A child bride rebels April 17, 2008
Posted by jewaira in Abuse, Children, Life, Links, Men, Women.16 comments
Nujood Muhammad Nasser is an eight year old Yemeni girl who has made the headlines in seeking divorce from her thirty year old husband Faez Ali Thamer whom she was married to more than two months ago.
Child marriages are not unheard of in Yemen and there is no legislation to prevent it. What makes this case stand out however is the gutsy little girl who went to Court by herself and sought the assistance of the judge. There, Supreme Court lawyer Shatha Nasser took on her case and pushed for the annulment of the young girl’s marriage, on the basis of her not having reached puberty yet. Nujood was lucky that the judge and the activist lawyer were there to fight for her case and stand on her side. Not many girls in such situations are lucky enough to even reach the court house.
Faez, Nujood’s husband (left) and her father (right)
Pressure by the world press may be helpful in bringing these kinds of abuses of young girls to the forefront. It is exposure and a beginning. However, it will take a lot of effort to educate people about why marrying a child bride to an older man is wrong and a form of abuse especially amongst people who think nothing of it or who are too poor to have any other alternatives.
Nujood may have been saved but what about her younger sister? What about other girls like her from poor families in Yemen?
More sad details here:
For the first time in Yemen 8-year old girl asks for divorce in court
Parliament refuses to legislate minimum age for marriage
We Want a Pink Government too! April 17, 2008
Posted by jewaira in Kuwait, Life, Links, News, Women.5 comments
Too pink?
According to The Times, Silvio Berlusconi, Italy’s new Prime Minister “……….told a radio station: ‘Zapatero has formed a government that is too pink, something that we cannot do in Italy because there is a prevalence of men in politics and it isn’t easy to find women who are qualified.’ “
(Sounds familiar doesn’t it and something typical of men regardless of how jokey they may want to sound!)
Now Spain’s Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has created a female dominated cabinet. Out of 17 positions, nine were assigned to females and they are all demanding positions. Most intriguing is the position of Minister of Defense assigned to Carme Chacon, 37 and 7 months pregnant! The youngest minister is Bibiana Aido; 31, who heads the Equality Ministry.
I think it’s high time we turn to younger, more educated politicians and preferably to qualified women. Let’s give women a chance they need in the coming May 17th elections in Kuwait. Support women and make a difference.
