US embassy cable - 04ABUDHABI2095

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UAE VIEW ON DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN

Identifier: 04ABUDHABI2095
Wikileaks: View 04ABUDHABI2095 at Wikileaks.org
Origin: Embassy Abu Dhabi
Created: 2004-06-26 10:07:00
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Tags: PGOV KWMN TC
Redacted: This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.
null
Diana T Fritz  02/06/2007 05:33:24 PM  From  DB/Inbox:  Search Results

Cable 
Text:                                                                      
                                                                           
      
UNCLASSIFIED

SIPDIS
TELEGRAM                                            June 26, 2004


To:       No Action Addressee                                    

Action:   Unknown                                                

From:     AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI (ABU DHABI 2095 - ROUTINE)         

TAGS:     PGOV                                                   

Captions: None                                                   

Subject:  UAE VIEW ON DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN               

Ref:      None                                                   
_________________________________________________________________
UNCLAS        ABU DHABI 02095

SIPDIS
CXABU:
    ACTION: POL 
    INFO:   PAO RSO AMB DCM P/M ECON 
Laser1:
    INFO:   PAO 

DISSEMINATION: POL
CHARGE: PROG

APPROVED: CDA:RALBRIGHT
DRAFTED: POL:RBASSIL
CLEARED: POL:JFMAYBURY

VZCZCADI618
RR RUEHC RUCNDT RUEHZM
DE RUEHAD #2095 1781007
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 261007Z JUN 04
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4854
INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1196
RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 002095 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR DRL, NEA/PI, AND NEA/ARP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, KWMN, TC 
SUBJECT: UAE VIEW ON DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN 
 
 
1. THE LATEST EDITION (JUNE 15) OF THE UAE WOMEN'S 
WEEKLY MAGAZINE "ALMARA'A ALYOUM" INTERVIEWS UAE 
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS' DIRECTOR FOR LEGAL 
AFFAIRS, AHMAD AL-JARMAN, ON THE ISSUE OF 
DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN AND THE LIKELIHOOD THAT 
THE UAEG WILL SIGN THE CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF 
ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN (CEDAW), 
ADOPTED IN 1979 BY THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 
 
2. THE UAE HAS DELAYED SIGNING THE CEDAW, AL-JARMAN 
SAID, BECAUSE, LIKE OTHER ARAB ISLAMIC COUNTRIES, THE 
UAE HAS RESERVATIONS ABOUT CERTAIN CLAUSES IN CEDAW, 
SUCH AS EQUALITY BETWEEN THE TWO GENDERS IN INHERITANCE 
MATTERS, CHILD ADOPTION (WHICH IS PROHIBITED BY 
SHARI'A), AND TRANSMISSION OF CITIZENSHIP FROM A WOMAN 
TO HER HUSBAND AND CHILDREN, WHICH CONTRADICTS 
NATURALIZATION LAWS IN MANY COUNTRIES.  AL-JARMAN ADDED 
THAT ADJUSTMENTS WOULD BE NECESSARY WITHIN THE SOCIAL 
SECURITY, FAMILY LAWS, AND ISLAMIC SHARI'A REGULATIONS, 
IN ORDER FOR THERE TO BE AGREEMENT. 
 
3. HE SAID THAT THE UAE CONSIDERS CEDAW IMPORTANT AND 
FUNDAMENTAL TO HUMAN RIGHTS.  HE ADDED THAT THE UAE IS 
WITNESSING A MAJOR DEVELOPMENT IN THE ROLE OF WOMEN, 
AND NOTED THAT THE UAE, WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF THE UAE 
GENERAL WOMEN'S UNION, IS THE FOUNDER OF THE ARAB WOMAN 
ORGANIZATION IN EGYPT. 
 
4. AL-JARMAN SAID THAT CEDAW "IS ONE OF THE MOST 
IMPORTANT HUMAN RIGHTS TOOLS, AND THE UAE COMPLETELY 
SUPPORTS IT.  THERE IS A STRONG CALL FROM OUR SIDE TO 
INCLUDE WOMEN IN THE PUBLIC, ADMINISTRATIVE, AND 
POLITICAL LIFE, AND THESE FACTORS CONTRIBUTE TO THE 
NECESSITY OF US BEING MEMBERS OF THIS AGREEMENT." 
 
5. AL-JARMAN SAID THAT THE UAE FACES A NUMBER OF 
OBSTACLES AS IT CONSIDERS WHETHER TO SIGN CEDAW.  HE 
SAID THAT WOMEN'S ORGANIZATIONS HAVE NOT YET RAISED THE 
SUBJECT WITH MFA, PREFERRING TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE WITH 
HIGHER AUTHORITIES BECAUSE OF THE ISSUE'S SENSITIVITY. 
ALBRIGHT 

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