Women's forum to discuss challenges

Dubai: Dubai will host the two-day New Arab Women's Forum on Leadership and Social Responsibility from October 21 at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers.

Held under the patronage of Princess Haya Bint Al Hussain, wife of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the forum will highlight the role of Arab women in political, social and economic fields, and its impact on the Arab society.

500 delegates

The forum will bring together more than 500 high- profile delegates and key speakers, including first ladies, female ministers and parliamentarians, business leaders, renowned actresses and artists, journalists, NGO heads.

It will throw light on continued efforts by Arab women to play a more active role in all aspects of life, to effectively participate in the march of development in the Arab world, as well as in strengthening their contribution to drawing up strategies and policies and the decision-making process.

Main topics on the forum agenda include the road ahead for Arab women, the role of women in public life, politics, business, education and the media, besides other topics and issues.

The forum aims at discussing the path-breaking transformation underway in the role of women in the Arab world, analysing its impact on Arab society and the economic role of women, and considering the challenges ahead.

Strong presence

The forum promises to be one of the major events on the 2007 conferences' agenda, combining relevance, calibre, advantage, placement power and excellent organisation. It is organised by Al-Iktissad Wal-Aamal Group, a leading conference organiser in the Arab world, in cooperation with the General Secretariat of the Arab League, ESCWA, the Arab International Women's Forum and Al Hasnaa magazine, the leading Arab women's magazine.

The Arab women are more educated and empowered, and engaged in a whole spectrum of political, social, business and cultural activities and positions, in line with the growing trend towards openness and economic and social reforms across the Arab world and the gradual emergence of new and active Arab women after years of under-representation in all walks of life.