Progress Amid Resistance

414 WOMEN’S RIGHTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICAre ports are dedicated to analyzing violations of women’s rights, includingtheir economic rights. Additionally, the Social Development Center is anonprofit organization established by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bintNasser al-Missned, the emir’s wife, that attempts to empower low-incomefamilies and women with the goal of creating self-sufficiency. These entitieshave stridently advocated on behalf of women, albeit within the traditionalsocial and cultural constraints.RecommendationsF The government should encourage women’s participation in the privatesector by directly addressing and, where possible, remedying thecultural stigmas associated with such work.F The government should continue to tailor academic opportunities forwomen to the actual market needs of Qatar in an effort to diversifyfuture job options for women. Additionally, high schools and universitiesshould coordinate with local businesses to create internshipprograms that involve female students in fields in which women areunderrepresented.F The government should amend Articles 94 and 95 of the labor law,which treat women as minors who are unable to make informed decisionswhen choosing their professions, and should permit women toact as representatives of Qatar abroad by allowing them to participatein the Foreign Service.F The government should actively recruit qualified female jurists to servein all levels of the judiciary, thereby expanding professional opportunitiesfor women and encouraging more women to study law.F The work of the SCFA should be expanded to prepare women forprofessional careers outside the home and should include training programsthat encourage women to work in sectors traditionally dominatedby men such as banking, science, and technology.POLITICAL RIGHTS AND CIVIC VOICEQatari women remain underrepresented in political life even within thelimited field of activity allowed by the emir, who appoints the governmentand rules without an elected parliament. Although the 2004 constitutionhas the potential to increase male and female citizens’ participation in