Mr. Mazen Hayek
Group Director of Marketing, PR and Commercial
MBC Group
New Arab Women’s Forum – 23 October 2008
Good Morning,
The patron host of this event-The Lebanese First Lady, Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
When we first met last year to announce MBC’s partnership with 'Al-Iktissad Wal Aamal Group' and 'Al-Hasnaa' to launch the first New Arab Women Forum in Dubai, we then called for a more proactive approach by Arab women towards the many challenges facing our region. We focused at the time on real issues such as the need for sustainable development; reform and openness; and the pressing need for a wider involvement of women in public affairs; a better representation of women in the private sector; all of those with the aim to move closer towards the stage where the traditional mould is broken and women are no longer restricted in their legitimate aspirations. Today we reiterate the same call, in a louder and more forcefully way.
We are here again today to pay tribute to the new Arab woman, in appreciation of her role of leadership and responsibility in our society, and the many valuable contributions that women in this region have made throughout the years.
The past decade or so has witnessed the increasing influence of women in different spheres of Arab society, where they have left their marks on almost everything from politics to public affairs; to the professional, economic and business sectors; and finally, education. Arab women have left their marks in media as well: as war-zone correspondents where they risk their lives and limb to report events as they happen.
Since its creation in 1991, MBC Group – the leading Free-To-Air Satcaster in the MENA region - has encouraged Arab women to take a leading part in the process of creativity and innovation; and to actively participate in the rapid growth of media.
Throughout the years, women and women's issues have been intrinsic parts of our many MBC screens, be it on talk-shows; drama and comedy series; business or economic programs; and others.
On MBC1, Kalam Nawaem, Aswar, Saudiat Mu’asirat, Sabah Al Khair ya Arab have all proved to be favorites among Arab audiences, so have Oprah, Dr. Phil and others on MBC4.
The 'Egyptian National Board for Motherhood and Childhood' has recently awarded our MBC1 health program “Green Apple” a prize for its many contributions to raising the profile of critical women’s issues; particularly uncovering the practice of female circumcision in parts of Egypt - an issue that was highlighted in one of Green Apple's episodes and subsequently managed to break a powerful taboo.
More recently, and in a different context, the last double-up episodes of ‘Nour’ (Gumus) – the Turkish dubbed into Arabic drama series which aired on MBC4 – was watched by nearly 85 million Arab viewers, of which 50 million were Female, a number that represents more than half of total Adult Female population in the Arab world.
‘Nour’ also received widespread media attention in the local, regional and international press – spurring more discussion and debate about social and women’s issues than what decades of work by some NGOs and relevant Civil Society groups have ever tried to achieve.
There is no doubt that such TV content has served and still serves to highlight women’s real issues and concerns; and to offer them an opportunity to freely express their thoughts and opinions – both directly and indirectly, on the many different forums that MBC Group offers, all of which is helping to raise awareness among the new Arab generation - thus encouraging them to actively take part in building a better Society.
Finally, I would like to thank the patron host of this event, The Lebanese First Lady, as well as all the organizers and participants in this year’s forum.
