Research-Led Advocacy and Strategic Collaborations promoting Equal Rights For Muslim Women

This presentation critically reflects on the UEL research led advocacy experience while working on gender equality issues in the Muslim world. Since 2005, UEL has collaborated extensively with United Nations agencies, the World Bank, governments, Muslim stakeholders such as the Arab League and the Al Azhar, and women’s groups to create new knowledge, strategies and capacities as prominently recognised by the UN State of the Arab Cities Report 2012.

In the first part, the presentation introduces the complexities, challenges and opportunities of researching gender equality through land and property rights in the Muslim world. Using case studies from the author’s experience in Afghanistan, Iraq, Morocco, Malaysia, Kenya and Indonesia, the presentation briefly highlights the methodological and substantive contributions made to the human rights and development in the Muslim world.

The second part assesses the impact of UEL innovative and policy based research on Islamic law and gender equality on a range of fronts and the lessons learnt.

The presentation is intended as an opportunity to update and dialogue on a strand of the broader UN funded UEL research and follow up activities which have entered its third phase.