Sexual rights of women in the Middle East and Mediterranean

Abstract

Human rights are declared to be universal, inalienable and applicable to all. An investigation of the situation in which women lead their lives in the Middle East and North Africa region. will unfortunately prove this stance erroneous. Especially the part of women's rights concerning sexual rights is severely breached. Women face deprivation of their sexual rights in many aspects. The society to begin with, is thus formed so as to exclude women from the public life. Women are forced to stay at home and exercise the only roles appointed to them, that of a mother and a wife. When they attempt to enter the male domain, they have to veil themselves m order to control their "unrestrained" sexuality. When they finally manage to enter this realm and participate in the economic life, women are faced with discrimination and harassment at the working place, with the only aim to discourage and send them back home, where they no longer a consist threat. In the actual home the situation can even be worse. Women are subjected to violence and even marital rape which remains unaccepted. Female members of the Arab family are also due to be subjected to female genital mutilation, an unacceptable practice of the past that still persists. The strong family foundations which allow male members to have the prevailing view over women's sexuality, are further evident in the non acceptance of female premarital intercourses and of course illegitimate children. In such instances honour killings are the way to restore the family's reputation. Directly or not, under this threat, women are forced to carry out abortions or virginity tests under dangerous health conditions and high expenses.