by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the
Commission
(03 April
2002)
Subject: Tragic death of 14 girls in Saudi Arabia
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The newspaper, Arab News; and Amnesty
International report that 14 girls lost their lives and dozens of others were
injured in a fire at their school in Mecca on 11 March 2002 when the
religious police (Muttawah) prevented them from fleeing the fire because they
were not wearing headscarves and no male relatives were present to collect
them. Furthermore, the religious police prevented rescue teams from entering
the school as men are not allowed to mix with women. This tragic event is a
stark illustration of the appalling effects of gender discrimination on human
life. Moreover, Saudi Arabia is a party to the Convention on the Elimination
of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). Will the Commission exert pressure on
the government of Saudi Arabia to launch an investigation as a matter of
urgency into these tragic deaths and bring those responsible to justice to
prevent similar occurrences in the future? Will the Commission make
representations to the Saudi Government to put an end to the policies and
practices which devalue the lives of women and perpetuate discrimination
against women? |