IN THIS ISSUE
CONFERENCES & OPPORTUNITIES
International Conference on Women’s Integration in Militaries and Defense Ministers
The 11th AWID International Forum, the Power of Movements

WOMEN’S RIGHTS CAMPAIGNS
Claiming Equal Citizenship: The Campaign for Arab Women’s Right to Nationality
Equality without Reservations Campaign
Anti-Sexual Harassment Group Takes Campaign Directly to the Street

NEWS & ARTICLES
GENDER
GENDER RIGHTS
Muslims in India Design New Marriage Contract
… and Muslim Institute launches Model Muslim Marriage Contract in UK
Five Pakistani Women Allegedly Buried Alive
Iranian Women Successfully Lobby Government to Reform Family Law
… While-on Six-Month Prison Sentences for Four Cyber-Feminists
… and Lawmakers Reject Proposal to Ease Polygamy
New Body to Monitor Domestic Violence in Saudi Arabia
Egyptian Women-Only Beach Offers More Freedom in Dress & Activity
In Hamas’ Gaza, Policewomen Bridge Tradition & Modernity
… and Recently Morocco hails first female district officers
Lebanese Lesbian Jailed in Dubai
National Council for Women in Egypt Proposes New Punishments for Sexual Harassment
Civil group Empowers Women to Better Their Communities

GENDER & POLITICS
Egyptian Women Constituencies Draft Law Sparks Controversy

BOOKS & REPORTS
GENDER RIGHTS
Egypt Voices: Sexual Harassment
International Publication - Muslim World Journal of Human Rights

GENDER & ECONOMY
Abuse & Exploitation of the Domestic Workers

GENDER & EMPLOYMENT 
Palestine-Unprotected Employment in the West Bank & Gaza Strip: Gender Equality & Workers' Rights Perspective

RESOURCES & TRAINING MATERIALS
NGOs AND PROJECTS’ PROFILES
Meem

DONORS PROFILES
International Communications Foundation (ICF)

CONFERENCES & OPPORTUNITIES
International Conference on Women’s Integration in Militaries and Defense Ministers
Israel's Female Soldiers Face Military Inspection
Israel's military has convened its first international conference to highlight women's integration in the last 60 years. But most Israeli combat roles are off limits and activists say there is still room for progress in tackling "inbuilt chauvinism."

The 11th AWID International Forum, the Power of Movements
The 11th AWID International Forum, The Power of Movements, is fast approaching November 12-17 in Cape Town, South Africa.
The Forum will bring together over 1500 women’s rights activists from around the world to participate in four days of plenary speeches, interactive sessions and workshops geared to share strategies, provoke new thinking, and inspire activists who are advancing women’s rights in very challenging contexts. Contact us by October 1st to qualify for the early-bird rate: forum08@awid.org. For more information

WOMEN’S RIGHTS CAMPAIGNS
Claiming Equal Citizenship: The Campaign for Arab Women’s Right to Nationality): Update: Sit-in outside the Cabinet in Lebanon Successful
The one hour sit-in organized by the Nationality Campaign coordinators and activists from CRTD.A on Thursday July 24, 2008 was remarkably successful. Sixty participants gathered outside the Lebanese Cabinet offices to call on the new government to reform the nationality code so women can confer their nationality to their foreign husbands and children. More Information

Equality without Reservations Campaign: Arab Women Campaigning to Eliminate Reservation on CEDAW
The campaign aims to urge Arab countries to withdraw reservations to the international Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), and ratify its Optional Protocol. Please sign the petition.

Anti-Sexual Harassment Group Takes Campaign Directly to the Street
In May 2008, the young staff of Kelmetna monthly magazine launched a campaign to combat sexual harassment. The campaign kicked off in the streets of Cairo, where the problem is most prevalent. Speaking directly to men, the campaign hopes to urge the male population to renounce sexual harassment. The group calls upon men to take an active role in the fight against sexual harassment, stopping the harassers, and treating every woman the way they would like their sister to be treated. Read more

NEWS & ARTICLES
GENDER
GENDER RIGHTS
Muslims in India Design New Marriage Contract
The Muslim marriage contract is meant to stipulate conjugal rights and obligations as well as the approach to divorce and maintenance, but often it contains no more than a nuptial sermon and the names and signatures of the couple…. For more information

… and Muslim Institute launches Model Muslim Marriage Contract in UK
The Muslim Institute, Britain’s foremost Muslim think-tank, is to launch a new standard marriage contract (nikah) for British Muslims wishing to marry under Muslim law. (The Muslim Institute) Read more

Five Pakistani Women Allegedly Buried Alive
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from a remote area of Balochistan province, that five women were buried alive. (AHRC). This crime was carried out allegedly by the younger brother of Mr. Sadiq Umrani, the provincial minister and a prominent leader of the Pakistan People's Party, the ruling party. More information

Iranian Women Successfully Lobby Government to Reform Family Law
The Women Living Under Muslim Laws (WLUML) international solidarity network welcomes the news that Iranian lawmakers have amended a contentious new family law proposal, marking a major victory for Iranian women’s rights activists. (WLUML Networkers)

… While-on Six-Month Prison Sentences for Four Cyber-Feminists
Four women who publish their information on the internet have been given prison sentences. (Reporters without Borders). Reporters Without Borders is outraged by the six-month prison sentences which a Tehran court has passed on four cyber-feminists -on charges of "publishing information against the government" under article 500 of the Islamic criminal code. Read more

… and Lawmakers Reject Proposal to Ease Polygamy
An Iranian parliamentary committee rejected on Monday government amendments to a bill that would have allowed men to take additional wives without permission from their first wife - a proposal that angered women and the country's top judicial official.

New Body to Monitor Domestic Violence in Saudi Arabia
8/09/2008: The Committee of Social Protection has launched a drive to create awareness among health workers about domestic violence and child abuse. (Arab News)

Egyptian Women-Only Beach Offers More Freedom in Dress & Activity
Islamic hymns fade out giving way to Arabic pop music as women remove their veils to reveal bikinis or one-piece swimsuits at a religiously correct beach for women only in Egypt. Read more

In Hamas’ Gaza, Policewomen Bridge Tradition & Modernity
In her year on the vice squad, Lt. Mariam al-Bursh has been on narcotics busts, interrogated male drug dealers and fought off a female assailant with her fists. More information

… and Recently Morocco hails first female district officers
In what is being called a landmark event for gender equality in Morocco, the Royal Institute for Regional Government has granted training course diplomas to women for the first time since its founding in 1965. The 43rd cohort of new caids (district officers) who graduated Monday (July 21st) includes 19 women out of a total of 107. More information

Lebanese Lesbian Jailed in Dubai
AFP has released a news piece about a Lebanese and Bulgarian lesbian couple that have been jailed in Dubai for indecent acts on a public beach.  The news release has been re-printed in many newspapers around the world, bringing lots of damaging publicity to the unfortunate incident. More information

National Council for Women in Egypt Proposes New Punishments for Sexual Harassment
A draft amendment to the Egyptian penal code proposed by the National Council for Women (NCW) introduces a fine for sexual harassment and a minimum of a five-year prison sentence for rape. Proposed by Farkhonda Hassan, the secretary general of the NCW, the draft demands the addition of two clauses stipulating a maximum one-year jail sentence and no more than a LE 1,000 fine for anyone who commits a sexual harassment act by the coercion of subordinates with the aim of receiving sexual favors. For more information

Civil group Empowers Women to Better Their Communities
About 100 women sitting in the large room of the municipality building of Bourjein began answering the question "What are your needs?" posed by Zeina Mezher, the project manager of Women Empowerment Peaceful Action for Security and Stability (WE PASS). Source

GENDER & POLITICS
Egyptian Women Constituencies Draft Law Sparks Controversy
The National Democratic Party is discussing a draft law that would increase the number of constituencies for both the People's Assembly and the Shoura council - limiting these new constituencies to female candidates only. It is currently very difficult for women to compete against men for a seat in the parliament because the percentage of female representation doesn't exceed 1 percent. Some lawmakers, however, deem the draft law discriminatory and unconstitutional.

BOOKS & REPORTS
GENDER RIGHTS
Egypt Voices: Sexual Harassment
Seven Egyptian women talk about their experience of sexual harassment on the streets of Cairo. It is an increasingly common problem, with a recent survey suggesting more than four out of five women have been sexually harassed, while nearly two-thirds of men admitted assaulting women. More information

International Publication - Muslim World Journal of Human Rights
The articles in the new issue of the Muslim World Journal of Human Rights, cover the theme of "The Transnational Muslim World, Human Rights, and the Rights of Women and Sexual Minorities." (MWJHR). Read more

GENDER & ECONOMY
Abuse & Exploitation of the Domestic Workers
Human Rights Watch – Report
Most Deaths Allegedly from Suicides or in Botched Escapes
The high death toll of migrant domestic workers in Lebanon, from unnatural causes, shows the urgent need to improve their working conditions, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch called on the official steering committee tasked with improving the situation of migrant domestic workers in Lebanon to investigate the root causes of these deaths and develop a concrete national strategy to reduce them. More information

GENDER & EMPLOYMENT 
Palestine-Unprotected Employment in the West Bank & Gaza Strip: Gender Equality & Workers' Rights Perspective
The nature of employment is rapidly and dramatically changing around the world, including in Arab States. The increasing flexibility of labour markets at global and local levels has led to a rise of informal employment, self-employment and atypical forms of employment. Read more

RESOURCES & TRAINING MATERIALS
NGOs AND PROJECTS’ PROFILES
Meem
Meem is a community of and for LBTQ women in Lebanon. LBTQ is defined as women who self-identify as lesbian, bisexual, transgender (including male-to-female and female-to-male), queer, in addition to women questioning their sexual orientation. We believe in diversity.

DONORS PROFILES
International Communications Foundation (ICF)
The International Communications Foundation was established in 1988 with a purpose to contribute to harmonious and fruitful development of the world by promoting international communications through studies and grant making in a wide range of areas related to international telecommunications. Their applications are invited through public announcement. Grant-making areas include: Research Grant, Grant for holding International Conferences, Grant for Social-Contribution and Cultural Activities. For more information go to this link.