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To me, there is nothing more unIslamic than discrimination. There is nothing more unIslamic than violence against women. And above all, there is nothing more unIslamic than terrorism the killing of innocent men, women and children. It is not easy for women in modern society, whether its in Dhaka, Doha or Dallas. Even though women's representation has been steadily increasing in parliaments since 1990, women still only occupy a total of 16 percent of seats worldwide. In the US Senate there are only 13 women Senators, while there are only 3 to 4 women Governors. In the corporate world, there are currently only 8 female CEOs of Fortune 500 companies. Women hold only 12% of seats on Board of Directors of Fortune 500 companies. In the Islamic World, there is the perception that a good leader is inherently masculine. This is because men tend to evaluate men more positively and women more negatively. Only recently, there has been representation given to women in Parliaments of certain Islamic countries. Women will be optimistic if there are more women role models in leadership. Key challenges for women in the next five years. There needs to be more of a shift in investing in programs that help more women get elected to office and appointed to leadership positions in government to build stronger democracies. First Education: Education leads to job opportunities opportunities that are critical to the empowerment of women. Second Judicial Representation: Gender equality is essential to the dispensation of justice. Third Law Enforcement: We need women in the police force and also police stations entirely run by women to address the difficulties and social stigma women face when wishing to report crimes against them.
Fourth Media: Many women are ignorant of their rights. An advertising campaign can inform women that violence against them by their family members is illegal. Fifth Hostels for Women: Womens hostels are important so that women have a place of shelter if abused by members of their family. Sixth: Availability of child care centers to facilitate women who wish to work. Seventh Credit for Women: Women need access to credit to establish business of their own. My Government opened a womans bank, run by women for women, -- although men could keep their money in it too if they wanted - because we believed that economic independence is the key to social equality. This is the model of an Islamic society that must be sustained as one billion Muslims reach a critical path in development. There is a choice. Education or ignorance. The past or the future. And central to this fork in the road is the status of women in Islamic societies. Because where opportunities for women flourish, extremism withers. And at this critical time, this time of crisis, I see signs of change that make me optimistic about the future. The model to expand rights for women has been embraced by several young, progressive, reformist leaders -- KingMohamed VI of Morocco, King Abdullah of Jordan, Sheik Hamad of Qatar and the leaders of the United Arab Emirates. These leaders are engaging in the delicate exercise of pushing women forward to jump start societal change. Step by step, empowerment cannot be denied. Economic empowerment, Legal empowerment,
The right to vote. The right to hold office. The right to lead. Do women lead differently. And I do think that women lead differently. Maybe its stereotypical, but I think that women leaders are more nurturing and sensitive to the social needs of society. Invariably, womens rights lead to further moder nization of society as educational, housing and health needs are finally met. The US and the Islamic world can accelerate this process by making democracy and pluralism a center piece of bilateral relations. But let us be frank. Democracy -- alone -- is not enough. Empowerment is not only the right to become a Prime Minister. Empowerment is the right to be economically independent. Empowerment is the right to be educated and make choices. Empowerment is the right to have the opportunity to select a career. Empowerment is the right to own property, to start a business, to flourish in the marketplace. Empowerment is the right to rationally plan and balance profession and family. So, ladies and gentlemen, the task of women over the next decade is multidimensional. The next decade cannot be a decade of confrontation and contention. It cannot be east vs. West. It cannot be men vs. women. It cannot be Islam vs. Christianity. That is what the enemies of dialogue want.
We can succeed by remaining true to the values of equality, democracy, pluralism and development. I thank the Amir of Qatar and the Brookings Institute for bringing us together here in Doha to exchange views on the future.