But there is a silver lining of progress that keeps hope alive for the advancement of women’s rights in the Arab world. Last month, the Inter-Parliamentary Union ranked Algeria 37^th worldwide in its percentage of female parliamentarians, with Tunisia 40^th and Iraq 56^th. Notably, The Inter-Parliamentary Union ranked Canada in 60^th place with only 26% female parliamentary representation. According to the United Nations, 30% female representation is the threshold for affecting real policy change, which some countries in North Africa have already surpassed. After the protests in Algeria in 2011, two elections saw an unprecedented number of female parliamentarians taking more than 30% of the seats in the Algerian lower house. Furthermore, upon his re-election in 2014, Algerian president Bouteflika reshuffled his cabinet and appointed seven female ministers, an act hailed by the United Nations as a “milestone for the Arab world.”

Gender is increasingly protected in law as well. Algeria has committed to gender parity in employment in its new constitution. Following the revolution in Tunisia, new enactments sought to advance gender equality in all elected assemblies, the workplace, and in marriage and divorce.

In Egypt, the 2013 constitution prohibited discrimination on the basis of gender, guaranteed equality between men and women in all civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights, and assigned a 25% quota in local councils (though not for Parliamentary seats). The constitution also included a provision incorporating the concepts of tolerance, and non-discrimination in education, resulting in mandatory human rights classes in universities.

Even the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has enacted changes, extending a municipal vote to all of its citizens and allowing women to run for municipal office. This was only the third time that Saudi citizens have voted in municipal elections. In 2015, 20 female municipal councillors were elected out of the 2,100 seats available. Although significant work remains, the fact that women were allowed to participate is a small step in the right direction.

These modest achievements towards equality are a consequence of strides in women’s rights in other spheres of civil society. This past year, several Arab states achieved gender parity in educational enrolment. In some instances, women outnumbered men in the pursuit of higher education.

According to the Global Gender Gap Report published by the World Economic Forum in November 2015, Oman and Saudi Arabia have achieved gender parity in educational enrolment in primary, secondary, and tertiary education; Jordan, Qatar, and Kuwait in secondary and tertiary education; and Tunisia, Algeria, Syria, and Bahrain in tertiary education.

By advancing educational rights for women and girls, more opportunities are afforded to women to contribute to society, including in the political sphere. A highly skilled Arab female workforce can inject a new perspective when participating in the economic, social, and political facets of Arab societies, advancing human rights in other spheres.

While there is a hard road ahead for the women of the Arab world, the achievements of recent years are even more inspiring in the face of increased violence and conflict. These small steps should be consolidated as women in the Arab world continue to struggle for equality.

Photo: Algerian woman at a gathering. Wiki Commons

The post Because It’s 2016: Small Strides in the Arab World on International Women’s Day appeared first on National Council on Canada-Arab Relations.

Click on the magazine to flip through it

Our Media Team works daily to find the most relevant commentaries and analyses from the International and Canadian perspective. Please find a sample of articles featured in our magazines. Click here to read more! This time-saving resource allows you to stay updated and have a fresh perspective on several issues. Please share with your network!   Notre équipe médiatique sélectionne quotidiennement les commentaires et analyses  les plus pertinents de la presse étrangère et canadienne. Veuillez trouver un échantillon des articles sélectionnés dans notre magazine. Cliquez ici pour en lire davantage! Cette ressource vous permet d’économiser du temps en restant informés, avec une perspective originale sur différents sujets. Partagez avec votre entourage svp!

Disclaimer: NCCAR does not necessarily endorse or share viewpoints expressed in the selected articles. We encourage readers to respond to coverage from any given media outlet in order to express their own views. Avertissement: Les points de vue exprimés au sein des articles sélectionnés ne reflêtent pas nécessairement l’avis du CNRCA. Les lecteurs peuvent répondre à la couverture médiatique de chaque source afin d’exprimer leurs propres avis.

The post This Week’s Selection of Commentary by our Media Team appeared first on National Council on Canada-Arab Relations.

Waging diplomacy

The situation in Syria continues to deteriorate, and those paying the price are the millions of civilians. Lloyd Axworthy and Allan Rock offer an insightful perspective on the conflict (Our Moment to ‘Wage Diplomacy,’ Feb. 17).

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s decision to withdraw from the bombing campaign against the Islamic State, coupled with humanitarian assistance and an “open doors-open arms” policy toward Syrian refugees, have allowed Canada to brandish its strengths beyond our able military.

Canada’s additional strength is its diplomatic tool box; understanding and engaging a complicated and complex part of the world is not advanced with a simplistic retort of bombs, but requires the skilled use of Canada’s diplomatic and humanitarian tools.

The post Waging Diplomacy: Letter to the Globe and Mail appeared first on National Council on Canada-Arab Relations.

As part of the Your Voice voter education campaign, the Canadian-Arab Institute, in partnership with the National Council on Canada-Arab Relations, continue their webinar series with a special webinar on Multiculturalism and Inclusion.

Raja Khouri and Jehad Aliweiwi discuss how multiculturalism has impacted our lives, the degree of inclusion in Canadian society and talk about the politics and controversies surrounding the niqab and religious accommodation.

Our Presenters

Jehad Aliweiwi

Jehad Aliweiwi is a strategic leader with more than 15 years of experience in senior management positions in social, settlement and community service organizations.

He is the Executive Director of the Laidlaw Foundation. He has served as Executive Director with Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office, Metro Regional Director of Catholic Cross-Cultural Services and as Race Relations Officer and Executive Director with the Canadian Arab Federation.  A Trustee of the Ontario Science Centre, a former Board member of Fred Victor Services and OCASI, Jehad has received the Local Hero and William P. Hubbard Race Relations Awards.

Raja Khouri

The event is organized by:

The Canadian-Arab Institute

The National Council on Canada-Arab Relations

The post Watch our Webinar on Multiculturalism and Inclusion appeared first on National Council on Canada-Arab Relations.

As part of the Your Voice voter education campaign, the Canadian-Arab Institute, in partnership with the National Council on Canada-Arab Relations, continued their webinar series with a special webinar on national security and civil rights.

Watch this webinar to learn about legislation and cases that have impacted Arabs and Muslims over the past year. To what extent does Bill C-51 threat Canadian’s rights? Whose citizenship is in danger of revocation following the passage of Bill C-24? Did you know that Canada has a law that is called Zero Tolerance for Barbaric Cultural Practices Act?

Our Presenters

Faisal Kutty

Faisal Kutty is an associate professor and director of the International LL.M. Program at Valparaiso University Law School in Indiana and an adjunct professor at Osgoode Hall Law School of York University.

He is a co-founder and currently serves as counsel to KSM Law, a Toronto-based law firm. During his 18-year legal career he has represented dozens of individuals and institutions caught up in anti-terror investigations and national security matters.

He co-founded and served as general counsel for the Canadian Muslim Civil Liberties Association (CMCLA) while still a law student.  He also co-founded and served as vice-chair and legal counsel to the Canadian Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR-CAN) now known as the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM).

He is a regular commentator on anti-terrorism law, national security, Islamic law, constitutional law, human rights and Muslims. He has been quoted in numerous academic and non-academic publications and by media outlets around the world.  His Opeds have appeared in The Toronto Star, The National Post, The Globe and Mail, Al Jazeera, Arab News, Al ahram, Indian Express and numerous other publications. He also blogs at the Huffington Post.

Raja Khouri

Rula Odeh 

The post Watch our Webinar on National Security and Civil Rights appeared first on National Council on Canada-Arab Relations.

NCCAR’s Media and Policy Analysis team will be developing non-partisan, educational “Key Points and Backgrounders” accessible to the public on a series of topics such as Canadian policy on Syrian refugees, potential impact of “security” policies as well as foreign policy in the Middle East and the Arab Word. NCCAR will also provide its perspectives on these issues.

These “Key Points and Backgrounders” are featured as part of Your Voice voter education campaign which NCCAR is a partner in along with the Canadian-Arab Institute.

Issue:

The Antiterrorism Act, 2015 (Bill C-51) was passed by the Government of Canada earlier this year to expand Canada’s anti-terror laws.

Background:

As a result of a lone gun man’s terrorist attack on Parliament Hill on October 22, 2014, the government introduced legislation to expand the powers of CSIS and the RCMP, increasing information sharing and creating new Criminal Code for offenses such as promoting terrorism.

Considerations:

What have politicians been saying?

NDP leader Mr. Thomas Mulcair strongly opposed Bill C-51 and has called into question the necessity of many of these measures, suggesting that Canada’s new security legislation is an unnecessary infringement on the civil liberties of Canadians and an overreaction to an isolated attack. Mr. Mulcair offered several amendments to the bill, including oversight of CSIS powers by a body of elected officials. Liberal leader Mr. Justin Trudeau voted in favour of Bill C-51 and specified that his party, if elected to government, would introduce legislation to amend the law to heighten protections for the individual rights of Canadians. Green Party leader Ms. Elizabeth May also said she would present amendments but strongly opposed the bill as it moved Canada towards a police state.

What have commentators and experts been saying in the media?

The concerns expressed have been in the following areas:

1. The use of broad and undefined terms leaves a disproportionate amount of unchecked discretion in the hands of law enforcement.
2. The limits on Charter rights are likely to be challenged in the courts and distract from genuine efforts of law enforcement officials to protect Canada.
3. Community-based programs such as the RCMP’s new counter-extremism initiative, among other progressive programs will likely be undermined and create additional challenges for law enforcement to identify and prevent terror threats.
4. The Antiterrorism Act, 2015 is likely to be selectively applied with the potential to alienate and marginalize Arab Canadians while turning a blind eye to a range of threats to Canada’s national security.

NCCAR’s Perspective:

The implications of the Antiterrorism Act, 2015 as adopted concerns NCCAR. National security and the protection of all Canadians is essential for a thriving democracy. However, national security must be balanced with democratic freedoms while ensuring law enforcement are provided with effective tools which comply with the Charter. Absent time-tested judicial checks and parliamentary oversight, the Antiterrorism Act results in a Faustian bargain that trades away core Canadian values with the potential to alter the fabric of Canada’s democracy by moving towards unchecked state and police powers.

To read the complete document with the Key points and Backgrounder, click here.

The post NCCAR’s Key Points on C-51 appeared first on National Council on Canada-Arab Relations.

As part of the Your Voice voter education campaign, the Canadian-Arab Institute, in partnership with the National Council on Canada-Arab Relations, continue their webinar series with a special webinar on Canada’s Party Platform on Mideast Policy.

This webinar examines what the three major Canadian political parties, Conservatives, Liberals, and NDP, have posited about their future Mideast policies.

Thus far, the parties have provided positions on how to combat ISIS, Syrian refugees, humanitarian commitments, and relations with Iran. Dr. Momani discusses how these policies compare and the potential challenge and merits of these competing policy platforms.

Our Presenters

Bessma Momani

Dr. Bessma Momani is an Associate Professor at the University of Waterloo and the Balsillie School of International Affairs, and Senior fellow at the Centre for International Governance and Innovation (CIGI). She has been a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C., a visiting scholar at Georgetown University’s Mortara Center, and at the Amman Institute in Jordan. She has authored and co-edited over six books and over 55 scholarly, peer reviewed journal articles and book chapters that have examined the IMF, the World Bank, petrodollars, regional trade agreements in the Middle East and economic liberalization throughout the Arab Gulf & the Middle East.

Dr. Momani has received a number of Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council awards and prizes for her research on global economic governance & political economy of the Middle East. Dr. Momani has been a public commentator and analyst on the Global Economy, Middle East and the Arab Spring. She is a regular contributor to CBC radio and is a Middle East analyst on CTV News, CBC’s The National, Al-Jazeera English, Bloomberg TV, BNN and TVOs the Agenda. She has also published numerous op-eds on the Arab Spring in Canadian & international news outlets as well maintaining her own blogs on the Huffington Post, Open Canada, and CIGI.

Raja Khouri

Rula Odeh 

The post Watch our Webinar on Canada’s Party Platform on Mideast Policy appeared first on National Council on Canada-Arab Relations.

The National Council on Canada-Arab Relations (NCCAR) is pleased to launch the following initiatives to educate and inform, in a non-partisan way, about important Canadian policy issues discussed during the 2015 Canadian federal election campaign.

1. NCCAR’s Media and Policy Analysis team will be developing non-partisan, educational “Key Points and Backgrounders” accessible to the public on a series of topics such as Canadian policy on Syrian refugees, potential impact of security policies as well as foreign policy in the Middle East and the Arab Word. NCCAR will also provide its perspectives on these issues. These “Key Points and Backgrounders” are featured as part of Your Voice voter education campaign which NCCAR is a partner in along with the Canadian-Arab Institute.
2. NCCAR just launched its new magazine “Canada Elections: Middle East and Security Issues” focused on the political and media coverage that these topics are receiving – a great way to stay up-to-date during the election campaign!
3. NCCAR will be hosting a series of webinars on Canadian policy impacting the peoples of the Arab World. These feature distinguished academics and experts as part of the Your Voice voter education campaign which NCCAR is a partner in along with the Canadian-Arab Institute. 
4. NCCAR is also pleased to refer the following experienced commentator who is available to offer her informed analyses on Canadian policy and practices that impact relations with the peoples of the Arab World during this election period.

Rula Odeh, the Executive Director of the National Council on Canada-Arab Relations (NCCAR), has served on the NCCAR board for the past five years including as President in 2009-2010.

She has played a leadership role is in several organizations advocating for Canadian policies in the Middle East based on human rights, equality and freedom. Her interest in Canadian media’s representation of Canada’s foreign policy in the Middle East has resulted in a CBC Ombudsman review of a biased news report, several published opinion pieces in Canadian media and numerous appearances on TV and radio.

To schedule an interview with Rula Odeh, or submit questions, please phone or email :

National Council on Canada-Arab Relations

613-238-3795

nccar@nccar.ca

The post NCCAR’s Commentary and Analysis during the Federal Election Campaign appeared first on National Council on Canada-Arab Relations.

As part of the Your Voice voter education campaign, the Canadian-Arab Institute, in partnership with the National Council on Canada-Arab Relations, hosted a webinar on Immigration and Citizenship in Canada.

Dr Yasmeen Abu-Laban analyzed Canadian developments over the past 15 years, and how these developments relate to international trends, national responses, and party positions.

What is happening with immigration and refugee policy in Canada today? How does it compare to the past, and to other countries? Is Canadian citizenship changing, and if so how?

Our Presenters

Yasmeen Abu-Laban

Yasmeen is professor of Political Science at the University of Alberta.  Her research interests centre on the Canadian and comparative dimensions of ethnic and gender politics; nationalism, globalization and processes of racialization; immigration policies and politics; surveillance and border control; human rights, and citizenship theory.  Her work has been supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Council of Canada (SSHRC), and she has also served on national SSHRC adjudication committees.

Dr. Abu-Laban sits on the editorial board of Canadian Ethnic Studies/Études ethniques au Canada, the Board of Directors of the Canadian Arab Institute, has served on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Political Science Association (CPSA), and chaired the CPSA Diversity Task Force.  She has given numerous invited presentations across Canada and internationally, and regularly speaks and works with Canadian-government and community organizations.  In 2013 she was awarded a Killam Professorship on the basis of “outstanding scholarship and teaching [and] a record of substantial contributions to the community.”

Raja Khouri

The event was organized by:

The Canadian-Arab Institute

The National Council on Canada-Arab Relations

The post Watch our Webinar on Immigration and Citizenship in Canada appeared first on National Council on Canada-Arab Relations.

NCCAR’s Media and Policy Analysis team will be developing non-partisan, educational “Key Points and Backgrounders” accessible to the public on a series of topics such as Canadian policy on Syrian refugees, potential impact of “security” policies as well as foreign policy in the Middle East and the Arab Word. NCCAR will also provide its perspectives on these issues.

These “Key Points and Backgrounders” are featured as part of Your Voice voter education campaign which NCCAR is a partner in along with the Canadian-Arab Institute.

Issue:

Prime Minister Harper’s announcement on August 10^th to accept an additional 10,000 Syrian and Iraqi refugees.

Background:

On August 10^th, 2015, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced that Canada would accept an additional 10,000 refugees (on top of 10,000 announced in Jan. 2015) from Iraq and Syria over the next four years, if his Conservative government is re-elected. He also pledged $9 million over the next three years in support of persecuted religious minorities. According to Mr. Harper, in addition to refugee policy and humanitarian aid, a strong military presence is necessary in the region to fight ISIS. He said, “The scale of the humanitarian crisis in Iraq and Syria cannot be solved, cannot even come close to being solved, by refugee policy alone.”

Considerations:

What have politicians been saying?

The NDP has pointed out the Prime Minister’s inconsistent past with keeping promises made this January. The Liberal leader Mr Justin Trudeau has called for the expansion of the program to include 25,000 refugees directly sponsored and said that “The government’s plan to sponsor 4,000 Syrian refugees over three years was a good start, but it follows on a poor track record and does not go nearly far enough.”

What have commentators and experts been saying in the media?

The concerns expressed have been in the following areas:

1. Currently, the program places the burden (including financially) on private sponsors and weakens the government’s pledge.
2. The program could discriminate against refugees based on their faith by prioritizing claims from members of “religious minorities.
3. The conservatives have yet to fulfill their previous pledges.

NCCAR’s Perspective:

Canada must speed up and increase its programs to help bring vulnerable Syrian refugees, without regard to religious background, to the safety of Canada. A mix of programs is required, including fast-track and flexible programs as well as family reunification programs. The government should directly sponsor a larger number of refugees while encouraging and speedily facilitating private sponsorships. A long-term, multi-pronged, multilateral plan is required that alleviates the humanitarian symptoms while providing political solutions. It is important that Canada does its fair share on all fronts. This will enhance our relations with the peoples and countries in the region and is consistent with our proud Canadian tradition of welcoming refugees and facilitating family reunification.

To read the complete document with the Key points and Backgrounder, click here.

The post NCCAR’s Key Points on the Syrian refugee crisis appeared first on National Council on Canada-Arab Relations.