CONFERENCES & OPPORTUNITIES
Fund for Gender Equality Announces 2010 Grantees in 13 Countries

NEWS & ARTICLES
WOMEN’S RIGHTS CAMPAIGN
UN General Assembly Votes Unanimously to Launch New Agency Called UN Women
The Campaign ‘Reform of the Hijab’ in Iraq
Violence Against Women Monitor - July 2010
A Popular Tribunal for Women’s Citizenship Rights in Lebanon

WOMEN’S RIGHTS ACTIVISM
Majority of Iranians Now Opposed to Compulsory Veiling in Iran
And… a Call to Stop Stoning, End Gender Legal Discrimination
CEDAW Committee - Election of Members
Saudi Women Training to Replace Expats in Jobs
All-Female Car Racing Team in Palestine
Nationality Campaign and Equality without Reservation: in solidarity with Bahraini Women Society

GENDER RIGHTS
Best Hope of Eradicating FGM in Kurdish North Appears to Rest With Muslim Clerics
Issues of Marrying Abroad + Unmarried Saudi Women
Financial Incentive Increases Girls in School in Yemen
ECOSOC UN Review - Gender Equality & Empowerment of Women

GENDER BASED VIOLENCE
Palestine-Gaza - Women Trapped by Blockade, Locked in Dispair
Police Arrest Woman Leader for Praying with Torah at Western Wall – Palestine
Iran: Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani Faces Imminent Death by Stoning
"Female Genital Mutilation Must be Outlawed" in Iraq
Prominent Female Legislator - Conflicting Public Perceptions in Iraq
United States: Octavia Nasr fired from CNN for expressing respect for Ayotallah Fadlallah

BOOKS & REPORTS
GENDER RIGHTS
Cooperatives Benefit Women Worldwide - UN
Women's Economic Opportunity - Index Report
Systemic Global Crisis - Serious Impacts on Women

Data Importance for Development - Gender-Disaggregated Data
Reports on Women’s Political, Economic, and Social Status in Morocco
… and a Project on Status of Women in Middle East & North Africa
UN Study on Status of Women, Religion or Belief, Traditions - Translations

CONFERENCES & OPPORTUNITIES
Fund for Gender Equality Announces 2010 Grantees in 13 Countries
The Fund for Gender Equality today announced grants totalling more than US$27.5 million to recipients in 13 countries, with grant amounts of up to US$3 million each. The Fund for Gender Equality, supported by donations from the Governments of Spain and Norway, is managed by the UN Development Fund for Women, UNIFEM (part of UN Women). The grants fall under the Fund’s Implementation Grant category, which aims to fast track action on national laws and policies to advance gender equality. In December 2009, 27 inaugural Catalytic Grants were also awarded to programmes in 26 countries. For more information please follow the Direct Link to 5-Page List of Fund for Gender Equality 2010 Grant Recipients: http://www.unifem.org/attachments/stories/FGE_ImplementationGrants2010_G...

NEWS & ARTICLES
WOMEN’S RIGHTS CAMPAIGN
UN General Assembly Votes Unanimously to Launch New Agency Called UN Women
Some 65 years after it was founded, and after decades of reports on every species of sex discrimination and its wasteful effects, the United Nations has decided to set up a single, powerful body to promote equality for women around the world. For more information please follow the link http://www.wluml.org/node/6479

The Campaign ‘Reform of the Hijab’ in Iraq
In a new campaign of its kind, created by a group calling itself the ‘Centre of al-Kadamiyya for Civil Society’, in June 2010 the group started a campaign called ‘Reform of the Hijab’. Some activists in Iraq believe that the government has a role in distributing tens of adverts in the streets of the neighbourhood of al-Kadamiyya (North Baghdad), placing them near the military checkpoints that are spread all over the city. Some of these adverts and pictures show uncovered or partly-covered women in such a way as to suggest they are somehow disgusting or ugly. For more information please follow the link http://www.wluml.org/node/6496

Violence Against Women Monitor - July 2010
To read the publication which advocate for women’s rights please follow the link below:
Stop Violence against Women For more information please follow the link to the Website:
http://www.stopvaw.org/

A Popular Tribunal for Women’s Citizenship Rights in Lebanon
The Women’s Right to Nationality Campaign in Lebanon organized March for women’s right to transmit nationality to their spouses and children on June 20th to support Lebanese women’s rights to full citizenship. Around 400 activists, and women married to foreigners and their children from different regions in Lebanon participated in the march.
The March took off at the Sanayeh Garden at 11h and moved towards the Ain el Mraisseh Corniche where the Women Mock Court was held by activists from civil society.
The Judiciary rules in our name, in the name of the Lebanese people. As civil society activists and actors the women’s mock court, we held politicians and decision makers accountable towards women and for upholding equality as stipulated in the Lebanese Constitution. For more information: http://crtda.org.lb/en/content/popular-tribunal-women%E2%80%99s-citizens...

WOMEN’S RIGHTS ACTIVISM
Majority of Iranians Now Opposed to Compulsory Veiling in Iran
As the Islamic Republic of Iran's domestic and international problems multiply -- courtesy of the democratic movement and its own myopic policies -- its myriad factions are shifting blame for the system's cascading ills. One of the pressing concerns, maintenance of the mandatory veil, is not finding many willing enforcers. The problem is compounded by the fact that, in sharp contrast to the early years after the Revolution, the majority of Iranians are now opposed to compulsory veiling of any kind. For more information please follow the link http://www.wluml.org/node/6481

And… a Call to Stop Stoning, End Gender Legal Discrimination
Equality Now is deeply concerned about Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani, an Iranian woman sentenced to death by stoning for adultery. Information received by Equality Now suggests that Ms. Mohammadi-Ashtiani has been sentenced to death by stoning for committing adultery with two men. The verdict is final and could be implemented at any time according to credible sources. Ms. Mohammadi-Ashtiani is said to have been in jail in Tabriz for the past five years. For more information please follow the link http://www.wunrn.com/news/2010/07_10/06_30_10/063010_iran.htm

CEDAW Committee - Election of Members
Election of the members of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women to replace those whose terms are due to expire on 31 December 2010
The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women is composed of 23 experts of high moral standing and competence in the field covered by the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. Nominations for membership on the Committee may be made by States parties to the Convention, in accordance with article 17 of the Convention. The article states that “the experts shall be elected by State parties for a term of four years and shall serve in their personal capacity, consideration being given to equitable geographic distribution and to the representation of the different forms of civilization as well as the principal legal systems”. For more information please follow the link http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/elections2010.htm

Saudi Women Training to Replace Expats in Jobs
Expat women working in the retail, decoration, design, jewelry and fabric sectors will soon be replaced with Saudi women, according to a plan being formulated by the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC) in cooperation with the Ministry of Labor.
This was announced by TVTC Governor Dr. Ali Al-Ghafees during the launch of the Third Career Camp here Wednesday night.For more information please follow the link
http://www.wunrn.com/news/2010/07_10/07_05_10/070510_saudi.htm

All-Female Car Racing Team in Palestine
It's a rare scene in the Middle East. For the first time in Palestinian history, women are racing against men. Marah Zahalka, a race car driver, sits in her car before the race. Zahalka is one of the women participating in the first all-female car racing team known as the Speed Sisters in the West Bank community of Ramallah. For more information please follow the link http://www.foxnews.com/slideshow/world/2010/07/03/palestinian-women-race...

Nationality Campaign and Equality without Reservation: in solidarity with Bahraini Women Society
Both Nationality Campaign and Equality without Reservation Campaign condemned the abuse of activists in the “Bahraini Women Society”, and women married to non-Bahrainis by members of the National Security Agency. On July 9, the Security Agency summoned women activists to investigate with them for coordinating a press meeting between women concerned and Al-Jazeera.
Women’s rights organizations in the two campaigns appealed the Bahraini government to stop such unjustified practices, and to comply with international treaties. It called the government to amend the nationality law, so as to reflect the real values of democracy and equality. For more information: www.crtda.org.lb

GENDER RIGHTS
Best Hope of Eradicating FGM in Kurdish North Appears to Rest With Muslim Clerics
The old Kurdish midwife's hands trembled alongside a bowl that she positions to catch dripping blood. She picked up a razor blade and sliced through a corner of paper, mimicking the ritual cut she has performed at least 500 times, on young girls' genitals. "In the name of God, the most compassionate and merciful," Naksheen Moustafa said. "That's it! It's simple. I have never had a problem with this procedure in all the time I have done it." For more information please follow the link
http://www.wluml.org/node/65026485

Issues of Marrying Abroad + Unmarried Saudi Women
A summer programme is to be launched to educate young Saudis about the risks of entering into marriage abroad, according to Dr Tawfiq Al Suwailam, chairman of the Society for the Welfare of Saudi Families Abroad (Awasir). For more information please follow the link
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/displayarticle.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/201...

Financial Incentive Increases Girls in School in Yemen
A two-year-old government scheme offering financial incentives to parents in the rural areas of two of the country’s poorest governorates to send their daughters to school or to prevent them from dropping out is paying off as girls' enrollment rates have increased by around 9 percent in the targeted schools, according to education officials. The objective of BEDP is to assist Yemen in expanding the provision of quality basic education for all with particular attention on gender equity. For more information please follow the linkhttp://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=89381

ECOSOC UN Review - Gender Equality & Empowerment of Women
Taking action to achieve Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women
The 2010 AMR will turn the spotlight on actions and progress made to achieve the global agenda on women’s issues and to mainstream a gender perspective in all sectors. The Review aims at promoting practical strategies to advance women’s participation as equal partners and beneficiaries of sustainable development, peace and security, governance and human rights. For more information please follow the link http://www.un.org/en/ecosoc/amr/index.shtml

GENDER BASED VIOLENCE
Palestine-Gaza - Women Trapped by Blockade, Locked in Dispair
The women were bleary-eyed, their voices weak, their hands red and calloused. How could they be expected to cook and clean without water or electricity? What could they do in homes that were dark and hot all day? How could they cope with husbands who had not worked for years and children who were angry and aimless? The Palestinians of Gaza, most of them descended from refugees of the 1948 war that created Israel, have lived through decades of conflict and confrontation. For more information please follow the link
http://www.wunrn.com/news/2010/07_10/07_12_10/071210_palestine.htm

Police Arrest Woman Leader for Praying with Torah at Western Wall – Palestine
Anat Hoffman, the Israeli women's prayer group leader, was arrested for holding a Torah scroll in violation of a High Court ruling on prayer at the Western Wall. Jerusalem Police on Monday arrested the leader of the Women of the Wall group for carrying a Torah scroll while praying at the Western Wall, Army Radio reported.
For more information please follow the link http://www.wunrn.com/news/2010/07_10/07_12_10/071210_israel.htm

Iran: Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani Faces Imminent Death by Stoning
Another woman is on the verge of death by “stones” or, in more familiar terms, is awaiting news to confirm or abolish death by stoning. Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani was interrogated in 2006 for the murder of her husband. In the interrogation session, Sakineh confessed to committing adultery with Nasser and Seyyed Ali, the two men responsible for her late husband’s murder. For more information please follow the link http://www.wluml.org/node/6470

"Female Genital Mutilation Must be Outlawed" in Iraq
The dissemination of Human Rights Watch report on 16 June 2010 on FGM and the reaction by activists and NGOs to the report initiated a controversy about the issue. Also, in the last couple of days and on 6 July 2010, the Association of Islamic Clerics in Kurdistan issued a “Fatwa” on FGM in which parents [or guardians] of girls were given the choice of conducting FGM to their girls. Following reactions and pressure on Muslim clerics with respect to the “Fatwa”, the Association of Islamic Cleric in Kurdistan issued a clarification which states “No clear text in Quoran stipulates FGM as a duty or Sunna”… For more information please follow the link http://www.wluml.org/node/6502

Prominent Female Legislator - Conflicting Public Perceptions in Iraq
As Maha al-Douri waits for her second term in parliament, she is caught between conflicting public perceptions - a hero to the poor and oppressed to some, and anti-American Shia hardliner to others.
Based on this year's election results, Douri may be the most popular and powerful woman in Iraqi politics today. She is also a staunch supporter of firebrand cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. Douri openly admits some of her views are considered "radical", but sees no conflict with her progressive, humanitarian ideals. Others disagree. For more information please follow the link
http://www.wunrn.com/news/2010/07_10/07_12_10/071210_iraq.htm

Octavia Nasr fired from CNN for expressing respect for Ayotallah Fadlallah
CNN—a pioneer in global broadcasting and at one time a major force in world journalism —fired twenty year veteran editor Octavia Nasr for a 140 character twitter tweet that expressed “respect” for a highly respected Shi’ite Muslim cleric, Ayotallah Fadlallah. For more information please follow the link http://www.wluml.org/node/6497

BOOKS & REPORTS
GENDER RIGHTS
Cooperatives Benefit Women Worldwide - UN
Women in many countries are being empowered through cooperatives, raising their incomes, becoming more self-reliant and in the process overcoming gender stereotypes, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today.
In a message marking the International Day of Cooperatives, Mr. Ban cited the “egalitarian ethos, participatory decision-making, common ownership and commitment to goals beyond the profit motive” as reasons why business, social and economic cooperatives are expanding opportunities for women around the globe. For more information please follow the link
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=35234&Cr=&Cr1=Women

Women's Economic Opportunity - Index Report
An innovative new report from the Economist Intelligence Unit opens a window on to the economic landscape that women face globally and highlights which countries offer the most and the fewest opportunities.
The Women’s Economic Opportunity Index is a pilot effort to assess the laws, regulations, practices, and attitudes that affect women workers and entrepreneurs. It uses 26 indicators, selected and validated by a panel of gender experts, to evaluate every aspect of the economic and social value chain for women, from fertility to retirement. For more information please follow the link to the Website - http://www.eiuresources.com/mediadir/default.asp?PR=2010070101

Systemic Global Crisis - Serious Impacts on Women
How Women are Being Impacted by the Crisis: 10 Things You Should Know
In 2010, Influencing Development Actors and Practices for Women's Rights (IDeA), a strategic initiative of AWID, has been conducting regional analyses of the impact of the global systemic global crisis on women. Here are 10 things you should know about how women are being impacted by the crisis across regions.For more information please follow the link http://awid.org/eng/Issues-and-Analysis/Issues-and-Analysis/How-Women-ar...

Data Importance for Development - Gender-Disaggregated Data
Learning in the field of population and development has been spurred by research analyzing links between population phenomena and reproductive health, human rights, gender equality and poverty, among other issues. These linkages underpin the 1994 ICPD Programme of Action, which guides UNFPA's work. For more information please follow the link http://www.unfpa.org/public/datafordevelopment

Reports on Women’s Political, Economic, and Social Status in Morocco
A national survey of the political, economic, social and legal status of women in Morocco released today by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) and the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) shows a mixed picture of women’s status in the region. For more information please follow the link http://www.wluml.org/node/6471

… and a Project on Status of Women in Middle East & North Africa
Focus on Morocco Topic Briefs from the Status of Women in the Middle East and North Africa Project
Project Overview & Respondent Demographics
Civic and Political Participation
Educational Attainment and Career Aspirations
Freedom of Movement, Freedom from Harassment & Violence
Health Care Access
Paid Work and Control of Earnings & Assets
Opinions on the Family Law and Gender Quotas
Social Attitudes Toward Women
Produced in partnership with IFES in June 2010. For more information about the report please follow the link http://www.iwpr.org/index.cfm

UN Study on Status of Women, Religion or Belief, Traditions - Translations
Discrimination and intolerance against women, supposedly prescribed by religion or tradition, must be resolutely condemned. To that end, the Special Rapporteur reiterates his recommendation that a seminar should be held on the status of women from the standpoint of religion, traditions and human rights, so as not only to identify manifestations of discrimination and intolerance, but also to formulate practical recommendations and a plan of action for eradicating such practices."
For more information please follow the link
http://www.wunrn.com/news/2010/07_10/07_12_10/071210_un.htm