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Announcement Ibn Rushd
Prize for Freedom of Thought 2006
Call for
Nomination The Ibn Rushd
Fund for Freedom of Thought will award its Prize 2006 to a politically committed Arab woman who has rendered outstanding services to
freedom of thought, equal rights and
democracy in the Arab world For as long as one can think
men have held the monopoly on politics in Arab societies. Despite this fact,
some women have managed to break through this supremacy and to become
involved in political struggle. Because of their commitment they have become
examples for future generations. Among the subjects that have
most interested women were subjects like independence, equal rights, equality
of opportunity, and human rights. No society is able to develop
and work for progress and a promising future, if this is done within a way of
thinking based on the principle of the exclusion of women. However, this is
what happens in many Arab
countries. Women are not being allowed to play an important part in moulding
political processes. They are excluded from participating in any
responsibility and decision making. At the very most, they are
allocated marginal roles; in reality, they do not have any influence on
fields also important for women. Women are struggling on all
levels for a participation in political life – on legal, economical and
social level, but first of all on the political level. In developing Arab
countries, the fact that politics has such a big impact on all these fields –
jurisprudence, economy, society – politicians bear a great responsibility in
undertaking the necessary reforms. We think that women’s fight for
their emancipation in the Arab world plays a main role in bringing about
social change. Despite their limited freedom ,there have been many examples
of politically committed women that deserve the highest respect and honor. The Ibn Rushd Fund
for Freedom of Thought has expressly decided to award this year's prize to a
woman in order to draw attention to the important role of women in society. Any person or organisation who is interested may nominate a woman whom
he or she thinks worthy of the prize.
Please send your proposal per letter or e-mail before the 15th of
May 2006 to the address below and state the reasons for your choice in a
short text. Please also attach a short biography of the candidate. These
proposals will be passed on to the members of an independent jury who will
select the winner from among the proposals. Last opportunity for nomination
is May 15th, 2006. Ibn Rushd Fund for Freedom
of Thought, Wiesenstr. 53, 16352 Schoenwalde, Germany |