While the United Arab Emirates keeps up its farcical image-laundering тАФ an attempt to look like a place that doesnтАЩt crack down on dissent and individual freedoms тАФ it has found another fa├зade to hide behind: International WomenтАЩs Day.
Starting March 5, Know Your Value and ForbesтАЩ 30/50 Summit will gather lead governmental figures, journalists, celebrities, businesswomen, and even activists for a multi-day womenтАЩs mentoring event in Abu Dhabi.
The only problem? It would be massively contradictory and, at best, very awkward to celebrate womenтАЩs achievements in a country ruled by a regime that denies women the basic rights that would allow them to attain those very achievements.
While the UAEтАЩs constitution formally enshrines human rights in name, and the country has made some progress in this area, in practice, it enforces blatantly discriminatory legislation, including a male guardianship system, menтАЩs rights to discipline female relatives, and unequal rights in marriage, divorce, child custody, and inheritance.
The regime that rules the UAE marginalizes Emirati women into becoming repeated victims of sexual and gender-based violence. Marital rape isnтАЩt criminalized, and a woman who refuses sexual relations with her husband without a тАЬlawful excuseтАЭ can lose her right to financial maintenance.
Other vulnerable groups are also routinely abused.
