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Concluding statement

• Consider the quota system in legislative elections as a mean to promote real democracy.
• Emphasize the importance of women political education.
• Present legal files on the civil status law to allow mothers to give their nationality to their children.

Beirut hosted on 15 and 16 October 2009 (at Phoenicia Intercontinental Hotel) the 3rd New Arab Woman Forum which constituted a large women manifestation tackling women issues in their various aspects and dimensions. The forum was organized by Al-Iktissad Wal-Aamal Group and Al-Hasnaa magazine, in cooperation with the general secretariat of the League of Arab States and mbc group, and it was characterized by the following:

1. The wide participation of more than 600 attendees from 22 Arab and foreign countries, particularly active women in politics, business, social work, culture, media, art and literature.
2. The official endorsement of the forum represented by the patronage of the First Lady Mrs. Wafaa Suleiman, the honorary presidency of HE Bahia Hariri, Minister of Education and Higher Education, and the wide participation of ministers from Lebanon and abroad, as well as ambassadors and their wives, in addition to current and former MPs.
3. The importance given by the media to the forum which was covered by mbc group and the participation of well-known media persons, women associations, NGOs, trade unions, and law and media institutions.
4. The award ceremony which gave tribute to 4 women for their cultural, human and social work. HE Bahia Hariri, Minister of Education and Higher Education, HE Tamam Salam, Minister of Culture, Dr. Nadine Abou Zaki, NAWF Executive Chair and chief editor at Al Hasnaa magazine, Mr. Raouf Abou Zaki, general manager of Al-Iktissad Wal-Aamal group, granted the forum’s awards to: the Former First Lady of Lebanon, Mrs. Mona Al- Harawi; Belgian MP, Ms. Mahinur Ozdemir; Kuwaiti writer, Mrs. Leila Othman and Dr. Suhair Al- Qurashi, Dean of Dar Al- Hekma College in KSA.

Main conclusions

The Forum included 6 sessions for 2 days on Arab women issues. The main conclusions are as follows:

1. The Arab situation is long way from our dreams and aspirations with regards to the political role of women. It’s important to distinguish between the simulated representation of women and the true motivational representation promoting female participation in parliaments and governments.
2. Women have a limited political presence in leadership and decision-making positions. They participate in the decision-making process by voting during political and municipal elections and surveys, as well as by expressing their point of view and pinpointing their needs in relation to the societal development process.
3. The quota system is encouraging promoting a minimum level of women participation that varies between 40 and 60%. The quota system doesn’t contradict democracy; it constitutes a mean for fostering real democracy.
4. The lack of female participation in the political and social spheres is covered by the appointing of women (from the elite or ruling class) as ministers or as presidents of social assistance funds in an attempt to simulate a non-existent participation and cover-up the marginalization of working women in Arab countries.
5. The financial crisis caused job losses and created a strong competition between men and women on the available opportunities. However, the crisis affected men and women equally without any gender discrimination. But in fact, women are still unequal to men in terms of wages, senior and decision-making positions.
6. The women participation in social entrepreneurship varies between Arab countries from very active to almost non-existent.
7. Sexuality has become a commodity marketed throughout the media that focuses on the human body instead of encouraging sexual education and tackling sex-related social problems. Most TV shows raising the issue of sexuality are imported without any adaptation to the Arab context. Some approve the media’s efforts to tackle this issue and others reject the whole concept as negative behaviors.
8. The recurrent image in our Arab curricula reflects obsolete social values that do not express the current values of Arab societies. Although some Arab educational systems are flawed, they cannot be blamed solely since it’s important to highlight other elements such as books, teachers, teaching tools and methodology. The absence of sexual education from our education programs in the Arab world contribute to the dissemination of a non-specialized sexual culture.
9. Sexuality was tackled by some male and female writers and exploited by others. Some writers use pseudonyms to write atrocious erotic books due to the frustration suffered by Arab women. However, critics are biased against some female writers even though the artistic level of their books is comparable to that of male writers. When men write about homosexuality, there’s no problem but women write about sexuality, they are accused of reflecting their personal situation.
10. The forum called for:
    • Promoting women’s role in the Arab world by amending the laws and eliminating reservations regarding some issues, particularly those related to the civil status like measures allowing mothers to give their nationality to their children.
    • Emphasizing the importance of women’s political education since they are still dependent and they don’t express their opinions freely. Encouraging women to join political parties and trade unions.
    • Joining efforts between the private and public sector to help women.
    • Work to achieve equality between women and men in the field of business especially in terms of wages, senior and decision-making positions.
    • Encouraging private businesses and NGOs to support small investors, particularly women working at home.
    • Providing micro-finance by banks and financial institutions to fund small businesses.
    • Supporting women in the business and social sectors through management, organization and funding trainings for more effective and productive social entrepreneurship.
    • Update educational curricula to include the use of female grammar in the Arabic language.
    • Involve young men and women in the development of sustainable educational strategies reflecting contemporary values and designing new visions for the benefit of women. This requires a balance between tribal patriarchal values and human values that promote a positive human future for women.

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