In This Issue
CONFERENCES & OPPORTUNITIES
Calls for Women's Participation in the Protection of Peace & Security
Forum on Religious Tolerance
In Gaza Strip under Siege, a Conference to not Go Insane!
11th International Forum on Women's Rights and Development
Sustainable Economic Opportunities for Women in the MENA region

NEWS & ARTICLES
CAMPAIGNING ON WOMEN’S RIGHTS 
Joint Open Letter to Authorities on Harassment of Women Human Rights Defenders in Iran
Regional Campaign For Full Women’s Rights in Bahrain – CEDAW
The Global Campaign to Stop Killing and Stoning Women!

GENDER, CULTURE & RELIGION
Court Defends Headscarf Ruling in Turkey
Fatwas in Egypt Say Wives May hit Back in Self-defense
For Gaza War Widows, Hamas Recruits Army of Husbands
France- French Muslims Find Haven in Catholic Schools
'Indecent Outfits' Lead to Cancellation of Women's Match in Bahrain
Moroccan Ulemas Denounce Fatwa Authorizing Underage Marriage
Samia Smets Acquited in Algeria
The Orthodox Jewish Haredi Sect Has Launched a Campaign Against the Secular Lifestyles of Women in Jerusalem

GENDER & LAW
Bill Proposed for Civil marriage in Israel – Now Marriage only with Religious Designation
Iran's New Penal Code Unfair to Women: Nobel Laureate

GENDER & POLITICS
Chile's Feminist President
Kuwaiti female activists Called for More Judicial Empowerment
Women in USA Picked Up Seats in Statehouses and on Capitol Hill in a Sweeping Election

GENDER AND VIOLENCE
Female deputies Want Penalty for Sexual Assault Doubled in Turkey
UN & EU Experts on Violence Against Women to Visit Turkey
Yemen-Women in Prison

BOOKS & REPORTS
GENDER FEMINISM
Maghreb- Feminist & Gender Studies in North Africa

CONFERENCES & OPPORTUNITIES
Calls for Women's Participation in the Protection of Peace & Security
The UAE has called on the international community to help boost a balanced women's participation in all efforts being made in the making and protection of national peace, security and stability in their communities and regions, as well as in the decision making process, mediation, reconciliation, administration of humanitarian operations, disarmament and reconstruction efforts. For more information

Forum on Religious Tolerance
Catholic and Muslim leaders worked to deflate suspicion between their two faiths, pledging at a high-level seminar here to work together to condemn terrorism, protect religious freedom and fight poverty........The three-day forum took place at the Vatican City brought together nearly 30 Catholic clerics and scholars. For more information

In Gaza Strip Under Siege, a Conference to Not Go Insane!
"Hani Al-Hasayneh was three years old when she died on October 14th after the Israeli Authorities denied her permission to exit the Strip to receive medical care: her organism was unable to produce a protein needed for her brain’s metabolism, and the drug that would cure this condition is not available in Gaza.

11th International Forum on Women's Rights and Development
When people struggle together, what was once unimaginable suddenly becomes possible...
From November 14-17, 2008, at the Cape Town International Convention Center, up to 1,500 women's rights leaders and activists from around the world will converge on Cape Town, South Africa

Sustainable Economic Opportunities for Women in the MENA region
In partnership with WIDE, the SEOW-MENA closing conference in Brussels seeks to inform and share with a pool of selected stakeholders (EU, WIDE platforms, international, regional and local NGOs, media) the methodology, process, outputs, outcomes and learning from the SEOW-MENA project. The project is supported through Euromed.

NEWS & ARTICLES
CAMPAIGNING ON WOMEN’S RIGHTS
Joint Open Letter to Authorities on Harassment of Women Human Rights Defenders in Iran
“We, the undersigned international women’s and human rights organizations, submit this letter to express our deep concern regarding the increasing harassment of women human rights defenders in Iran”. Read more

Regional Campaign For Full Women’s Rights in Bahrain – CEDAW
Fight for Women's Rights Goes Online in Bahrain
A political society and a human rights group have joined hands to encourage people to sign an online petition calling for ratifying in full the Convention on. For more information

The Global Campaign to Stop Killing and Stoning Women!
This campaign was launched in November 2007 and is hosted by Women Living Under Muslim Laws. The Campaign seeks to end the relentless mis-use of culture, tradition and religion to justify violence against women. Read more here

GENDER, CULTURE & RELIGION
Court Defends Headscarf Ruling in Turkey
Turkey's Constitutional Court defended its decision opposing Islamic headscarves at the country's universities. (AKI). Turkey's Constitutional Court on Wednesday defended its decision opposing Islamic headscarves at the country's universities saying it harmed the principles of the republic. Read more

Fatwas in Egypt Say Wives May Hit Back in Self-Defense
Sunni Islam's highest authority has approved a woman's right to fight back if her husband uses violence against her. (AFP) The declaration by Sheikh Abdel Hamid al-Atrash, who heads Al-Azhar University's committee for fatwas or religious rulings, comes after similar rulings by ….
http://www.wluml.org/english/newsfulltxt.shtml?cmd[157]=x-157-562853

For Gaza War Widows, Hamas Recruits Army of Husbands
With the grooms on the left, children danced at a stadium in Gaza this month during a mass wedding celebration for 300 couples, the 10th such event here this year organized by Hamas.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/31/world/middleeast/31gaza.html?_r=1&ref=...

France- French Muslims Find Haven in Catholic Schools
The bright cafeteria of St. Mauront Catholic School is conspicuously quiet: It is Ramadan, and 80 percent of the students are Muslim. When the lunch bell rings, girls and boys stream out past the crucifixes and the large wooden cross in the corridor, heading for Muslim midday prayer.
http://www.wunrn.com/news/2008/10_08/09_29_08/092808_france.htm

'Indecent outfits' Lead to Cancellation of Women's Match in Bahrain
An ominous dressing down from Islamists MPs concerned about "indecent outfits" has forced organisers of an international volleyball tournament to cancel a women's exhibition match.
http://www.wluml.org/english/newsfulltxt.shtml?cmd[157]=x-157-562845

Moroccan Ulemas Denounce Fatwa Authorizing Underage Marriage
Moroccan Islamic scholars strongly rejected Sunday (September 21st) the fatwa authorizing marriage for 9-year-old girls, MAP reported. In a statement, Morocco's High Council of Ulemas "denounce[d] the utilization of religion to legitimize the marriage of nine-year-old girls"
http://www.wunrn.com/news/2008/10_08/09_29_08/092808_morroco.htm

Samia Smets Acquited in Algeria
Samia S., accused of having damaged a Quran and sentenced last September to 10 years imprisonment, was acquitted on 28 October 2008 by the judge of the criminal division of the Court of Biskra. More information

The Orthodox Jewish Haredi Sect Has Launched a Campaign Against the Secular Lifestyles of Women in Jerusalem
An Orthodox Jewish woman heckles women defying a law that they should not pray out loud.
Four months ago in the middle of the night, six men dressed in wide-brimmed black hats, black coats, white shirts and black trousers burst into the Jerusalem apartment of a young Jewish woman and taught her a lesson. Read more

GENDER & LAW
Bill Proposed for Civil Marriage in Israel – Now Marriage only with Religious Designation
Israel makes no provision for civil marriages to be entered into in Israel. However, civilian marriages entered into abroad are recognized. Marriages in Israel are performed under the auspices of the religious authority of the religious community to which couples belong. Wikipedia: Civil marriage in Israel
Read more on WUNRN

Iran's New Penal Code Unfair to Women: Nobel Laureate
Nobel Peace Laureate Shrin Ebadi criticized Iran's new Islamic penal code, saying it remains unfair to women and uses an "incorrect" interpretation of Islam. For more information

GENDER & POLITICS
Chile's Feminist President
It’s over two and a half years since the election of Michelle Bachelet as Chile’s head of state – How has her presidency impacted women’s rights and gender equality? To know more

Kuwaiti Female Activists Called for More Judicial Empowerment
… as pursuant to the policy of their involvement in national development alongside their male peers. For more information

Women in USA Picked Up Seats in Statehouses and on Capitol Hill in a Sweeping Election
In the 111th Congress, women will hold a record 17 percent of seats, and at least 10 new women will serve in the House of Representatives. Aditionally, advocates for women say they anticipate a new era for domestic programs in an Obama administration.

GENDER AND VIOLENCE
Female Deputies Want Penalty for Sexual Assault Doubled in Turkey
Female deputies of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) submitted a proposal on Friday to double penalties for sexual assault, just days after the release of a columnist accused of abusing a 14 year old girl. According to the proposal, if office relationships or hierarchies are used for sexual abuse, those found guilty will be imprisoned for 6 years.

UN & EU Experts on Violence Against Women to Visit Turkey
GENEVA -- In one of the first joint initiatives of its kind, the United Nations human rights expert on violence against women and the European

Yemen-Women in Prison
Oxfam funds the Yemeni Women's Union (YWU) to provide free legal support to poor women in prisons, courts and police stations, through 36 volunteer lawyers, in 5 districts. As a result, 450 female prisoners were released in 2004 and 2005. Read more