Middle East

Citation:

Nawid, Senzil. 2007. “Afghan Women Under Marxism.” In From Patriarchy to Empowerment: Women’s Participation, Movements, and Rights in the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia, edited by Valentine M. Moghadam, 58–72. Syracuse: Syracuse University Press.

Author: Senzil Nawid

Topics: Gender, Women, Governance, Political Participation Regions: Asia, Middle East, South Asia Countries: Afghanistan

Year: 2007

Citation:

Amawi, Abla. 2007. “Against All Odds : Women Candidates in Jordan’s 1997 Elections.” In From Patriarchy to Empowerment: Women’s Participation, Movements, and Rights in the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia, edited by Valentine M. Moghadam, 40–57. Syracuse: Syracuse University Press.

Author: Abla Amawi

Topics: Gender, Women, Governance, Elections Regions: MENA, Asia, Middle East Countries: Jordan

Year: 2007

Citation:

Gerner, Deborah J. 2007. “Mobilizing Women for Nationalist Agendas: Palestinian Women, Civil Society, and the State-Building Process.” In From Patriarchy to Empowerment: Women’s Participation, Movements, and Rights in the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia, edited by Valentine M. Moghadam, 17–39. New York: Syracuse University Press.

Author: Deborah J. Gerner

Topics: Civil Society, Gender, Women, Nationalism, NGOs Regions: MENA, Asia, Middle East Countries: Palestine / Occupied Palestinian Territories

Year: 2007

Citation:

Zawati, Hilmi M. 2007. “Impunity or Immunity: Wartime Male Rape and Sexual Torture as a Crime against Humanity.” Torture: Quarterly Journal on Rehabilitation of Torture Victims and Prevention of Torture 17 (1): 27–47.

Author: Hilmi M. Zawati

Abstract:

This paper seeks to analyze the phenomenon of wartime rape and sexual torture of Croatian and Iraqi men and to explore the avenues for its prosecution under international humanitarian and human rights law. Male rape, in time of war, is predominantly an assertion of power and aggression rather than an attempt on the part of the perpetrator to satisfy sexual desire. The effect of such a horrible attack is to damage the victim's psyche, rob him of his pride, and intimidate him. In Bosnia- Herzegovina, Croatia, and Iraq, therefore, male rape and sexual torture has been used as a weapon of war with dire consequences for the victim's mental, physical, and sexual health. Testimonies collected at the Medical Centre for Human Rights in Zagreb and reports received from Iraq make it clear that prisoners in these conflicts have been exposed to sexual humiliation, as well as to systematic and systemic sexual torture. This paper calls upon the international community to combat the culture of impunity in both dictator-ruled and democratic countries by bringing the crime of wartime rape into the international arena, and by removing all barriers to justice facing the victims. Moreover, it emphasizes the fact that wartime rape is the ultimate humiliation that can be inflicted on a human being, and it must be regarded as one of the most grievous crimes against humanity. The international community has to consider wartime rape a crime of war and a threat to peace and security. It is in this respect that civilian community associations can fulfill their duties by encouraging victims of male rape to break their silence and address their socio-medical needs, including reparations and rehabilitation.

Keywords: sexual torture, male rape, wartime rape, gender crimes, Croatia, Iraq

Annotation:

Quotes:

"Male rape in times of war is predominantly an assertion of power and aggression rather than an expression of satisfying the perpetrator’s sexual desire." (33)

"When war finally came to an end in the former Yugoslavia, the medical records of health care centres provided evidence of male rape and sexual torture of Croatian and Bosnian Muslim men including castration, genital beatings, and electroshock." (34)

"This paper provides three kinds of potential remedies available for addressing the needs of Croatian and Iraqi wartime male rape victims: legal remedies, remedies within the United Nations system, and psycho-social remedies within civil community associations." (34)

"We should combat the culture of impunity in both dictator-ruled and democratic countries by bringing the crime of wartime rape into the international arena, and by removing all barriers to justice facing the victims. Moreover, we should emphasize the fact that wartime rape is the ultimate humiliation that can be inflicted on a human being, and it must be regarded as one of the most grievous crimes against humanity. The international community has to consider wartime rape a crime of war and a threat to peace and security. It is in this respect that civilian community associations can fulfill their duties by encouraging victims of male rape to break their silence and address their socio-medical needs, including reparations and rehabilitation." (40)

Topics: Armed Conflict, Gender, Men, Gendered Power Relations, Health, Mental Health, Trauma, International Law, International Human Rights, International Humanitarian Law (IHL), Justice, Crimes against Humanity, War Crimes, Military Forces & Armed Groups, Security, Sexual Violence, Rape, SV against Men, Sexuality, Sexual Torture Regions: MENA, Asia, Middle East, Europe, Balkans, Eastern Europe Countries: Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Iraq

Year: 2007

Citation:

Al-Ali, Nadje. 2003. “Gender and Civil Society in the Middle East.” International Feminist Journal of Politics 5 (2): 216–32.

Author: Nadje Al-Ali

Abstract:

This article explores the aims, activities and challenges of women's movements in the Middle East. It demonstrates the similarities among movements, which are related to both the historical emergence of women's movements, and in particular their close affiliation to nationalist struggles, as well as contemporary circumstances such as ambiguous government policies, repression of civil societies and prevailing authoritarian political cultures. This contribution also looks to the specific factors and conditions that shape women's movements in particular countries differently, thereby highlighting the great degree of heterogeneity among women's organizations in the Middle East. An analysis of the actual goals and activities of women's groups in various countries, such as Jordan, Egypt and Palestine reveals that women activists tend to get mobilized around issues related to modernization and development. Issues such as women's rights to education, work and political participation have traditionally been both the accepted demands of women activists as well as part of the discourses of male modernizers and reformers. However, the more sensitive issues of women's reproductive rights and violence against women, for example, have been taken up by only a few women's organizations in recent years. The relationship of women's organizations to the state is key to the analysis of women's movements in the region. Varying levels of dependence and autonomy can be detected not only in the comparison of one country with another but also within given country contexts.

Topics: Civil Society, Feminisms, Gender, Women, Gendered Power Relations, Gender Equality/Inequality, Governance, Nationalism, Rights, Women's Rights Regions: Africa, MENA, North Africa, Asia, Middle East Countries: Egypt, Jordan, Palestine / Occupied Palestinian Territories

Year: 2003

Citation:

Nemeh, Norma. 2010. “Jordanian Women’s Concepts of Human Security.” In The Gender Imperative: Human Security Vs State Security, edited by Betty A. Reardon and Asha Hans, 317–50. New York: Routledge.

Author: Norma Nemeh

Topics: Armed Conflict, Feminisms, Gender, Women, Gendered Power Relations, Patriarchy, Gender Equality/Inequality, Security, Human Security Regions: MENA, Asia, Middle East Countries: Jordan

Year: 2010

Citation:

Gershuni, Rochelle. 2004. “Trafficking in Persons for the Purpose of Prostitution: The Israeli Experience.” Mediterranean Quarterly 15 (4): 133-46.

Author: Rochelle Gershuni

Topics: Gender, Trafficking, Human Trafficking, Sex Trafficking Regions: MENA, Asia, Middle East Countries: Israel

Year: 2004

Citation:

Cervenak, Christine M. 1994. “Promoting Inequality: Gender-Based Discrimination in UNRWA’s Approach to Palestine Refugee Status.” Human Rights Quarterly 16 (2): 300-74.

Author: Christine M. Cervenak

Abstract:

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), an influential body with the power to regulate access to health and social services, has established a patrilineal model for establishing refugee status. Palestinian refugee women who marry non-refugees may maintain their status, but their children cannot be considered as refugees and all family members are ineligible for most UNRWA benefits. In contrast, refugee men who marry non-refugees may pass on refugee status to their children and the family is eligible for UNRWA services, even if they are not needed. In addition to medical and social welfare benefits, UNRWA refugee status confers the right to residence in Lebanon which is not available to stateless Palestinians. Of concern is the perpetuation of gender discrimination if the UNRWA definition of Palestinian refugees forms the basis of a comprehensive peace settlement. Moreover, there are legal concerns as to whether UNRWA's standard violates international human rights codes, including those established by the UN. UNRWA apparently justifies its gender discrimination on the basis of the assumption that refugee women married to non-refugee men will follow their husbands; as in Arab culture, the system is structured around the male head of the family. The emerging Palestinian women's movement is espousing an alternate model based on the ideals of gender equality outlined in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women adopted by the UN in 1979. The UNRWA has justified its standard on the grounds of budgetary limitations. More appropriate would be restrictions on assistance to those who are not in need and an extension of services to non-refugees without other sources of access to essential services. Attention to UNRWA's discriminatory policies is essential at this time since the infrastructure of the future Palestinian state is being developed.

Topics: Displacement & Migration, Refugees, Gender, Women, Gendered Power Relations, Gender Equality/Inequality, Humanitarian Assistance, International Organizations Regions: MENA, Asia, Middle East Countries: Palestine / Occupied Palestinian Territories

Year: 1994

Citation:

Rostami-Povey, Elaheh. 2001. “Feminist Contestations of Institutional Domains in Iran.” Feminist Review 69 (1): 44-72.

Author: Elaheh Rostami-Povey

Abstract:

Iranian Feminists outside Iran are divided on women's positions in Iran under the Islamic state. Some have argued that the process of Islamization has marginalized women. Others have argued that the dynamic nature of Shari'a interpretation and the debate among religious scholars in Iran have shaped the indigenous forms of feminist consciousness, feminisms and women's involvement in the process of change. This paper, based on field research, is challenging both views. It will be argued that the contradictions of the Islamic state and institutions led to the process of feminist consciousness. In the period 1990-2000, Muslim and secular feminists in Iran have found their own ways of coming together, making demands and pressurizing the State and institutions to reform laws and regulations in favour of women's rights. But women are divided by the nature of their diversity. As their alliance has challenged the limitation of the Islamic state, the breakdown of their alliance (2000-2001), could have a great impact not only on gender relations, but also on the process of democratization and secularization.

Topics: Feminisms, Gender, Women, Religion Regions: MENA, Asia, Middle East Countries: Iran

Year: 2001

Citation:

Elver, Hilal. 2005. “Gender Equality  from a Constitutional Perspective: The Case of Turkey.” In The Gender of Constitutional Jurisprudence, edited by Ruth Rubio-Marín and Beverley Baines, 278–305. New York: Cambridge University Press.

Author: Hilal Elver

Abstract:

Turkey, a bridge connecting Asia and Europe, occupies the geographic border zone between two vastly different regions of the world: the East and the West. This gives Turkey a unique position, as it has cultural, social, and legal characteristics of both regions and tries to achieve the values of both in its current search for identity. This makes it difficult and puzzling to evaluate the status of women in Turkey.

Topics: Gender, Women, Gendered Power Relations, Gender Equality/Inequality, Governance, Constitutions Regions: MENA, Asia, Middle East, Europe, Southern Europe Countries: Turkey

Year: 2005