Speech of Mrs. Hanna Sorour
Director of the Department of Women Affairs,
General Secretariat, League of Arab States
H.E. The First Lady Wafaa Michel Sleiman
H.E. Mr. Tammam Salam, Minister of Culture of the Lebanese Republic
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Allow me, first of all, to express my deep gratitude for participating today in the inauguration of the "The 2nd New Arab Woman Forum" held for the first time in a very dear and beloved country: Lebanon, the symbol of fortitude, resistance and victory; Lebanon, the country from which the Arab peace initiative was launched; Lebanon, the cradle of freedom of thought and the free economy.
It is also a pleasure for me to convey my appreciation and esteem to the First Lady for her generous patronage of this event. I seize this opportunity to convey to your attention the greetings of the Arab League Secretary and his eagerness to boost common Arab action in all its governmental and non-governmental elements as well as his wishes of success for the Forum's activities.
Indeed, it is a real source of pride to honor symbols we uphold in our nations: the symbols of struggle, resolution and determination. Womanhood in our nations and in our causes have a cultural and striving dimension whereby the human and national freedom become integrated, as well as a developmental dimension where aspirations of progress are achieved so as to be enjoyed by all Arabs.
Ladies and Gentlemen…
"There is a true association corroborated by observation and supported by historical experience between the advancement of women and a nation's progress and civilization", this relationship was expressed by Kassem Amin more than a century ago.
Yes indeed, an important transformation effectively took place in our Arab world. The issue of development sustainability and the importance of women's have been landmarks in most Arab and international conferences held in the past two decades, such that a firm conviction has developed on the importance of consolidating women's rights.
In fact, the Arab woman has evolved during the past three decades from being a mere social segment within the framework of policies into a separate entity playing a significant role in the making and execution of such policies.
Ladies and Gentlemen…
We are witnessing every day how others are handling their matters in order to become stronger: there are no more feelings of separation between peoples speaking different languages and living diverse cultures, thus breathing in the same fashion and addressing the world in a unified attitude expressed in one tongue and in a single vision.
In the midst of the New World Order being elaborated in light of what nations possess of elements of scientific and intellectual advancement, we, as Arabs, should follow this progress so that we may share in the making of the civilization of this millennium, as per the requirements of this era of fast pace and rhythm of development.
Perhaps, talking about the future and its ambitions requires first a review of the past and an acknowledgment of realities so as to be able to look forward to a hopeful future.
Therefore, if we wish to make an outline of the final account after the elapse of the twentieth century and the near conclusion of the first decade of the first millennium with all the grand transformations we may have witnessed and whose impacts may fluctuate positively and negatively on the status and future of man and woman alike, it shall become clear to us that the saga of the Arab woman burdened by social, political and economic factors has witnessed achievements as well as setbacks, progress in certain areas and retrenchment in other areas…
Thus, at the national level, several Arab countries have adopted policies and programs for boosting and consolidating equality between the sexes and the empowerment of women in miscellaneous domains… However, this could not have been achieved without availability of a higher political will. This interest became evident at the official and civilian level whereby several competent executive mechanisms, commissions and councils for businesswomen were established. At the outset, Arab women have become a prominent part in the discussions of parliamentary commissions, which eventually led to the promulgation and review of family laws and several laws dealing with women based on similar criteria applicable to man, of which the most relevant are the citizenship law and political participation. In fact, Arab women were granted ministerial portfolios in several governments, obtained parliamentary seats and even ran for presidential elections (such as Louise Hanoun for whom President Abdul Aziz Bou Taflika wished prompt victory in his first speech after the presidency…)
On the regional and international levels, the Arab League has given great importance to Arab women affairs. It has adopted the necessary measures for consolidating cooperation and coordination on common Arab action between its member countries, on the hand, and the corresponding regional and international bodies on the other.
Ladies and Gentlemen…
There is no doubt that the exerted efforts are significant and ongoing whether within the framework of common Arab action or in every country separately. Nevertheless, progress seems slow in comparison with the internationally declared figures and statistics.
At this point, an important question emerges on the fruit of these efforts and whether women have achieved all their ambitions and are satisfied with their achievements or they look forward to more…..even other questions come to our mind:
- Why is the Arab region considered one of the regions of high analphabetism with women constitute 65% of the population who cannot read according to the international reports for 2008, this despite policies for fighting the evasion of young women and increasing in the rate of enrolment in educational and technical schools.
- Why has Arab women participation not exceeded 30% of the labor market so far, despite their enormous potential and their entry to world of business and finance fields.
- Why is the Arab region considered the lowest region in the world in terms of female political participation, despite having permitted women to reach various decision-making positions and increase its participation rate from 5,8% in 2002 to 9% in 2008 according to the latest statistics?
Perhaps the answer to all these questions is dependent on many common challenges that took a significant part of our interests and priorities in the past. As such, was is required now is a consolidation of efforts of all partners in developmental: governments, civil society and the private sector in order to draw up a new, modern vision for the future of Arab women.
I seize this opportunity to highlight the initiative of H.E. Mr. Amro Mousa to launch the social society contract in confirmation of the concept of partnership between Arab governments and non-governmental organizations and to build bridges of cooperation between them. Accordingly, the year 2009 is dedicated to support the efforts of civil society organizations in order to boost specifically the conditions of Arab women.
Ladies and Gentlemen…
Development is not mere mute figures, but a social process aiming at deepening the human dimension and developing human potential, whereby the mass media play a vital role with an impact corresponding to the role played by educational and cultural institutions…Perhaps the media strategy for Arab women to be launched at the second conference of the Arab Woman Organization under the title "Women within the concepts and issues of human safety" next November in Abu Dhabi, is a manifestation of the necessity to develop the media domain as an effective means in the social reform process, and to make the original and modern self-portrait of the Arab woman without distortion or error.
Finally, allow me to convey my appreciation and gratitude to all the organizers for the success of this forum, hoping that we may meet next year in the third session and that many of the aspired goals of the Arab woman may have been finally achieved.
