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at that time who contributed through waqf endowments.
Now, UIM is the first and only postgraduate university
in Malaysia focusing on enhancing students to become
balanced scholars and thinkers. UIM has several research
centres and one of them is the Centre for Women Studies,
which emphasis on the scientific aspects of women
sciences and will ensure that the dignity and interests of
women are safeguarded and enhanced.

It was a full day seminar, packed with enthusiastic
speakers and moderators contributing meaningfully in
the three sessions. There were a total of eleven speakers
plus moderators among others are UIM’s distinguished
professors, Founder and CEO of Sri Munawwarah Design
Sdn. Bhd., General Manager of Yayasan Bank Rakyat, a
Senior Professor of Law from the University of Western
Cape, and Distinguished Professors from the University of
Malaya and International Islamic University of Malaysia.

of women globally, through a number of initiatives,
such as the Convention on the Elimination of All
Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and
the Commission on the Status of Women. The UN’s
Commission on the Status of Women is the principal
global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to
the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment
of women. This is indeed a most significant achievement.
She further said that the quotation by William Ross Wallace
“For the hand that rocks the cradle, is the hand that rules
the world” may not necessarily mean the whole globe but
it can be our own family and household.

HRH Tengku Puan Pahang then touched on UIM’s initiatives The objective of this seminar was to further understand
to establish the Centre for Women Studies. She feels that the concept of rights and responsibility according to
it is a profound recognition of the critical role that women the perspective of Shari’ah and Law along with needs
play in society and human activity. Furthermore, Islam has to elaborate. In addition, it is also to clarify the rights
placed women in a central position in any society. She was and responsibility of woman as found in the Islamic
hopeful that the function and task of this Centre should be Family Law and Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act
broadened to include a whole range of activities, beyond of 1976. Coherently, the seminar was largely organised
intellectual pursuits. Courses, seminars and discussions to create awareness in regards to women’s rights in law
that are tailored to the evolving needs for women and not forgetting defense and protection available under
society must be organised on a regular basis. She would the law enforced. The sessions also were to identify the
like to see that this new Centre could make a difference in administrative weaknesses of the Islamic Family Law on
the plight of women, in all walks of life. the rights and responsibilities of women.

Before officiating the Seminar, HRH Tengku Puan Pahang Prof. Dr Muddathir Abdel Rahim El-Tayeb, Distinguished
has expressed her gratitude to the Board of Directors for Professor of UIM kicked off the first session with his topic,
honouring her to be the Patron of the Centre for Women “Human Rights for Women”. He has discussed and put
Studies with a new name, the Tunku Azizah Centre for forth his opinion that both men and women are equal
Women Studies, which she gladly accepts with hope that and have respective responsibilities. There are two most
this Centre will be able to network globally and establish important areas on rights, which are the rights of women
links with many other institutions that share its inspirations. and responsibility of men in family and public life. Role
of women can be traced during the time of Makkah
UIM President, YBhg. Tan Sri Prof. Dr Mohd Yusof Noor in his and Madinah and through the way of life of Prophet
welcoming speech has extended his humblest gratitude Muhammad (PBUH). Women played very important role
and appreciation for the kind gesture from HRH Tengku in da’wah and other Islamic struggles. For example, the
Puan Pahang to graciously consented to come to UIM on first martyr was Summayyah while the first believer was
this historic occasion. He also extended his warm welcome Sayyidatina Khadijah R.A. There are also several examples of
to all distinguished guests, speakers, and participants. He women involvement in the first and second Hijrah. Women
touched on the history of UIM, being the former Kolej Islam has participated in the first Hijrah to Ethophia and Syria.
Malaya (KIM) with the involvement of all the Malay Rulers While the second Hijrah to Madinah witnessed greater role