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Islam and the rights of children - real change on the way?Are the headscarf, the veil and the chador the final destination of girls in the Muslim world? The answer would appear to be 'No'. In an apparent breakthrough in this field, almost 60 Islamic countries have joined forces to take a great step forward, saying that girls and boys have equal rights to education and development. The word 'revolution' may be too strong, but it is definitely a great achievement. The 57 member states of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) have declared their support for equal opportunities for all children. All member states will be required to put an end to discrimination against girls. Moreover, primary education must be accessible for all.Misconceptions The plan was made public towards the end of November 2005, and has now been followed by a book, a 'guide' for children's rights in the Muslim world. The book is designed to remove common misconceptions, including the notions that arranged marriages and honour killings are required by the Koran. The UN children's organisation UNICEF assisted in writing the book. According to deputy director Rima Salah, there was a bad need for such a guide. She says that Muslim leaders too often hide behind Islamic doctrine and the Koran to justify what are in fact cultural practices, such as female circumcision and marrying off girls. The guide is intended to make clear what is and what is not allowed - according to the teachings of Islam. Discrimination against girls and women is still an everyday part of life in much of the Muslim world. In Pakistan, for example, illiteracy among women is almost twice as high as it is among men. In Mauritania, women are condemned to motherhood: only eight percent of them use contraceptives. Small steps The fact that Muslim countries have now decided to deal with these problems can, in itself, be regards as a real breakthrough. However, it's a breakthrough which has been prepared for in many small steps. Political leaders explicitly demanded attention for children's rights for the very first time at an Islamic summit meeting held in Malaysia in 2003. In June this year, OIC members agreed on a covenant. This was followed in November by the first ever conference at ministerial level on the specific issue of children. The new guide has been written with the help of religious scholars from various Muslim countries, including representatives from the prestigious Azhar University in Cairo, a stronghold of Sunni orthodox Islam. UNICEF, which runs projects in most of the countries involved, played an inspiring and coordinating role in the background. Work of reference The book is meant to serve as a work of reference for politicians, imams, religious leaders and teachers, but also families and communities. In many countries, much has already been achieved, says Rima Salah of UNICEF. The first priority lies with sub-Saharan and West African countries, where misinterpretations of Islam are very common. In some of these countries, girls are not allowed to go to school or are forced to marry when they are only 10 years old. The guide appears to reflect an effort by Muslim politicians to close the gap between the people and the rulers. About a year ago, prominent intellectuals published their Arab Human Development Report in which they wrote that there is a 'predominant climate of oppression' in the Arabic Islamic world. This oppression is increasingly opposed, also by Muslim women themselves. Frank Renout 2005
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