Are Women in the UAE's allowed to have Abortions...Anyone know?

[KoKo]

I'm hearing tht UAE's is the New Model in the ME. Free Trade/Fair Trade ...lots of Open Commerce. They are building a "Space Port" where if you have 20 MIL to plunk down you can take your ride into SPACE to tell your friends and relatives about, that they have Disney Type Theme Parks with waterways and rides and all kinds of delights. I hear if you are an American and you go there...you are welcomed with kisses and candy and you live a beautiful life in a climate that's welcoming for most of us in the US and that your kids will have a super education in an American School and you can make LOTTSA MONEY!!!!

Is this all true? And, will they allow abortions...and immigration if we all want to move there. How long does it take to get processed to live in UAE's

Those of us with "skills" really want to know! And, what is the "age cut off" for those wanting to go to Dubai or the other Emerates?

[AGKISTRODON]

1. Google is your friend, grasshopper!

http://el.hct.ac.ae/UAE/Law.html

[KoKo]

4. Here is UAE's Women's Abortion Policy in HTML Format:

ABORTION POLICY



Grounds on which abortion is permitted:

To save the life of the woman Yes

To preserve physical health No

To preserve mental health No

Rape or incest No

Foetal impairment No

Economic or social reasons No

Available on request No

Additional requirements:

A gynaecologist may perform the abortion with the approval of a physician familiar with the condition that makes the abortion necessary and with the written consent of the woman’s husband or guardian.

REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CONTEXT



Government view on fertility level: Satisfactory

Government intervention concerning fertility level: No intervention

Government policy on contraceptive use: No support provided

Percentage of currently married women using

modern contraception (aged 15-49, 1995): 24*

Total fertility rate (1995-2000): 3.4

Age-specific fertility rate (per 1,000 women aged 15-19, 1995-2000): 73

Government has expressed particular concern about:

Morbidity and mortality resulting from induced abortion ..

Complications of childbearing and childbirth ..

Maternal mortality ratio (per 100,000 live births, 1990):

National 26

Western Asia 320

Female life expectancy at birth (1995-2000): 76.5

* Preliminary or provisional.


BACKGROUND



Under the Penal Code of 20 December 1987, there are no stated exceptions to a general prohibition on the performance of abortion in the United Arab Emirates. A person who intentionally induces an abortion by providing medicines or other means is subject to up to five years’ imprisonment. The maximum penalty is increased to seven years if the abortion is performed without the woman’s consent.

However, under general criminal law principles of necessity, as expressed in article 64 of the Penal Code, an abortion may be performed to save the life of the pregnant woman. Moreover, Law No. 7 of 1975 on the practice of human medicine permits an abortion to be performed when continuation of the pregnancy endangers the life of the pregnant woman. The abortion must be carried out by a gynaecologist with the approval of a physician who is a specialist in the condition rendering the abortion necessary and with the written consent of the woman’s husband or guardian.

Very little reliable information is available on the incidence of abortion, both legal and illegal, in the United Arab Emirates.

Although the Government has not adopted an official population policy, population issues are important and included in planning activities such as achieving high levels of health care. Because citizens account for only 15 to 20 per cent of the total number of residents, the size and growth rate of the national population in relation to the expatriate population remains a sensitive issue.

The United Arab Emirates does not have an official family planning programme. Access to contraceptive methods is officially restricted only for unmarried adolescents. Among citizens, the modern contraceptive prevalence rate was estimated at 24 per cent of married women 15-49 in 1995. The United Arab Emirates made substantial improvements in the availability of contraception from private as well as public sources in the 1990s, mainly in response to the growing demand for contraception among its relatively wealthy and educated population.



For the period 1995-2000, the total fertility rate was 3.4 children per woman while the population growth rate was estimated at 2 per cent.

EDITED TO ADD LINK:

http://64.233.179.104/search?q=cache:eJ9Dei87U3QJ:www.un.org/esa/population/publications/abortion/doc/uae.doc+Abortion+Policy+in+United+Arab+Emirates&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1

[KamaAina]

6. No exception for rape or incest, and five years' imprisonment for doctors

is this the UAE we're talking about, or South Dakota?!

[AGKISTRODON]

10. Check it out before you leave!

http://www.jewishworldreview.com/0404/chafets_columbia.php3

[redherring]

11. The answer is no

and I haven't even looked it up.

[WinkyDink]

16. Heh. My thoughts exactly.

What's to wonder?

[DaveinMD]

2. women

probably aren't allowed to go out in public without a man in that country.

[Wordie]

5. Interestingly, they have a new woman Finance Minister...

...who drives to work

...herself

...and voted in the last election

...like other women in the UAE.


Are there any other stereotypes you might like to have debunked?

[KoKo]

14. Did you check out her hubby? .......

"Wired" magazine has an article about their lifestyle. Just as everywhere, if you are Ken Lay's wife (when he was riding high) you can have "certain privileges" ....that aren't always available to the "masses of folks" who are just poor or plan folks or lower middle class folks folks...


<http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/12.07/dubai.html?pg=3&topic=dubai&topic_set=>

[juajen]

3. Oh, KoKo

That's rich!

[KoKo]

7. Here's a little more about "Womens Rights in Bahrain:"

Bahrain- Freedom House Survey Summary

After gaining independence from Britain in 1971, the monarch Isa Al-Khalifa abolished the country’s constitution, dissolved the national assembly and enforced Emergency and State Security Laws. Civil society organizations and political parties were banned and the monarch served as the head of all three branches of the Bahraini government. IN 1999, the monarch’s son, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa ascended to the throne and implemented measured political reforms resulting in the creation of a bi-cameral parliament, political rights for women and amnesty for political prisoners. The work of women NGOs remains limited and restricted.

Nondiscrimination and Access to Justice: 2.2

The monarch issued a new constitution in 2002 which in its wording stated that it would work to maintain a balance between a woman’s family obligations and employment and to help equal status of men and women within the bounds of Shari’a. Bahrain’s nationality law does not allow women to pass nationality on to their foreign husbands or to their children. They may sponsor their spouses for employment. Women are entitled to equal access to the judicial system but often face discrimination within the courts. Outside of Shari’a courts a woman’s testimony is equal to that of a man’s. Domestic abuse remains difficult to prove or prosecute since the victimization takes place inside the home and witnesses aside from family members are not present. Family pressure tends to deter a woman from seeking justice. Outside of marriage incidents such as rape or assault are subject to punishment; however, other laws encourage leniency against such aggressors by allowing rapists to marry their victims in order to avoid punishment. Murderers in the case of adultery are also given lighter sentences.

There are currently 14 NGOs in Bahrain working on women’s issues but the Societies Law allows the Ministry of Social Affairs to intervene in the internal affairs of NGOs.

Autonomy, Security and Freedom of the Person: 2.3

While reforms have expanded the general rights of Bahrainis, many curtailments of personal freedom still persist. All individuals are free to practice their religions but conversion within Islam between the Sunni sect and Shia sect are is not favored. There are no legal restrictions against a women’s freedom of movement but social practices persist in regulating travels or activities outside the home.

Family law is not codified in Bahrain leaving women subject to male judges’ interpretations of Shari’a. Marriage contracts for Sunni brides require the permission of a guardian. Torture or degrading treatment is prohibited in the country and there are no reports of prisoners being abused. Female prisoners do not need to have a male guardian for release from jail. Treatment of foreign workers particularly domestic help, are reportedly subjected to many forms of abuse and their cases tend not to be examined seriously. Bahrain has public indecency laws but women are generally embarrassed to report incidents for fear of tarnishing their reputation. Only two women’s organizations offer legal and social counseling services.

Economic Rights and Equal Opportunity: 2.9

Bahrain is pursuing a course of economic diversification and development of small to medium-sized industries. Women’s lack of familiarity and access to business and commercial procedures pose obstacles to their contributions in this sector. Women may own and dispose of their property but typically pass on the responsibility of administering properties to male relatives. Non-Muslim women can’t inherit from their Muslim husbands and Shia wives may not inherit land. Shia daughters inherit everything from their fathers if they have no brothers but Sunni daughters.

Education is free through the secondary level and female enrolment in universities exceeds that of males except in the schools of engineering. Female graduates tend to pursue jobs in education or in the public sector which are now unable to support new graduates. Gender discrimination in hiring practices particularly in the private sector is common as well as disparities in wages and training received.

Political Rights and Civic Voice: 2.1

All citizens have the right to suffrage and to run for elections. Freedom of expression and association are guaranteed in the constitution. The state-owned television has expanded programming and has covered issues such as violence against women and political rights. The number of female journalists is on the rise.

NGOs are still prevented from engaging in political activities. Not one woman was elected to the both the municipal or national councils and all judges in Bahrain are male. Women have been active in the political societies that have sprouted across the country and the monarch has appointed a number of women to high-level posts such as ambassadors and ministers.

Social and Cultural Rights: 2.8

Medical care in public hospitals is provided free of charge for citizens. The high standard of living contributes to health awareness and access. Health services such as education and birth control are also provided and do not require a husbands consent. There are no accurate statistics on poverty and gender. A few NGOs serve to enhance women’s participation in economic life by educating them on access to micro-credit and promotion of traditional crafts.

http://www.ecwregypt.org/English/researches/2005/womenstatusFH.htm

[immoderate]

8. Is there a kosher deli?

Can you get a good pastrami sandwich?

--IMM

[KoKo]

9. I would imagine so....after all the Mossad must have some folks there...

:D Wouldn't ya think? Maybe there are even some hot dogs from "Sabrett" with the "works" for our CIA folks, too...

[adriennui]

13. i'm a jewish woman (non-practicing)

i don't have a stereotypically jewish last name nor do i look jewish. would i be welcomed with open arms in the UAE?

are there questionnaires about religion upon entering the country.

[KoKo]

12. In fairness " Highness Scheikha Fatima bint Mubarak" is trying for change!

Fatima renews support for Arab women's issues
http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/03/06/02/89103.html

11/25/2005 03:03 PM | WAM

Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, wife of President His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and Chairwoman of the uae General Women's Union, has renewed her commitment to support and bolster common Arab women's work.

In a statement to wam on the occasion of the extra-ordinary meeting of the Executive Council of the Arab Women's Organisation, Sheikha Fatima welcomed the formation of the organisation which, she said, came into being in the wake of incessant efforts by Arab First Ladies, who felt obliged by their responsibilities towards their nations to revitalise women's role in the development of their societies.

"We look forward to a greater role by this organisation. We believe it will bolster cooperation among Arab women with the ultimate aim of improving their lot and enhancing their participation in the development of their countries.

"It will also be a forum for exchanging views and expertise on women's issues and coordinate position ahead of international meetings," Sheikha Fatima said.

"We remain hopeful that this move would increase women awareness about their issues and thereby help them take a proactive role in finding solutions for them," she said, adding: "We will exert every effort to make the work of the organisation a success. We are hopeful that the organisation will succeed, given the policies that it has laid down so far and the framework of its activities."

She commended the organisation's strategies on eradicating illiteracy, legislations and improvement of women's image in the media.

The extraordinary meeting, which was held in Amman, elected Dr. Waduda Abdul Rahman as President of the Arab Women Organisation.

Meanwhile, the uae General Women's Union has set up a website providing information on the nation-wide "Mosques Week" which began on May 30.

The event is being organised under the patronage of Sheikha Fatima. The website, updated daily, will provide information on various aspects of the week, including the role of mosques as places for inculcating proper Islamic values.

The event is held as part of the goodwill initiatives launched by the Uae in line with the directives of the uae leadership to promote good values throughout the country.

[newyawker99]

15. KoKo01

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