Talk to Arab women and you'll quickly learn that the controversy over the Muslim veil that rages endlessly in Europe is the least of their concerns. They face a daunting array of hardships, from spousal domination at home to gender discrimination in the workplace, and even if they happen to agree that the veil symbolizes their plight, they tend to dismiss criticism of it as a Western attack on their culture.
Because the topic of women's rights in the Arab world can be as confusing as it is culturally explosive, the report released on Thursday by a panel of distinguished Arab thinkers is a welcome guide to Arabs and outsiders alike. "Towards the Rise of Women in the Arab World" is the long-awaited fourth and final installment of the Arab Human Development Report compiled under the auspices of the United Nations Development Fund. The AHDRs, including earlier reports dealing with youth, education and freedom, are the work of scores of Arab intellectuals, scholars, writers, diplomats and development specialists who command wide respect in the region and internationally.
