Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Saudi women challenge ban on driving

The Charter for Human Rights was adopted and proclaimed by United Nations in 1949, where equal rights were granted to every individual.

Many Muslim countries are signatory to that document. Unfortunately, a country like Saudi Arabia is violating Human Rights.

Though Saudis are known as rich producers of oil and for their remarkable developmental projects in the fields of science, technology, health and education, they failed in providing equal rights to every citizen.

Saudi Arabia is not taking human rights, particularly women rights seriously. Recently, a few women were arrested in Saudi Arabia as they were caught driving. Women are not allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia.

This is a case of gender discrimination.

According to the law of nature, no one can restrict any one, as every human being has a right to express her/his views.

The women did not commit any heinous crime; they tried to do what they wanted to. If Muslim women could ride on camels 14 centuries ago, why can’t they drive a car in today’s world?

The Kingdom has contributed a lot to the world, but violating women rights has perplexed world leaders.

The law has been challenged a number of times in the past but in vain. Saudi law does not forbid women from driving, but there are some scholars who oppose women to drive.

Women in other Muslim countries are driving freely. They also work side by side with men. Saudi women today are educated and they want to live an independent life.

Women are equally contributing to the field of science, technology, education, medicine, etc. They are using Internet and are computer literate.

They are also raising their voice and are leading the world. We must respect them and their unheard voices must be supported by educated people all over the world.

France promises 1 million Euros to aid FATA health sector

France committed on Tuesday one million Euros towards health components of FATA Development Programme.

An agreement, among the FATA Secretariat, French Development Agency (AFD) and German Cooperation for Development (GIZ), was signed at the Governor’s House where Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Masood Kausar, German Ambassador Dr Michael Koch and French envoy Daniel Jouanneau attended the ceremony, according to official communiqué.

Under the agreement, the AFD will contribute one million Euros towards the health component of FATA Development Programme in the Human Resource Management and Quality Improvement Initiatives in the FATA health sector. While the GIZ, under a previously signed agreement, has been spending 6.6 million Euros in the first phase of its development programme for FATA and the AFD component of the agreement will be in support of the GIZ initiated programme.