The Alexandria Declaration

March 29, 2004 9:55 PM

The Alexandria Declaration.Between March 14 and 17, 2004, intellectuals, scholars, economists and activists from around the Arab world met at the new Alexandria Library in Egypt for the Arab Reform Conference. Among the recommendations of the conference was that all Arab governments should ratify "all international conventions on the rights of women providing for the abolition of all forms of discrimination against them."
posted by Ty Webb (5 comments total)

(correction: between March 12-14, 2004)
posted by Ty Webb at 9:57 PM on March 29, 2004

the unfortunate thing about such a brave and necessary declaration is that it is made by a group with absolutely no ability to enforce said writ. the only thing that differentiates this from a blog posting on this side of the pond is that insiders are making these statements. my question (hopefully not doomed to being rhetorical), is what can be done to actually see the premises outlined here gaining popular opinion within the arabic (and specifically muslim) world? the cultures contained in that large stretch of earth are so unfamiliar to me that i have no concept of how this sort of thing could be proliferated. anyone from that neck of the woods care to help me grok?
posted by nonreflectiveobject at 10:36 PM on March 29, 2004

2- However, internal reform should not divert our attention from dealing with pressing regional issues on our agenda. At the forefront of these issues is a just solution for the Palestinian problem based on international resolutions that provide for the establishment of two independent and genuinely sovereign states, the liberation of occupied Arab territories and the recognition of the independence and territorial integrity of Iraq . In addition, the Middle East should be declared an area free from weapons of mass destruction. All territorial problems should be resolved peacefully without external interference so that these problems do not provide an excuse for foreign intervention in the affairs of the Arab region, which would put it once again under foreign tutelage.

good fucking call.

that area has just been a basket of fun since the brittish decided to go upsetting everything.
posted by Tryptophan-5ht at 10:44 PM on March 29, 2004

Considering the Arab League meeting in Tunisia just imploded (with reform issues being one of the main reasons for the implosion) it would seem they have a bit of an uphill battle, but more power to them.
posted by PenDevil at 11:13 PM on March 29, 2004

It would be lovely to see...but I won't hold my breath.
posted by dejah420 at 1:01 PM on March 30, 2004