Program note:
Zainab Salbi shared her views earlier today on CNN Newsroom about how Obama's speech spoke to Muslim women's issues. She is the founder and CEO of Women for Women International, an organization that promotes opportunities for women around the world. See her tonight on AC360º at 10 p.m. ET.
Zainab Salbi
on CNN Newroom
It was a good balance between respect of Muslim women, particularly observant women who do believe that their head scarf is part of their Islamic duty, and between addressing and pushing that that should not contradict and indeed it does not contradict with Islamic values of women’s access to education and economic and political rights.
The balance between the two, I would say, calmed the Muslim population at large where it’s often defensive in terms of woman’s issues and pushed them in the meantime of saying you can do more and you cannot build your countries without full inclusion of women and girls.
You do have a very high illiteracy rate in the Muslim world. You have only 55% of Muslim women who are literate and this is very, very actually dangerous statistic. So, him pushing on the literacy issue and on employment. 40 women out of 100 men only work in the Muslim world at large. That’s actually, these are very critical issues that he pushed in it and it was right on and not expected.
Women for Women International works with women at the grassroots level to help them get access to education and access to economic opportunities, because we believe that this is the only way we can actually talk about the building of strong societies, strong nations and strong democracies. And that very much applies, not only in the Middle East, but all over the world.
I just came from Iraq where you have 76% of Iraqi women not sending their daughters to school. This is very dangerous. You can’t talk about the future of Iraq if you don’t address this crisis, of girls not going to school. And the same with employment, there are no employment opportunities for Iraqi women. And now we’re working through Women for Women International about how you create employment opportunities for women as part, as a prerequisite for nation building.
| Laura Lanza |
June 4th, 2009 4:54 pm ET This is a great article. Half my family is Muslim, some Catholics and some "Born Again" Christians, some Agnostic and several Atheists. We all respect each others ability to believe what makes us comfortable in life as we all work hard to contribute to society. Your organization is one I will try to follow on the Intranet. Thank you for your efforts on behalf of women worldwide. |
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| Mari |
June 4th, 2009 4:56 pm ET That's right! You can not talk about the future if you do not address the illiteracy issues. Very nice write-up! |
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| Isabel, Brazil |
June 4th, 2009 5:06 pm ET There is a big battle in the equal rights of Islamic women. With less inequality, but not nonetheless fully balanced are the rights of women in America. This is a battle for years with some victories. But unfortunately the tradition or the precoceito often dictate the rules of the lives of women. |
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| Isabel, Brazil |
June 4th, 2009 5:07 pm ET Many criticized the President, finally, because he spoke on the themes like democracy, women's rights and religious freedom, but of the diffuse form. I do not agree. I think the tone was appropriate. Don't enter the house of others to scold anyone. In this case,he was diplomatic as some. Point to Pres. Obama. Point to the US. |
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| Patricia Taylor |
June 4th, 2009 5:17 pm ET Middle East peace is all about women's human rights and the impact of Sharia law. It cannot be ignored. No more sweeping it under the table. |
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| Mari |
June 4th, 2009 5:24 pm ET @ MARI........ There is TWO OF US??? Wow. Brilliant article! I agree with the other Mari and Laura Lanza's comments! Peace....... Shalom......... Salam.......... Paz everyone! |
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| Annie Kate |
June 4th, 2009 6:09 pm ET Literacy and education should be of the same importance for women and girls as it is for the males of society. In a household where both the mother and father are educated, there is a stronger incentive to ensure that the children receive excellent educational opportunities and the standard of living in those households is higher. While education and literacy is important now for both sexes, it will become more so in the years to come; children who have a mother and father who are educated and literate will find themselves at an advantage over those who do not. |
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| Noel Anthony Haughey |
June 4th, 2009 8:15 pm ET A great speech this morning in Cairo by President Barack Obama touching on the most important issue is "WOMEN RIGHTS" especially in the Middle East. "A New Beginning" is imperative for World stability and peace.... |
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| Terry, TX |
June 4th, 2009 8:48 pm ET Education yes....very important.....head scarf....dumb point. How about mentioning genital mutilation....floggings for talking to men....arrest for showing your ankle....murder for women who cheat....I think he missed an opportunity....but I am sure it was a deliberate move on his part. No harsh realities for the Muslim world....only the American world. I am frankly no longer impressed. |
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