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Muslim women to advise Government on preventing violent extremism

Published	21 November 2007

Communities Secretary Hazel Blears today chaired the first meeting of a new Muslim Women's advisory group who have been bought together to advise Government on the role that they can play in winning hearts and minds and tackling extremism.

The National Muslim Women's Advisory Group (NMWAG) is led by 19 Muslim women representing a wide spectrum of communities, professions and traditions. They will discuss issues and concerns that are affecting Muslim women, for example access for women to mosques and their management committees and cultural barriers including honour crimes and forced marriages.

Hazel Blears believes that women have always had an invaluable role at the heart of their families, their communities and wider society; this is especially true for Muslim women.  As mothers, daughters, sisters, wives they bind their families together. As local leaders, they make their communities stronger. 

There are at least 800,000 Muslim women living in Britain today. Muslim women often have a unique moral authority at the heart of families to influence and challenge the false and perverted ideology spread by extremists and give our young people the skills and knowledge to turn their backs on hate.

The security and intelligence agencies have made clear that young men, predominately between the ages of 16-34, are most vulnerable to being drawn into violent extremism.

The Government wants to raise to a new level its work to support communities in isolating and defeating those who seek to divide. To achieve this it is vital that the silent majority have all the skills and support they need so they can have a bigger voice. 

Hazel Blears said:

"All too often the voices of Muslim women go unheard. Some don't have the confidence or skills to speak up while others face practical barriers, such as balancing family life with other roles. Wider public debate often reverts to stereotypes and preconceptions and I believe we pay too much attention to Muslim women's appearance - with perennial debate about headscarves and veils - and too little to what they say and do.

"This must change. We have to get better at listening to Muslim women, valuing their contribution to this country's economic, cultural and civic life, and opening the door for more to get involved.

"That is why I have invited a group of exciting, energetic women representing a wide spectrum of communities and traditions to advise Government on how we can do this. As ambassadors and role models, they are going to make a difference by showing just what women can achieve."

NMWAG comprises of a group of women who are in positions of leadership or are working with the communities. They will meet several times a year and are an independent informal group advising on issues to empower Muslim women and increase their participation in civic, economic and social life. NMWAG has been set up by Communities and Local Government as part of its work to prevent violent extremism.  

The Government believes that we need to do more to help the voices of moderation in our communities be heard and listened to. This group will help to encourage more women to engage with individuals at risk of being targeted by violent extremists.

The group is made up of women who have first-hand knowledge of what is happening in our communities. They will report on the progress of existing projects and suggest imaginative new ways to give Muslim women a real voice and the opportunity to play a bigger role in their community, for example:

• community leadership training courses for Muslim women and young Muslims, including work around confidence building, communication skills, negotiation and mediation;
• mentoring programmes run by the business community for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds with Muslim professionals and local business leaders providing positive role models and promoting leadership skills;
• community-led programmes that break down the barriers to the progression and participation of Muslim women in mosques and wider society, learning from organisations who are working with community projects to encourage greater access to mosques and mosque committees for women;
• local projects that promote opportunities for women and young Muslims to play a greater role in civic life such as becoming magistrates, local councillors or school governors. These help promote equality and the skills that strengthen communities resilience to extremism.

The specific remit of the group will be to:

• act as ambassadors for Muslim women at grass roots and represent their views and concerns to Government;
• provide leadership to communities and act as positive role models for Muslim women in society;
• empower Muslim women to engage more with the media on a wide range of issues and help dispel myths around the role of Muslim women in society;
• meet in the form of a round table to discuss issues and concerns that are affecting Muslim women eg access for women in Mosques.

Hazel Blears added:

"I believe Muslim women should be confident, empowered, proud of what they can do for their communities and for society. This is already a reality for many and by working together, I want to make it a reality for all."

Notes to editors

In the Preventing Violent Extremism - Winning hearts and minds Action Plan the Department for Communities committed to supporting the development of forums that would provide a focus for specific groups whose voices are not always heard, such as Muslim women.

The action plan can be viewed at: www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/preventingviolentextremism.

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