to sign pledges to desist with at least one woman tried and sentenced to ten lashes. The campaign has led to renewed scrutiny of the issue but so far has failed to force an overturn of the ban.

Yemen

As Yemen enters a transition phase, long-standing violations of women's human rights must be addressed. Women in Yemen face systemic discrimination and endemic violence, with devastating consequences for their lives. Their rights are routinely violated because Yemeni laws as well as tribal and customary practices treat them as second class citizens. Women face discrimination in matters of marriage, divorce, inheritance, and child custody – and the state fails to take adequate measures to prevent, investigate and punish domestic violence.

Local NGOs and the National Women's Committee (NWC) have identified 27 discriminatory provisions in Yemeni law that require amendment to ensure conformity with Yemen's international obligations.  

Iran

Iranian women activists have been paying a high price for their peaceful political activities or human rights work. In January 2011, Human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh was convicted of 'propaganda against the system' and 'acting against national security', including membership of the Centre for Human Rights Defenders (CHRD) – an organization set up by the Nobel Peace Laureate Shirin Ebadi. Nasrin Sotoudeh is serving a six-year prison sentence, reduced from 11 years on appeal. She has denied all charges against her, including membership of the CHRD. Before her arrest on 4 September 2010, Nasrin Sotoudeh had been warned to stop representing Shirin Ebadi or face reprisals. Nasrin Sotoudeh was held in solitary confinement at Tehran's notorious Evin Prison for at least two months after her arrest in September 2010. She has also been banned from working as a lawyer for 10 years.