PRESS RELEASE

Thursday 18th August 2005

Baroness Uddin to launch 'Muslim Women Talk' campaign

Baroness Pola Uddin will be joined, in the House of Lords today, by Muslim women from across the UK to launch 'Muslim Women Talk' a new campaign aimed at including the voices of Muslim women from all walks of life in an open and frank dialogue with the Government nationally and regionally following the London bombings of 7th July.

The campaign is organised by a coalition of British Muslim women's groups and organisations and is supported by the Home Office. Muslim Women Talk is also releasing a 'Ten Point Plan of Engagement' outlining a series of events set take place across the UK. The campaign will enable Muslim women to become more active in identifying the critical issues, concerns and solutions that they say need to be addressed in order to mitigate the involvement of young people in extremist groups and activities. In the long term, the vision of the campaign is to raise the conciousness of the diversity of ideas and opinions within the Muslim community and across the Islamic faith in general.

Key issues and concerns drawn from the 'Muslim Women Talk' campaign will inform the Home Office and government's thinking on issues including Islamophobia, extremism and inclusion. In addition, a final report containing key recommendations will be submitted to central and devolved governments for action.

Commenting on the importance of participation, Baroness Uddin, Chair of the 'Muslim Women Talk' campaign said:

'Muslim women have a vital role to play in public life and their participation has always been prominent in Islamic history. Encouraging the role of British Muslim women as a source of moral authority through their influence within families and communities is a key to unlocking the disenfranchisement and disillusion of Muslim youth in the UK.'

In addition to the series of public events, the campaign will launch www.muslimwomentalk.com, a companion website, providing an online forum for Muslim women to share their experiences as well as information, advice and links to other relevant community services.

'Establishing a broad range of open and active approaches to community engagement is at the heart of the campaign' said Humera Khan, of the An-Nisa Society.

' The Muslim Women Talk campaign is an expression of our resolve to work together with other communities, respectful of our differences and united in our shared concerns'.

For Media enquires contact:

Nationally: Office of Baroness Uddin 0207 219 8506

Scotland: Farkhanda Chaudhry - Amina - the Muslim Women's Resource Centre 07950008859

England: Humera Khan - An Nisa Society 07786846784

Wales: Shahien Taj - All Wales Saheli Association 07971292215

Notes to Editors:

1. The 'Muslim Women Talk' campaign will be launched on Thursday 18th August at 2.00pm at the Moses Room, House of Lords, London SW1A 0PW. A press conference will follow at 5.00pm.
   
   
2. Further 'Muslim Women Talk' events are planned during August and September throughout the UK, including Cardiff and Glasgow.
   
   
3. The campaign will launch a 'Ten-Point Plan of Engagement' that aims to:

• To initiate a series of meetings across the UK, to gather the views and facilitate discussions among Muslim women regarding the London bombings and the perceived and actual effects within their communities.
  
  
• To identify the critical issues that Muslim women feel need to be tackled to mitigate the involvement of young people in extremist groups and activities, and empower Muslim communities to participate confidently within civic and political structures.
  
  
• To produce an interim report comprising of key issues identified and proposed policy recommendations.
  
  
• To facilitate the report's findings and recommendations into the strategy development currently being undertaken by the Home Office Taskforce and other Government, Scottish and Welsh Executive and local government led initiatives that may develop.
  
  
• To integrate findings of the report into the current agency-led mapping of the community relations landscape following the London bombings, particularly in relation to Islamophobia and racism.
  
  
• To dessimate a final campaign report at a national public conference to be held in the autumn.
  
  
• To develop cultural and faith sensitive initiatives that empower Muslim women to engage confidentally within their communities and mainstream society.
  
  
• To develop and encourage collaborative networking among Muslim women in the political and civic sphere to improve public service delivery and community cohension.
  
  
• To facilitate dialogue between Muslim women and men to harness consensus around common goals.
  
  
• To promote dialogue, diplomacy and peaceful means in the resolution of conflicts.