Women’s Rights Could Destroy Society, Countries Should ‘Reject and Condemn’ UN Declaration

Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood: Women’s Rights Could Destroy Society, Countries Should ‘Reject and Condemn’ UN Declaration

On March 14^th, 2013, Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood warns that a U.N. declaration on women’s rights could destroy society by allowing a woman to travel, work, and use contraception without her husband’s approval and letting her control family spending. President Mohamed Mursi of the Islamist party outlined 10 reasons why Muslim countries should “reject and condemn” the declaration, which the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women is racing to negotiate a consensus deal by Friday. Egypt has joined Iran, Russia and the Vatican in threatening to derail the women’s rights declaration by objecting to language on sexual, reproductive and gay rights. U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice last week touted at the commission- a global policy-making body created in 1946 for the advancement of women- progress made by the U.S. in reducing the rate of violence against women by their partners. The contrasting views show the gap that needs to be breached in negotiations on the declaration, which this year is focusing on urging an end to violence against women and girls. Last year, the commission failed to agree on a theme of empowering rural women due to similar disagreements.

For a sociological perspective this particular issue regarding women is a pretty terrible thing to read about. You would think that by this day and age, the rights of women would be more equal globally. If the UN does reject the declaration, more problems will come. 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/14/egypt-womens-rights-un-declaration_n_2879081.html?view=print&comm_ref=false

3:23 PM, 4/5/13

Alice Gunning