Syria’s First Lady Latifa Al Droubi, Wife Of Syria’s Interim President, Debuts At Antalya Diplomacy Forum In Turkey
New Age Islam News Bureau
13 April 2025
• Syria’s First Lady Latifa Al Droubi, Wife Of Syria’s Interim President, Debuts At Antalya Diplomacy Forum In Turkey
• Child Advocate Sharifa Ali-Abdullah: Protect, And Rehabilitate Children Who Had Suffered Abuse Or Neglect
• Saudi Arabia To Train More Than 25,000 Women In Artificial Intelligence And Emerging Technologies
• How Women Are Revolutionising Bangladesh Agriculture
• Iranian Women’s Struggle: A Global Call for Solidarity
• European Draughts-64 Championship Among Men And Women Started In Türkiye
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/interim-president-syria-antalya-turkey/d/135148
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Syria’s First Lady Latifa Al Droubi, Wife Of Syria’s Interim President, Debuts At Antalya Diplomacy Forum In Turkey
By Fidel Rahmati
April 12, 2025
Syria’s First Lady, Latifa al-Droubi, made her debut at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, engaging in talks on women’s and children’s welfare.
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Latifa al-Droubi, the wife of Syria’s interim president, attended the 4th Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey on April 11-13, where she met with Turkey’s First Lady Emine Erdoğan.
The event, which gathered senior officials, diplomats, and political figures from various countries, served as an opportunity to strengthen regional cooperation and discuss global issues. However, Latifa al-Droubi’s notable presence at the conference drew significant attention from Arab media outlets.
Al-Droubi, who had previously maintained a low public profile and was often seen wearing long black traditional Arab attire, appeared at the Antalya Forum in a different style of dress, similar to that of her Turkish counterpart.
After meeting with Mrs. al-Droubi, Emine Erdoğan shared on social media that they discussed joint projects aimed at improving the lives of Syrian women and children, expressing hope that these steps would lead to lasting peace and stability in the region.
Arab media have reported that al-Droubi’s appearance at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum marks her first official presence at an international event since her husband, Ahmad al-Shara, assumed the role of Syria’s interim president.
Latifa al-Droubi, born in 1984 in Homs, Syria, and from the prominent Droubi family, holds a master’s degree in Arabic language and literature and is the mother of three sons. Her increasing visibility, particularly at international events, reflects a shift in her husband’s approach toward public relations.
This change is also reflected in Ahmad al-Shara’s efforts to present himself in a more moderate light, having previously been known as Abu Mohammad al-Julani and the leader of the al-Nusra Front. By including his wife in official functions, he seeks to present a modern, balanced image of Syria’s transitional government.
Al-Droubi’s presence at international gatherings, wearing traditional yet more freely styled clothing, further solidifies al-Shara’s stance on not imposing compulsory veils or social restrictions on women, demonstrating his commitment to a more liberal approach.
While the Taliban, who once welcomed the victory of the al-Sham group led by Sharaa, have now excluded women and girls from all social spheres in Afghanistan.
This stark contrast in social policies, particularly regarding women’s rights, raises renewed questions about the Taliban’s international legitimacy and the contradictory positions of some regional Islamist factions.
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Child Advocate Sharifa Ali-Abdullah: Protect, And Rehabilitate Children Who Had Suffered Abuse Or Neglect
13-04-2025
Sharifa Ali-Abdullah
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An economist by profession, Sharifa Ali-Abdullah graduated from the prestigious Columbia University in New York—an Ivy League institution—with a Master’s Degree in Economic Policy Management.
Five years later, her pioneering work laid the foundation for what would become a national mandate to care for, protect, and rehabilitate children at risk or those who had suffered abuse or neglect.
While she describes it as one of the most rewarding experiences of her life, the journey came at a personal cost. The emotional toll of the work deeply affected her mental well-being.
“I got it started. After five years, my doctor was saying, ‘You have to stay there and look at the issues of child protection, I would look after your health, don’t worry.’ But I was burnt out, and I left.”
Ali-Abdullah then applied for the position of Assistant Resident Representative of the UNDP, a post she secured. For her the achievement was a full-circle moment.
“That is the Deputy Head of Office in Trinidad and Tobago that covers Aruba, Curacao and St Marteen, I’ve been there since. We deal with poverty alleviation, climate action and good governance.”
With over 20 years of diverse development experience, Ali-Abdullah has worked closely with heads of government, and finance and planning ministers and served in several senior positions including CEO, senior coordinator and senior economist within key public sector agencies in T&T, including the Office of the Prime Minister and Ministry of Finance. She has also worked in several countries in the Caribbean, including Barbados, Dominica, Antigua and Jamaica.
The part-time lecturer at the University of the West Indies was also part of the top team that planned and executed several major conferences in the Caribbean including the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2009, the Fifth Summit of the Americas and the 4th Global Conference for Small Island Developing States.
While policy development has played a huge role in her career, Ali-Abdullah’s heart has always been with children. She spent the first eight years of her working career as a teacher and continues to work with children through the M2 Hope Foundation, a charity set up in honour of her parents to assist and inspire underprivileged children to realise their potential.
“She herself was not able to move beyond the primary school level but she ensured that all her four daughters were educated. As Muslim women education is fundamental and compulsory. A lot of people think you don’t have to educate Muslim women. Education is very dear to us, it was my mother’s vision and my family has very strong women.
“Through the foundation, we have provided laptops and school books for children. We do not advertise, we work with the Imams and social workers in the communities.”
The economist has also worked on the policy level with several Muslim organisations as well. She has developed and implemented numerous programmes, projects and seminars for women and children.
“I think it is important to document our history as Muslim women because we don’t have the kind of cultural baggage that other Muslim women may have across the world, we are so liberated we have so many opportunities to excel to self-actualise.
“I always wanted to work in the foreign service, that’s why I studied economics and languages, Spanish and French, I didn’t get the job, they said no vacancies when I applied. I actually went full circle and now I’m into international development with the UN.
“Through my jobs, I’ve been able to travel extensively and see the issues which affect women and it really reflects how fortunate we are. I think it is important to examine the factors and variables and how do we help our Muslim sisters.”
Source: Www.Guardian.co.tt
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Saudi Arabia To Train More Than 25,000 Women In Artificial Intelligence And Emerging Technologies
April 12, 2025
Gulf News Report
Dubai: Saudi Arabia has surpassed all other nations in female representation in the artificial intelligence workforce, according to the newly released Stanford AI Index Report 2025.
The report, published by Stanford University’s Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence, found that the Kingdom now has the highest female-to-male ratio in AI-related employment globally, a milestone driven by a national strategy to empower women and build world-class AI capabilities under Saudi Vision 2030.
The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA)’s Elevate program, developed in partnership with Google Cloud, aims to train more than 25,000 women in AI and emerging technologies. The initiative is one of many to position women as active leaders in the digital economy, and to close long-standing gender gaps in science and technology.
The Kingdom's progress in AI extends beyond gender parity. Saudi Arabia also ranked third globally for AI job growth in 2024. It secured fourth place in the number of leading AI models, alongside global powerhouses such as the United States, China, and France.
Saudi Arabia has also adopted a comprehensive strategy to drive massive progress in AI, focusing on strengthening infrastructure, developing local talent, fostering international partnerships, and implementing forward-thinking regulations.
With SDAIA leading the charge, the Kingdom has launched various initiatives, including national AI Olympiads, university talent accelerators, and global research collaborations, aimed at building a robust and innovative AI landscape.
Saudi Arabia’s large language model “Alam,” for instance, has been recognized by platforms such as Hugging Face and IBM’s watsonx for its quality in Arabic generative capabilities—cementing the Kingdom’s role as a force in developing culturally relevant AI technologies.
The report also highlighted the establishment of the International Center for AI Research and Ethics (ICAIRE) in Riyadh, launched under the umbrella of UNESCO. The center is envisioned as a global hub for responsible AI governance, underscoring the Kingdom’s ambition not only to lead in innovation, but to shape the global norms around AI development.
Source: gulfnews.Com
https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/saudi/saudi-arabia-more-women-than-men-in-the-ai-sector-1.500091730
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How Women Are Revolutionising Bangladesh Agriculture
Susmita Das
Apr 13, 2025
In Bangladesh's economy, agriculture plays a vital role in providing livelihoods for around 45.33 percent of the total labour force and contributing 11.38 percent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Women are an indispensable part of the agricultural workforce. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), women's agricultural work spans not only production but also post-harvest activities, such as processing, packaging, and marketing. These activities are essential in ensuring food security and promoting economic sustainability in rural communities. They are also associated with safe food production. However, despite their significant contributions, women's roles in agriculture are often underappreciated and undervalued, with numerous challenges, such as limited access to land, financial services, training, and modern technology, primarily due to entrenched social norms and gender biases.
According to the Labour Force Survey (LFS) 2022 of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), the participation of women aged 15 and above in agriculture is 26.2 percent, while the rate for their male counterparts is 19.2 percent.
The country's highest employment-creating sector is gradually becoming dominated by females, with their engagement in agriculture and every agricultural subsector, including poultry and livestock, fisheries, and horticulture. The transformation that has been occurring for over a decade has already had a positive impact on the overall participation of women in the labour force in farming, while men are switching to urban services. The migration of men to urban areas in search of higher-paying jobs, as traditional farming becomes less lucrative, particularly in crop production, has left women to manage agricultural activities to support their families' income.
The "feminisation of agriculture" is a growing phenomenon, as increasing numbers of women assume leadership roles in the sector. This shift can be attributed to several factors, such as livestock rearing, poultry farming, post-harvest operations, and seed preservation. Approximately 63 percent of women in rural areas are involved in preserving local seeds, which ensures biodiversity and sustainability in farming practices.
Women are predominantly responsible for managing cattle, poultry, and goats, which play a critical role in household nutrition and income. They are also essential in managing post-harvest activities, such as winnowing, sorting, primary processing, and storing crops. By managing diverse agricultural activities, women contribute to the availability of nutritious food, improving the health and well-being of their families.
Land ownership is a key determinant of agricultural production, yet women in Bangladesh face substantial challenges when it comes to owning or inheriting land.
According to the World Bank, only around 13 percent of women have sole or joint ownership of agricultural land, compared to 70 percent of men. For economic empowerment, Bangladeshi women need equal property rights. Cultural norms often prioritise male inheritance, and property laws frequently favour men, leaving women with little legal control over the land they work. This lack of control means women are unable to make independent decisions about farming practices, investments, or business opportunities. Furthermore, they are less likely to receive financial support from banks, which require land as collateral for loans.
Women in Bangladesh are also lagging in financial credit. The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) reports that women in rural Bangladesh are 20 percent less likely to access formal credit than men, primarily due to their lack of land ownership and social exclusion from financial institutions. This financial exclusion restricts women's ability to invest in technology or agricultural inputs, thus limiting their productivity and income potential.
Access to modern agricultural inputs and technology is also crucial for enhancing productivity. However, many women in rural Bangladesh are unable to access new technologies due to gender biases, lack of training, and limited mobility. According to a report from the Bangladesh Rural Development Board (BRDB), less than 30 percent of rural women have received agricultural training, compared to over 70 percent of men. Without access to modern farming techniques, women remain stuck in subsistence farming, unable to increase yields or improve efficiency.
To unlock the full potential of women in agriculture and address these challenges, several strategies must be implemented, such as legal reforms to ensure that women have equal access to land and property rights. The government should promote joint land ownership models, where both men and women in a household have legal control over the land. Creating gender-sensitive land registration processes and ensuring that women's names appear on land titles would allow women to secure loans and make independent decisions about farming. The World Bank has suggested that empowering women through secure land tenure could significantly increase agricultural productivity, as women tend to reinvest their earnings into their families and communities.
To enable women farmers to invest in modern agricultural practices, access to credit must be improved. Financial institutions should develop gender-sensitive loan products tailored to the needs of women farmers, with lower collateral requirements and flexible repayment terms. The microcredit programme, which Bangladesh has pioneered, provides some microfinance loans to rural women. Additionally, the Bangladesh Bank should encourage gender-responsive banking practices and create schemes that prioritise women's access to financial resources.
Access to modern agricultural inputs and technology is essential for increasing productivity. Technological innovation plays a significant role in alleviating the labour-intensive nature of agriculture. Several women-friendly technologies have been introduced in Bangladesh to ease the burden of agricultural work. Fodder chopper machines simplify the chopping of grass for cattle feed, saving women valuable time and effort. This is a prime example of women-friendly technology that is making a significant impact on the lives of female farmers in rural Bangladesh. Hermetic Storage Bags provide an efficient and safe method for storing seeds, reducing the risks of pest infestations and moisture-related losses. They have proven to be especially beneficial for women who are responsible for seed preservation. BAU-STR Dryers, developed by Bangladesh Agricultural University, reduce grain loss during the drying process to 0.5 percent, compared to the 3-4 percent loss using traditional methods. The dryers are user-friendly and help maintain the quality of grain.
Paddy, wheat, and maize threshing are mechanised, which is considered women-friendly and affordable. Women's groups may organise themselves as service providers. Small-scale food processing, such as milk-based cheese, sweetmeats, and pickles, may be organised through self-help groups, and relevant micro-enterprise organisations may support them with skill development and business opportunities.
The government and NGOs should subsidise agricultural inputs, such as fertilisers, high-yielding seed varieties, and irrigation equipment for women farmers, including solar panel-based irrigation. Agricultural extension services should be restructured to be more inclusive of women, offering training programmes that cater to their specific needs. Female extension officers can help connect women farmers to resources and provide tailored advice on farming techniques, climate-smart practices, and pest management.
On a positive note, women are increasingly participating in agricultural education, with about 40 percent of women enrolled in universities and training institutes. Thirty percent of women are engaged in agricultural extension, and 12 percent in agricultural research. This may be exploited in women-friendly agricultural programmes to intensify agricultural production and farm profitability. The Department of Agricultural Extension has made it mandatory to include women in forming farmers' clubs and farm schools. The farming system research approach has mainstreamed nutrition and safe food production, and women are participating in the programmes and receiving training on safe and nutritious production.
Education and training are crucial for enhancing women's agricultural productivity. Agricultural training programmes should be designed to address the specific needs of women, offering flexible schedules and locations. In addition to farming skills, women should be trained in business management, marketing, and financial literacy to help them manage their agricultural enterprises effectively.
For sustainable growth in agriculture, women must be included in decision-making processes at all levels. Encouraging women to take leadership roles in agricultural cooperatives and community organisations will ensure their voices are heard in policy and programme development. At the national level, policymakers should work to integrate women's perspectives into agricultural planning, ensuring that policies are designed to address the specific needs of female farmers.
The feminisation of agriculture in Bangladesh and South Asia is transforming the agri-food system. Women's participation has been recognised in all relevant policies. Accordingly, several programmes are being implemented—however, such programmes should be well coordinated. A favourable public policy environment and women-friendly farm operations need to be synchronised with an adequate R&D system. The organised farming and post-production system should be supported in entrepreneurship development. Capacity building of the farming community will be a prime task to make them a more productive segment of society.
Source: Www.thedailystar.net
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Iranian Women’s Struggle: A Global Call for Solidarity
April 12, 2025
In a powerful statement of unity, 651 prominent women leaders, including former heads of state, ministers, jurists, and human rights defenders from over 80 countries, have expressed their unwavering support for Iranian women’s struggle for freedom, democracy, and human rights. This statement, presented to Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), during a major event on International Women’s Day 2025, calls for global action against the Iranian regime’s oppressive “Chastity and Hijab” law. The world is rallying behind the courageous Iranian women who, for decades, have led the fight against dictatorship, injustice, and gender-based repression. Their slogan—“No to compulsory veil, no to compulsory religion, and no to compulsory government”—resonates louder than ever.
Join the global movement to stand with Iranian women and girls against the repressive “Chastity and Hijab” law.[1] This law is not only an assault on women’s fundamental freedoms but also enforces a police-state apparatus across society. It constitutes a blatant violation of international human rights standards aimed at crushing dissent and silencing those who fight for equality and justice.
The condemnation of the Iranian regime’s misogynistic policies and systematic oppression of women is a demand shared by women’s rights advocates, human rights organizations, and freedom-loving individuals worldwide.
This law has been described as “criminal, inhumane, and anti-Islamic” by Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI). She emphasizes the Iranian Resistance’s longstanding slogan and demand: “No to compulsory veil, No to compulsory religion, and No to compulsory government.”
She highlights that women have been at the forefront of the struggle for democracy, human rights, and justice, with thousands executed over the past four decades in the fight against the religious dictatorship. Nearly a thousand women in Ashraf 3, members of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI), have become symbols of freedom-seeking Iranian women. Mrs. Rajavi urges all freedom-loving people worldwide to stand in solidarity with Iranian women under the banner of “Woman, Resistance, Freedom.”
We call on women’s rights advocates, human rights organizations, and freedom-loving individuals worldwide to amplify their voices and pressure international institutions to demand the abolition of this inhumane law and hold the regime accountable for its human rights violations.
Source: Wncri.org
https://wncri.org/2025/04/12/iranian-womens-struggle/
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European Draughts-64 Championship among men and women started in Türkiye
12.04.2025
The International Draughts Federation (IDF) in accordance with the Calendar of the IDF competitions in 2025 holds in Türkiye from 11 to 20 April 2025 the European Draughts-64 Championship among men and women.
The European Championship is held separately for men and women in the disciplines: Blitz, Rapid and Classic game. The Blitz and Classic game disciplines are held according to the international/Russian version of draughts-64. The Rapid discipline is held according to the Brazilian version of draughts-64.
Source: idf64.org
https://idf64.org/2025/turkiye-to-host-european-draughts-64-championship-for-men-and-women/
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/interim-president-syria-antalya-turkey/d/135148