LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party propelled Morsi to power in June has posted the statement on its Web site, www.ikhwanweb.com, and the Web site of the party.

According to the Muslim Brotherhood, the declaration would give "wives full rights to file legal complaints against husbands accusing them of rape or sexual harassment, obliging competent authorities to deal husbands punishments similar to those prescribed for raping or sexually harassing a stranger."

Many statesmen think that the U.N. declaration is essential for global women's rights." All 50 states in our union now have laws that treat date rape or spousal rape as just as much of a crime as rape by a stranger," U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice declared. "We cannot live in truly free societies, if women and girls are not free to reach their full potential."

The commission is a global policy-making body created in 1946 for the advancement of women, and has claimed credit for the progress made by the United States in reducing the rate of violence against women by their partners.

The declaration this year is focused on urging an end to violence against women and girls. The commission failed to agree a declaration last year on a theme of empowering rural women due to similar disagreements.

In response, Egypt has proposed an amendment that would allow countries to avoid implementing the declaration if it clashed with national laws, religious or cultural values. Some diplomats say this would undermine the entire declaration.

The Muslim Brotherhood warns that the declaration would give girls sexual freedom, legalize abortion, provide teenagers with contraceptives, give equality to women in marriage and require men and women to share duties such as child care and chores.

It said the declaration would allow "equal rights to homosexuals, and provide protection and respect for prostitutes" and "equal rights to adulterous wives and illegitimate sons resulting from adulterous relationships."

In response, a coalition of Arab human rights groups from Egypt, Lebanon, the Palestinian Territories, Jordan and Tunisia has called upon the Commission on the Status of Women on Thursday to stop using religion, culture, and tradition to justify abuse of women.

"The current positions taken by some Arab governments at this meeting is clearly not representative of civil society views, aspirations or best practices regarding the elimination and prevention of violence against women and girls within our countries," said the statement issued by the Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies.

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