This blog is dedicated for all women Muslim in Asia and beyond who ever jointed with The Asian Muslim Action Network (AMAN) in different part of regions in Asia such as Southeast Asia, South Asia, West Asia, Central Asia, Middle East, Africa, Europe, USA, Australia etc. As progressive Muslim network, AMAN would like to hear any success stories from Muslim women of different part of the world in dealing with conflict situations, as well as stories of oppression, suffering, injustice, and violence against women, which inspired by gender bias interpretation of Islamic text, which discriminates women and easily lead to violence.
To complete the work of other Muslim women network in Asia such as Musawah and Women Living Under Islamic Law, this initiative more focuses to situation of Muslim women in conflict affected areas. It is because the situation of Muslim women in conflict area are oppressive in multi layers . In Southern Thailand, detainees and their families have no guarantee of their life from state in regards to safety life after release from the prison. Victim of sexual violence suffers from double burden. In one side, they are situated to not speak out because rape is considered as “taboo” to talk because in patriarchal society it erodes the honor of family and society. It is reported that women victim of rape in Southern Thailand are often forced to marry the perpetrator to avoid “moral panic”. It is considered as the best resolution for both families. In Burma, Muslim women event cannot go to public to share their feeling about the stateless status and the insecure situation they are facing. Event the situation become worse, when element of religion is attacked to give legitimation to domesticate women from public for security reason and “moral” protection. There are some witness saying that that some Ulama (religious leader) in the village A regulates how women and men should and should not do. Women must wear hijab (head scarf) with long slaves, if not they will cut their hair. Women could not present to public with no reason. In Pakistan, recently women are banned from shopping alone. There are still many girls cannot go to school and public restricted by Taliban.
Now, the situation is more complicated when religious element with bias interpretation is used to restrain access to justice for victim and survival of violence against women, block women’s participation in decision making process and neglect economy, social and cultural rights of women. We would like those stories publicize to the world and encourage people to support struggle of women seeking for justice. The exchange of stories and experiences would also strengthen women who are wounded, victim of violence and injustice acts, to come together to strengthen the voices. In responding the situation, AMAN Women Commission would like to bridge communication among muslim women, so they could share and exchange their experiences.
Background of AWC
16th November 2006, one of parallel workshops on Islamic Feminism held during the 3rd AMAN Assembly, was aimed to facilitate various thought and ideas among AMAN members in regard to issues of women’s rights in Islam. There were five scholars who presented papers, they are Dr. Asgar Ali Engineer from India, Mariam Rawi from the Revolutionary Association of Women in Afghanistan , Dr. Sri Mulayati from UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Dr. Norani Othman from University Kebangsaan Malaysia. It was not only a forum for clarity to evolve Islamic discourse on feminism and explore ways and means to strengthen a movement for an egalitarian environment and emancipation of women and their dignity, but also created an embryonic AMAN commission on women to make AMAN’s role in responding to women’s issues more remarkable in Asia.
To consolidate the idea of AMAN Women Commission held in Bangkok, in February 6-10, 2008, AMAN invited some more Muslim women from countries like India/Kashimir, Srilanka, Pakistan, Indonesia, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia and Sudan, to explore women experiences in Muslim communities. The workshop was intended to facilitate interaction and sharing of experiences among peace workers and draw lessons and inspirations to strengthen women’s participation and leadership in peace movements. Some resource persons such as Hameedah Banu from Kashmir, Akoijam Sunita from Manipur, Shreen Sapor from Sri Lanka, Iqbal Ibrahim Ali from Sudan, Ihsan Hassan Fagiri from Sudan were invited to give overview the nature of conflict and involvement of women in conflict resolution and peacebuilding. The workshop also identified the problems and challenges encountered by women peace workers in extremely difficult circumstances and explore effective strategies. Lastly, the workshop was able to initially formulate draft of women peace workers network and explore the role of the Commission and its orientation and action agenda towards policy advocacy and came up with some of possible activities such as capacity building training, campaign for women’s rights, emergency relief for victim of violence against women, Research and documentation.
With the support of CORDAID Indonesia and AFSC, AMAN hosted four days workshop on strategic planning for Strengthening the Asian Muslim Women’s Peace Network consultation May 24-27, 2009. The event, held in Bogor, Indonesia, brought together fifteen Muslim women leaders active in peacebuilding from around Asia to begin the establishment of a Muslim Women’s Peace Network. The breadth of experience of this core founding group ranged from community activists to academics. The participatory consultation included workshops, discussion groups and facilitated strategic planning.
Some resource persons such as Rufa Guiam from Philippines and Suraiya Kamaruzzaman from Aceh gave overview about nature of conflicts, women’s involvement in conflict resolution and peace agreement, and peace movement. Some follow up activities were formulated such as capacity building training especially train young Muslim women to learn interpretation of religious text, integrate peace education to school, educating men to love women, internship, partnership among groups, exchange program etc.
The second strategic planning was on February 14-15, 2009 as the follow up Bogor meeting as well as to consult more to Malaysian group in regard to initiatives of Muslim women peace network. The two-day event, was divided into two parts: a planning meeting of four core members of the network to concreatize the strategies and plans of the network, and a consultation with three Shariah law experts to inform the members about Shariah law and what is being done to inform women about how it affects them. Lily Munir from Indonesia, Yati Kaprawi from Sister in Islam, Dr. Nagat Mahmoud from Malaysia, Ruby Kholifah from Indonesia, Zarah Kateline, Rufa Guim from Philippines and Sabrina Sunderraj from Malaysia were part of meeting.
With several meetings that AMAN held to formulate the women movement within AMAN, the format has not yet completed, but activities relating to women and peace are continuing to have both in regional level and national level.
Vision of AWC
AWC envisions a world where all people are free to develop their potential without any form of domination and exploitation based on class, gender, colour and religious belief. This is a world where the common wealth is used for the common good, workers enjoy the fruits of their labour, women prevail against patriarchy, and women workers determine their own destinies.
Mission of AWC
The mission of AWC is to support the self-empowerment of Asian women workers and the formation of their movements. CAW shall provide a platform for Asian women workers to claim their space, time and voice, to struggle against global capitalism and patriarchy, and to advance their rights. Essential to all this is the ongoing challenge of redefining work to encompass reproductive and domestic labour, and work in the informal economy, in addition to paid work.
Program
The program of AWC can be held in regional and national chapters, they are:
- Capacity Building Training for Young Muslim Women
- Research and Documentation on Women's Role in Peacebuilding
- Exchange Program
- Peace Education for Women
