Read at U.S. Press Briefing, Fourth UN World Conference on Women, Beijing, China, September 13, 1995

The US Delegation has shown its commitment to reflecting the diversity of our country by including an American Muslim woman of Arab descent on the official delegation. As a private sector advisor to the delegation, I have been acting mainly to shed some light on the issues of this Conference that have been of particular concern to Muslim women all over the world. In this regard, I have served a dual purpose of dismantling stereotypes about Islam and Muslims and alleviating misapprehensions others may have about Americans. I have also been participating in the Muslim Women's NGO Caucus meetings which are attended by women from countries such as Pakistan, Iran, Great Britain, Sudan, Nigeria, Turkey, and Afghanistan, to name a few.

By increasing awareness within our delegation, we can be better equipped to approach others with tolerance and understanding that are critical for reaching consensus and achieving success at this Conference.

Muslim women share concerns for and commitments to improving the lives of themselves and their families by decreasing the burden of poverty, increasing access of girls to education, eliminating violence in the home and community, and calling for an end to human rights violations where they occur. And while Islam guarantees rights of women within the family and society as a whole, the major challenge facing Muslim communities is in translating the ideal concepts into reality. Muslim women need mechanisms that enable them to achieve those rights of justice and equality that are basic precepts in Islam.

Many Muslim countries have personal status codes that are based on Islamic law known as Shari'a which is a dynamic, complex process of jurisprudence that addresses issues such as mariiage, divorce and inheritance. In several instances, Muslim women today are calling for a review of certain legal interpretations that do not necessarily respond to the basic needs and realities faced by Muslim women entering the 21st century.

The process of re-evaluation is critical as Muslim women become more involved in shaping the policies and practices that directly impact their lives. Discussions and debates are taking place among Muslims who are entertaining alternative interpretations of the primary sources of Islam, namely the Qur'an and Hadith.

This Conference has enabled women from all backgrounds to become aware of the importance of their participation and leadership in resolving issues with enormous consequences for themselves and future generations. Muslim women, who number over 700 million, have a vital role to play in self-determination and implementation of their rights.