Statement by Wiener Akademikerbund at Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting November 6, 2009

Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting:

Gender equality, with a special focus on combating violence against women

5 November 2009–6 November 2009, Vienna

Wiener Akademikerbund

In cooperation with and endorsed by

International Civil Liberties Alliance, Mission Europa, Pax Europa

Regarding the basic questions of western civilization and its rule of law with special focus on the view of gender in religious communities, we recommend that participating States look into the practices of religious communities whether their views of human rights and gender equality are constitutional.

For instance:

1. What views of women’s rights is Female Genital Mutilation based on?
2. What does the religious ruling on headscarves tell us about men and their views?
3. What is the definition of female gender if it is not considered a legal person or its testimony in court counts only as half of that of a man?

These fundamental questions need to be asked. In order to successfully integrate religious communities into western civilization a very basic discussion on gender matters needs to take place.

In addition, religious communities should be required to what extent their image of women fits in with western civilization.