UN has key role in empowering women in post-revolutionary Middle East, experts say

[littlemissmartypants]

17 April 2013 – Amid the reverberations from popular uprisings known as the “Arab Spring,” the United Nations has a key role to play in supporting women in the Middle East by convening disparate voices and identifying new modes of cooperation, experts on women’s rights said during a “Classroom Conversation” with university students from around the world.

“What the revolutions that have been unfolding since 2011 have forced us to realize is that we have to look at the partners again,” said Azza Karam, Senior Adviser at the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), noting the vital roles of women, youth and civil society in the overthrow of standing regimes in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Yemen.

“What we need to do is identify new voices, convene and re-evaluate our partnerships and lastly, identify new ways of working together. Which may force us to reconsider how we do development as a United Nations system,” she added.

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=44686&Cr=women&Cr1=#.UXBwtLXviSo

[patrice]

1. K&R

[ProgressiveProfessor]

2. Pull the other finger

The UN has been marginally effective in the middle east, especially in areas of social unrest and upheaval at best.

That they claim they play a critical role is funny and not surprising.

[joeyCMK24]

3. confused about role of UN

In the Declaration of Human Rights, isn't there a provision that says states must respect other states' cultural relativism or something like that? In other words, if it's subjugation of women is a part of a state's culture, the UN isn't technically allowed to intervene. At least that's the way I interpreted it. Obviously I do not agree in any way shape or form, but this idea has always confused me.

[Control-Z]

4. No. It is not obvious.

"Obviously I do not agree in any way shape or form, but this idea has always confused me."

From what you posted, being a new member and all, it sounds very much to the contrary.

Tell us about your confusion. Please.