Two faces of gender equality battle

In an article on BBC news Cherie Blair talks of gender inequality:

"Culture and religion cannot be used as an excuse for discriminating against women, Cherie Blair has argued.

Mrs Blair, ex-PM Tony Blair's wife and high-flying human rights lawyer, told the BBC: "Women and men are equal human beings and deserving of equal respect."

But she said there was a "long way to go" internationally, citing issues like divorce law in countries like Egypt.

'Fallible' interpretation

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mrs Blair said: "Religion, like everything else, is subject to interpretation. Religion is only as good as the people who operate the religion.

In her speech she will also mention orthodox Jewish communities, but asked whether gender inequality was a particular problem in Islamic countries, she replied: "I think the facts speak for themselves."

She said divorce law and laws relating to custody of children were "unfavourable to women" in many Islamic countries.

However, although in complete agreement with Mrs Blair when it comes to Islamic countries and women's rights, on her home turf, gender equality needs to address different issues. In Great Britain, as in many other countries, fathers and children are those who are in unfavorable position when it comes to divorce laws and custody. Also form an article on BBC news:

Courts 'fail fathers' says judge

A High Court judge has attacked the family justice system for wrongly penalising fathers.

Mr Justice Munby spoke out after he dealt with a man who had not seen his daughter for two-and-a-half years.

The Family Division judge said when the system fails, "and fail it does", it was more often fathers, not mothers, who were the "victims".

The father abandoned his battle for contact with his daughter, seven, after unfounded allegations by his ex-wife.

The ex-wife had not complied with court orders, said the judge. None of the parties involved in the case can be identified.

The judge said he was speaking out because public opinion over system failings had to be taken into account by the judiciary.

"There is much wrong with our system and the time has come for us to recognise that fact and to face up to it honestly.

"If we do not we risk forfeiting public confidence."

In his judgment, the judge apologised to the child and the father, who was said to be a warm and caring man.

"Whether an improved system would have provided a better outcome for this child and this father is now almost impossible to know.

"But they were denied the chance of a better outcome and for that they deserve a public, albeit necessarily anonymous, apology.

"We failed them. The system failed them."