The United Arab Emirates has decriminalized premarital sex in a bold expansion of personal freedoms but the law has struggled to fulfill its promise.
Maya, 36, plays with her one-year-old undocumented daughter in a dank, overstuffed section of an apartment, subdivided by hinged partitions, that she shares with eight other women, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2021. A year after the United Arab Emirates decriminalized premarital sex in a bold expansion of personal freedoms, the law has struggled to fulfill its promise.
A new law that comes into effect in two weeks still does not offer unmarried women a clear path to acquiring birth certificates for their babies. At the same time, the law criminalizes women lacking such documents. Star gave only her first name for fear of reprisals. She and six other unmarried women, most of them Filipinas, described their legal battles to The Associated Press.
Some women even yearn for the previous punishment, typically one-year detention and deportation. While terrifying, it at least guaranteed a flight home and identity documents for their children. Under a new law that comes into force on Jan. 2, parents who fail to document their children face a minimum of two years in prison. It makes no reference to health authorities issuing birth certificates to single mothers. The law demands that parents marry or acquire travel documents and other paperwork to prove their children’s identities, without detailing how.Last year, as lawyers scrambled to understand the opaque legal code, women like Star walked out of jail across the country.
“These massive fundamental changes are highly welcome, but so much still needs to catch up,” said Ludmila Yamalova, managing partner of LYLAW, a firm taking on cases of unwed mothers.
México Últimas Noticias, México Titulares
Similar News:También puedes leer noticias similares a ésta que hemos recopilado de otras fuentes de noticias.
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett to Visit United Arab EmiratesThe meeting with Abu Dhabi’s crown prince will mark the first official trip to the United Arab Emirates by an Israeli leader since the countries established diplomatic ties.
Leer más »
G7 'absolutely united' over consequences if Russia invades Ukraine - U.S. officialThe G7 is absolutely united in its concerns over Russia's military build up, and the consequences for Moscow of any invasion of Ukraine, a senior U.S. State Department official said on Saturday. The official described talks among G7 foreign ministers in Britain as 'intense' and said there was still a diplomatic path to de-escalate the tensions with Russia. 'If they choose not to pursue that path, there will be massive consequences and severe costs in response, and the G7 is absolutely united in that,' she said.
Leer más »
Ronaldo penalty gives Manchester United 1-0 win at NorwichCristiano Ronaldo converted a 75th-minute penalty to give Manchester United a barely deserved 1-0 win at Norwich City in the Premier League on Saturday after the visitors struggled to create chances at Carrow Road.
Leer más »
In response to Texas abortion ban, Newsom calls for similar restrictions on assault weaponsAfter the Supreme Court declined to block an antiabortion law in Texas, Gov. Gavin Newsom pushes for a similar California law against assault rifles.
Leer más »
PM to make first official visit by Israeli premier to UAEIsraeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett says he will travel to the United Arab Emirates, the first visit to the country by an Israeli premier
Leer más »