Saudi Arabia's justice minister says his department is drafting a law that would allow female lawyers to argue legal cases in court for the first time.
Prior to the US-led invasion of Iraq, women working in the public and government sectors were entitled to receive a year's maternity leave under family laws enforced by the former Saddam Hussein leadership.
In the seven years since the US-led invasion which ousted Saddam, however, maternity leave has been cut to six months.
Under Saddam Hussein, women in government got a year's maternity leave; that is now cut to six months. Under the Personal Status Law in force since Jul. 14, 1958, when Iraqis overthrew the British-installed monarchy, Iraqi women had most of the rights that Western women do.
More than 4,000 girls took part in the second social, cultural and sportive festival for women commenced last Sunday at Bilquis Club. Attending the huge celebration was Prime Minister Mr. Ali Mohammed Mujawar, the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Hamoud Obad, minister of Culture Mohammed al-Meflahi, Minister of State and Mayor of the Capital, Abdul-Rahman al-Akwa and several other Yemeni leaders.
In front of a theatre filled with college and high school students, community members, and representatives from Lone Star College, Shirin Ebadi, recipient of the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize, shared a riveting insight into the democratic movement in Iran and the role of young people and women in that movement.
Gender Related Excerpts from II Conclusions and/or Recommendations:
7. Enhance efforts to further promote economic and social rights, as well as the rights of vulnerable groups, including women, children and people with disabilities.
8. Reconsider the inclusion of "apostasy," "witchcraft" and "heresy" as capital offences in an updated penal code.
Saudi Arabia's justice minister says his department is drafting a law that would allow female lawyers to argue legal cases in court for the first time.
Prior to the US-led invasion of Iraq, women working in the public and government sectors were entitled to receive a year's maternity leave under family laws enforced by the former Saddam Hussein leadership.