This kind of questioning on traditional Arab (Muslim) attitudes of females is needed to be asked by all members of parliament. I take this as a sign that things are indeed moving forward in breaking taboos on what can be spoken about.
The MP was concerned about the attitude of Arabs – “consider the right to control”
Speaker for the National Coalition Party, Veera Ruoho left a written question on equality in Arab countries.
Speaker Veera Ruoho asks in her written question “how does the government take into account the results of a large gender equality research and ensure that gender equality is also realized in the case of immigrant girls, and that gender equality is not diminished in Finland or violence against girls and women “.
She refers to the extensive study of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Promotion NGO, the Understanding Masculinities – International Men and Gender Equality Survey (Images), which was completed this year.
According to a news report, for example, in theHelsingin Sanomat , “for the majority of Arabs, gender equality is still an abomination” . Veera Ruoho states that, according to the study, “these men support the traditional division of roles and hold the right to control their wives and daughters.”
Ruoho lists the findings in the question survey. For example, in Egypt, 70 percent of men support female genital mutilation. In Morocco, 91 percent of men still want to know where his wife is. 81 percent of Palestinian men do not allow a wife to have any male friends.
– Further, the study tells that many men discipline their wife both mentally and physically. In addition, the study finds that strange women are being harassed on the street for both “fun” and therefore because a woman “provokes”, the question is stated.
According to Ruoho, it is important to take into account in the policy decisions that the results of a broad research result that there are significant differences in gender equality between people in different countries and cultures.
“As culture, customs and attitudes go hand in hand, it is important that the results of the research are better taken into account and through concrete measures in development cooperation, civilian crisis management and immigration integration programs,” says Ruoho.
She also points out that during the reception of asylum seekers, it is important to take into account the situation of girls and women’s rights in the country they’re coming from.