Musawi & ABA ROLI host the International Conference on Protecting Women’s Marriage Rights (Malaysia 2024)

Protecting Women’s Marriage Rights Across Asia

International Conference on Women’s Marriage Rights (ICWMR)
 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | 4–6 September 2024

Musawi, in collaboration with the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI), hosted the International Conference on Women’s Marriage Rights (ICWMR) from 4–6 September 2024 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The ICWMR brought together women leaders from the judiciary, academia, civil society organizations, human rights institutions, and government bodies from 8 countries across Asia to build a network of experts committed to improving the protection of women’s marriage rights (WMRs) at the national and regional level. The ICWMR convened representatives from Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines and Sri Lanka. Experts included: Honorable Justice Ayesha A. Malik (Justice, Supreme Court of Pakistan); Dara Waheda ( Manager of Advocacy, Legal Services and Research Unit, Sisters in Islam); Honourable Fauzia Viqar (Federal Ombudsperson for Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace, Government of Pakistan); Faydah Dumarpa (Commissioner, Philippines Commission on Human Rights); Honorable Justice Huzaifa Mohamed (Justice, High Court of Maldives); Honourable Justice Latifah Setyawati (Justice, Shariah Court of Indonesia); Mohna Ansari (Women and Human Rights Defender, Former Member of National Human Rights Commission (2014-2020), and Former Member of National Women Commission (2010-2014)); Pera Soparianti (Director of Swara Rahima); Honourable Rabiya Javeri Agha (Chairperson, National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR), Pakistan); Ratna Batara Munti (Coordinator of Legal Reform, Federasi LBH APIK Indonesia); Honourable Justice Ratu Ayu Rahmi (Chief Justice, Negara Religious Court of Indonesia); Rozana Isa (Executive Director, Sisters in Islam); Honourable Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz (Justice, High Court of Pakistan); Shreen Abdul Saroor (Founder, Mannar Women’s Development Federation); Syirin Junisya Mohd Ali (Senior Regional Programme Officer for Adia); Yasmin Busran Lao (Vice Chairperson, Nisa Ul-Haqq fi Bangsamoro); Zainah Anwar (Founder of Sisters in Islam and Musawah); Zakia Soman (Founder, Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan); Dr. Zarizana Abdul Aziz (Director, Due Diligence Project); and Zulaikha Shihab (Women’s Rights Advocate & Resource Development Coordinator, Musawah).

The members of the host included: Fatima Yasmin Bokhar (Chief Executive Officer, Musawi); Sevim Saadat (Director Programs, Musawi); Rehan Safder (Senior Research and M&E Officer, Musawi); Irina Goldberg (Director, Asia & the Pacific Division, American Bar Association – Rule of Law Initiative); Millan Bederu (Senior Program Officer, Asia & the Pacific Division, Rule of Law Initiative); and Elizabeth Smith (Program Officer, Center for Global Programs, Rule of Law Initiative).

The ICWMR brought together women leaders from the judiciary, academia, civil society organizations, human rights institutions, and government bodies from 8 countries across Asia to build a network of experts committed to improving the protection of women’s marriage rights (WMRs) at the national and regional level. The ICWMR convened representatives from Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines and Sri Lanka. Experts included: Honorable Justice Ayesha A. Malik (Justice, Supreme Court of Pakistan); Dara Waheda ( Manager of Advocacy, Legal Services and Research Unit, Sisters in Islam); Honourable Fauzia Viqar (Federal Ombudsperson for Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace, Government of Pakistan); Faydah Dumarpa (Commissioner, Philippines Commission on Human Rights); Honorable Justice Huzaifa Mohamed (Justice, High Court of Maldives); Honourable Justice Latifah Setyawati (Justice, Shariah Court of Indonesia); Mohna Ansari (Women and Human Rights Defender, Former Member of National Human Rights Commission (2014-2020), and Former Member of National Women Commission (2010-2014)); Pera Soparianti (Director of Swara Rahima); Honourable Rabiya Javeri Agha (Chairperson, National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR), Pakistan); Ratna Batara Munti (Coordinator of Legal Reform, Federasi LBH APIK Indonesia); Honourable Justice Ratu Ayu Rahmi (Chief Justice, Negara Religious Court of Indonesia); Rozana Isa (Executive Director, Sisters in Islam); Honourable Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz (Justice, High Court of Pakistan); Shreen Abdul Saroor (Founder, Mannar Women’s Development Federation); Syirin Junisya Mohd Ali (Senior Regional Programme Officer for Adia); Yasmin Busran Lao (Vice Chairperson, Nisa Ul-Haqq fi Bangsamoro); Zainah Anwar (Founder of Sisters in Islam and Musawah); Zakia Soman (Founder, Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan); Dr. Zarizana Abdul Aziz (Director, Due Diligence Project); and Zulaikha Shihab (Women’s Rights Advocate & Resource Development Coordinator, Musawah).

The members of the host included: Fatima Yasmin Bokhar (Chief Executive Officer, Musawi); Sevim Saadat (Director Programs, Musawi); Rehan Safder (Senior Research and M&E Officer, Musawi); Irina Goldberg (Director, Asia & the Pacific Division, American Bar Association – Rule of Law Initiative); Millan Bederu (Senior Program Officer, Asia & the Pacific Division, Rule of Law Initiative); and Elizabeth Smith (Program Officer, Center for Global Programs, Rule of Law Initiative).

Over the 3 days, the network was able to collectively reflect on existing gaps, cultivate strategic responses and build regional linkages. The group deep-dived into the the evolution & impact of WMRs in Muslim Family Law (MFL) across the region, substantive rights & reform on financial rights, polygamy, divorce and child marriage, negotiating rights in the marriage & role of Qazi’s. Hon’ble Justice Ayesha A. Malik of the Supreme Court of Pakistan delivered a keynote address on the role of the judiciary in protecting women’s marriage rights, which was followed by discussions on comparative insights and advocacy strategies relevant to judicial-led reform, access to justice, movement-building and mobilization in MFL and the role of independent human rights institutions in protecting WMRs.

Download the Agenda and Conference Materials:  https://musawi.org/icwmr-2024/

https://www.instagram.com/p/DAlkMKuisdV/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== (information about the conference also on our instagram page)