Report says gains in women's rights widespread
Barry SchweidWomen's rights advanced in 15 of the 18 countries in the Middle East and North Africa over the past five years, the democracy watchdog group Freedom House reported Wednesday.
The progress in jobs, education and politics, described as modest, overcame continuing resistance from religious and cultural elites, the study said.
Overall, women in the region suffer from greater inequality than women elsewhere, although they now enjoy more economic opportunity, fewer barriers to education and greater participation in the political process than five years ago, the report said.
"There are more women entrepreneurs, more women doctors, more women Ph.D.s, and more women in universities than ever before," said Jennifer Windsor, executive director of the group, which support democratic change and monitors human rights.
"However, many roadblocks remain for women pursuing careers," she said.
By way of example, she said women in Saudi Arabia can earn law degrees but cannot appear in court on behalf of their clients.
The group counted the most significant gains in Kuwait, Algeria and Jordan.
Iraq, Yemen and the Palestinian territories endured internal conflict and a rise in religious extremism. As a result, they stood alone in recording overall declines.
The study found that violence against women remained widespread and spousal abuse or "honor killings" often went unpunished.
Only Tunisia and Jordan provide specific protections against domestic violence, and none of the 18 countries explicitly prohibits spousal rape.
Christopher Walker, director studies at Freedom House, said Israel was not included in the study. The Washington-based non-governmental organization has promoted democracy around the world since 1941.
Some of the findings:
_Women in Kuwait received the right to vote and to run as candidates in elections in 2005. Four women were elected to parliament last year, a first in the country.
_In Iran, since the election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2005, restrictions on attire and gender segregation in public places have been more strictly enforced and restrictions on free speech have led to the closing of women's rights publications.
_In Iraq, so-called honor killings, rapes and abductions escalated significantly over the five-year period. And yet, women hold 25.5 percent of the seats in parliament. Honor killings involve slayings of women — often by male relatives — for perceived slights to their families' honor, such as accusations of infidelity.