George Clooney says wife Amal faced 'situations' of sexual harassment at work

"It’s everywhere and so it needs to be addressed as if it’s a problem for all of us."
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George Clooney just revealed that his wife, Lebanese-British lawyer Amal Alamuddine, previously faced "situations" of sexual harassment at work, Harper's Bazaar reported on Monday. 

The Oscar-winner made the statement while addressing the ongoing Harvey Weinstein controversy. During an interview he recently gave to ET as part of a press campaign promoting his latest feature, Suburbicon, he said:

"She's [Amal] faced those exact kinds of situations in law. It’s everywhere and so it needs to be addressed as if it’s a problem for all of us.

We have to take it on full force because the kind of assault that we're talking about now is – it’s so infuriating that this was allowed to go on as long as it did," he added. 

Clooney's comments come just a few weeks after countless Hollywood actresses reported being sexually abused by movie mogul Harvey Weinstein. 

"It isn't just in Hollywood. It's everywhere. Most women have experienced it"

Sexual harassment affects women everywhere

The scandal surrounding Weinstein eventually led thousands of women, including many Arabs and Muslims, to speak out about their own experiences with sexual harassment via the now-viral social media campaign "Me Too".

Led by American actress Alyssa Milano, the campaign aimed to "give people a sense of the magnitude of the problem".

But not only did the campaign help the world understand how widespread the problem really is, it also revealed that victim-blaming is a rhetoric that still exists. 

As millions of women around the world shared their stories, some attacked them, suggesting the way a woman dresses or behaves is what determines the likelihood of her experiencing harassment.

However, those who shared this view, including powerful celebrities, namely The Big Bang Theory's Mayim Bialikwere rightfully shut down by millions who continue to stand against all forms of harassment against women.

The UAE will train 1 million Arab youth to become coders and data analysts

"Coding is the language of the modern era."
sheikh mohammed dubai
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid at the launch of the 'One Million Arab Coders' initiative Source: Dubai Media Office

Earlier on Tuesday, Dubai's Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid confirmed on his official Twitter account that the UAE has launched the One Million Arab Coders initiative that will help train a million Arab youth in the region in computer programming.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid said the programme will open the door for young people and give them access to “hundreds of thousands of jobs without leaving their countries”.

A new website, ArabCoders.ae, was also set up and will offer online certifications through courses such as website development, mobile interfaces, Android applications, and training to become a data analyst.

The portal is supported by Udacity, an educational organization that provides online courses, as well as Middle East recruitment website Bayt.com.

According to Gulf News, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, speaking at the launch of the initiative, said: "Coding is the language of the modern era. Our goal is to teach it to one million young Arabs in order to prepare them now for the requirements needed to excel in the future."

The youths can handle their businesses on the internet and will contribute to the global economy, he added.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid invited youngsters to register on www.arabcoders.ae for the free programme. Subsequently, the best coders will be given enormous cash prizes.

"We have incentives over $1 million to award the top students and tutors. Many young Arabs have unstoppable potential; all they need is support. We hope this will be the first step in a journey that takes our region toward a brighter future," said Dubai's ruler, according to Gulf News.

Objectives of the 'One Million Arab Coders' initiative

The One Million Arab Coders initiative, managed by the Dubai Future Foundation, aims to empower one million young Arabs in the Middle East by training them, enriching their knowledge, improving their skills, providing them with jobs in the modern tech sector, and increasing their expertise in advanced science.

The initiative is part of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid’s vision to revive the Arab civilization and spread hope in the region through innovative and positive change. 

Young Arabs, who make up the largest portion of Arab communities, are the main target of this programme.

In addition to providing unparalleled training opportunities for free to young people in the region, the initiative will reward top students and tutors with financial incentives exceeding $1 million.

Here is how social media reacted:

Most tweeps praised the new initiative

"May God bless you always our father Bou Rashid. Keep rising my country, keep rising."

"Young people are the future of this nation..."

“Young people are the future of this nation. May God empower you and help you create a better future for them and all the youths of our region.”

"What an incredible achievement..."

“What an incredible achievement made by an innovative creator. Always wishing you success.”

With additional reporting from Mariam Nabbout