Ali Jassim, a veteran FNC member (UAQ), at the FNC session on March 3, 2014 wants to propose a new law to safeguard the interests of women in the UAE. Fatima Al Marzooqi/ The National
Ali Jassim, a veteran FNC member (UAQ), at the FNC session on March 3, 2014 wants to propose a new law to safeguard the interests of women in the UAE. Fatima Al Marzooqi/ The National

FNC mulls sweeping new law to protect women in the UAE



ABU DHABI // A sweeping new law to define and guarantee women’s rights will combat domestic violence, safeguard women’s health and unify support services in all seven emirates.

The newly formed Human Rights Committee of the Federal National Council views the proposed new law as a natural progression from the Child Rights law passed this year.

“The law would mainly focus on domestic violence against women and touch on a lot of other aspects related to women. This is what we want,” said Ali Jassim (UAQ), a veteran FNC member.

"There is a penal code for matters of violence against women, but no one unified reference of all women's rights. Recently the UAE has drawn up so many laws in various fields, but this is one field we want to be distinguished in."

He pointed out that Bahrain had a law on women and children. “And we only have children. Women need one law to include their rights, role and protection.”

Mr Jassim said women’s rights were well established, but more was needed, and he rejected suggestions from some FNC members that legislation was unnecessary.

“Women are weaker than men in most cases, they are sensitive and are abused,” he said.

“Men think they are everything and do everything and think this is personal choice – all at the woman’s expense. Men can sleep in the street, women cannot. Women need protection. Men are usually the perpetrators. Bahrain cared enough to make a law for women, we should too.”

Women’s issues have risen on the FNC’s agenda since the council was formed, often at Mr Jassim’s prompting.

When women became members of the council for the first time in 2006, further matters arose, such as maternity leave, retirement age, violence against women, and health.

“Over the years debating these issues with the Government to secure greater maternity leave or early retirement age gave us insight in what the Government’s viewpoint is,” Mr Jassim said. “Yes, they have a point, but we do too – including the small number of locals in the country and the need for women to take care of their children and be less reliant on maids.”

While the proposed law would be general, covering the purpose and leaving the Ministry of Social Affairs and other ministries to draw up its articles, Mr Jassim hopes to see clauses covering maternity leave, nurseries and women's health.

Aware that for cultural reasons some conservative families would not allow women to be treated by male doctors, he said a way to tackle this would be through increasing women's salaries in the health profession to attract them to work. The existing 45 to 60-day maternity leave should also be reviewed.

Mr Jassim is optimistic that the Cabinet will respond positively to the law, “as they have to previous suggestions”.

Dr Mona Al Baher (Dubai) said women needed to be made aware of their rights.

“This is a problem we must look at,” she said. “There are problems concerning women in society, but we cannot say one or two or 10 would count as a phenomenon. We cannot ask for a law [specifically on women’s rights], or say that her rights are not there. Women’s organisations have a big role to play in society to help raise awareness.”

She said variations in law among emirates was also a matter of concern, requiring a federal umbrella law or for all policies to be inline.

She noted, in particular, the difference in the length of maternity leave, depending on emirate.

Mohammed Al Raqbani (Fujairah) called on companies to accommodate working mothers by allowing them to coordinate their holidays with their children’s school holidays and not require them to rush to work when they have other commitments.

“There needs to be more flexibility,” he said. “If a child is sick, who will stay with them at home? Who will take the children to school in the morning? We cannot require from women the same as we do from men in some cases.

“At the end of the day, this is for the children, the future generation.”

The next few meetings of the Human Rights Committee will review laws on women’s rights in other countries for guidance on what might be included in UAE law.

When the seven-member committee completes its proposal a draft law will be passed to the full 40-member council for approval. Afterwards, it will be sent to the Cabinet for consideration.

osalem@thenational.ae

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Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
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The biog

Favourite films: Casablanca and Lawrence of Arabia

Favourite books: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Good to be Great by Jim Collins

Favourite dish: Grilled fish

Inspiration: Sheikh Zayed's visionary leadership taught me to embrace new challenges.

A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
  • 2018: Formal work begins
  • November 2021: First 17 volumes launched 
  • November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
  • October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
  • November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
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Pad Man

Dir: R Balki

Starring: Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor, Radhika Apte

Three-and-a-half stars

Essentials
The flights: You can fly from the UAE to Iceland with one stop in Europe with a variety of airlines. Return flights with Emirates from Dubai to Stockholm, then Icelandair to Reykjavik, cost from Dh4,153 return. The whole trip takes 11 hours. British Airways flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Reykjavik, via London, with return flights taking 12 hours and costing from Dh2,490 return, including taxes. 
The activities: A half-day Silfra snorkelling trip costs 14,990 Icelandic kronur (Dh544) with Dive.is. Inside the Volcano also takes half a day and costs 42,000 kronur (Dh1,524). The Jokulsarlon small-boat cruise lasts about an hour and costs 9,800 kronur (Dh356). Into the Glacier costs 19,500 kronur (Dh708). It lasts three to four hours.
The tours: It’s often better to book a tailor-made trip through a specialist operator. UK-based Discover the World offers seven nights, self-driving, across the island from £892 (Dh4,505) per person. This includes three nights’ accommodation at Hotel Husafell near Into the Glacier, two nights at Hotel Ranga and two nights at the Icelandair Hotel Klaustur. It includes car rental, plus an iPad with itinerary and tourist information pre-loaded onto it, while activities can be booked as optional extras. More information inspiredbyiceland.com

Top 5 concerns globally:

1. Unemployment

2. Spread of infectious diseases

3. Fiscal crises

4. Cyber attacks

5. Profound social instability

Top 5 concerns in the Mena region

1. Energy price shock

2. Fiscal crises

3. Spread of infectious diseases

4. Unmanageable inflation

5. Cyber attacks

Source: World Economic Foundation

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

Engine: 80 kWh four-wheel-drive

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 402bhp

Torque: 760Nm

Price: From Dh280,000

The specs

Engine: 2.3-litre, turbo four-cylinder

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Power: 300hp

Torque: 420Nm

Price: Dh189,900

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Ultra processed foods

- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns 

- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;

- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces

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Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage

Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid 

Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani

Rating: 4/5

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
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If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.

When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.

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Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm

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Sun jukebox

Rufus Thomas, Bear Cat (The Answer to Hound Dog) (1953)

This rip-off of Leiber/Stoller’s early rock stomper brought a lawsuit against Phillips and necessitated Presley’s premature sale to RCA.

Elvis Presley, Mystery Train (1955)

The B-side of Presley’s final single for Sun bops with a drummer-less groove.

Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two, Folsom Prison Blues (1955)

Originally recorded for Sun, Cash’s signature tune was performed for inmates of the titular prison 13 years later.

Carl Perkins, Blue Suede Shoes (1956)

Within a month of Sun’s February release Elvis had his version out on RCA.

Roy Orbison, Ooby Dooby (1956)

An essential piece of irreverent juvenilia from Orbison.

Jerry Lee Lewis, Great Balls of Fire (1957)

Lee’s trademark anthem is one of the era’s best-remembered – and best-selling – songs.