November 15 - December 5

The following are summaries of democratic reform-related articles that appeared in newspapers from the region between November 15 and December 5:

BAHRAIN

• The Bahraini Ministry of Labor participated in meetings for the Trade Unions Freedom committee in Bahrain, which concluded in recommendations to enhance the respect, maintenance, and preserving of unions’ rights and freedom in member countries.  Other recommendations included the call for labor unions to achieve greater representation of Arab working women in the union’s board of directors, and call for the Arab labor organization to hold periodical conferences on free unions. Al Ayam Nov. 15.
  
  
• Non-governmental organizations and civil societies met at the Bahrain Human Rights Society to draft a new law that will be presented to the Ministry of Social Development and parliament.  According to Bahrain Human Rights Society chairman Abdulnabeel Al Ekri, the draft had already been written but a closer scrutiny revealed that it did not conform to the legal pattern. Bahrain Tribune Nov. 24
  
  
• The Sixth Higher Education conference held by the College of Education in Bahrain University, concluded on November 22, and discussed development of higher education curriculum and systems.  It also called for stronger ties between the university and the society, so that the university can participate in the development process by supplying qualified and trained human resources.  The conference also called for recognizing the university as an experienced entity serving civil society organizations.  Al Ayam November 23
  
  
• A study presented by the Bahrain Institute for Studies revealed that 59% of society individuals believe in the existence of abuse against women, and 53% of individuals believe that the cause of this abuse is the woman herself.  Women organization in Bahrain attribute violence against women to the kingdom’s lack of legislations protecting women, especially the draft family law, which is backed by women activists, but is still in limbo because it was rejected by religious scholars. Al Ayam Nov. 24
  
  
• The General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions, which held a workshop last week for trade unions, said they were keeping abreast with rules guiding union movements. The workshop was held under the auspices of the International Labor Organization and the International Congress of Trade Unions. ILO and ICTU delegates were present.  The focus was on the guidelines set for industries under the rules of the World Trade Organization. During the conference, trade unions have vowed to work within the framework of internationally-accepted procedures for collective bargaining, strikes and settling labor disputes. Bahrain Tribune December 5.
  

JORDAN

• Slowly but surely, the growing prominence of politically active youth is becoming increasingly visible, officials and activists agreed.  From playing prominent roles in campaigns to actively participating in debates and political tents, young persons are no longer shying away from politics and many are taking notice, they said.  The Higher Council for Youth (HCY) is one of several organizations that has taken the initiative to encourage the youth to participate in the upcoming parliamentary elections. The council has been operating 80 youth centres across the Kingdom, and has worked to spread the message that elections are not just for the old, wealthy or powerful.  Together with Jordan Youth, a grassroots organisation, the HCY has poured limited resources into promoting youth participation.  Jordan Times November 18
  
  
• On November 18, The Ministry of Justice launched a JD1 million "Future Judges Fund" to fill future judicial positions with a new generation of qualified judges, Minister of Justice Sharif Zu'bi said.  The fund will help excelling high school and university students hoping to become judges to complete their bachelor's or master's degrees in the United Kingdom, Director of the Judicial Institute of Jordan (JIJ) Judge Mansour Hadidi said yesterday.  The fund is part of the Justice Ministry's overall strategy to develop the judicial system by supplying it with qualified judges, Hadidi said.  Jordan Times Nov. 19
  
  
• Women associations and civil society organizations completed a draft list of demands related to women’s issues, in conjunction with the Jordan National Committee for Women Affairs, to be presented to the new parliament. According to Asma Khader, Secretary General of the Committee, the document seeks to implement the national strategy in general and the national strategy section on women (2006-2010) in particular, in order to be able to respond to Jordanian women’s needs. Al Arab Al Yawm Nov. 19.
  
  
• Around 54 per cent of eligible voters cast their ballots in Tuesday’s legislative elections, that saw at least one woman elected outside of the six-seat women’s quota and a number of arrests related to vote-buying. The highest turnout was recorded in Tafileh with 82 per cent and the lowest in Amman’s 2nd District with 32 per cent. Jordan Times Nov. 21.
  
  
• The Youth Magazine issued a special monthly edition on the occasion of the 2007 parliamentary elections, and the role of the youth in these elections.  The special edition included description of programs and activities of the youth council in technology and in the cultural areas.  Al Arab Al Yawm November 23.
  
  
• The National Democratic Front, which consists of four leftist and Arabist parties, called for the cancellation of political parties law, and replace it with a law that limits restrictions on forming political parties.  The Front also called for reviewing the election law and immediately work on cancelling the one-vote system.  In a statement issued by the Front, it requested the cancellation of the rights of association law and create laws with less restrictions on the formation of labor and teachers unions. Al Arab Al Yawm December 2

KUWAIT

SAUDI ARABIA

UAE        

YEMEN