Empowerment of women urged

The second Arab Women Summit opened here yesterday with calls to empower women, and establish an Arab organisation to cater for their needs.

The summit was attended by the four First Ladies of Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, and Sudan. Fourteen other Arab countries were represented by high ranking delegations.

Arab League Secretary General, Amr Mousa, representatives of other Arab and world organisations also attended the opening ceremony.

Noura Al Suweidi, Director of the UAE General Women Union and Head of the country's delegation, urged the summit to "draw plans that can be achieved through the effective mechanisms, and specified timetables."

She stressed the UAE's keen interest in boosting Arab women's capabilities and setting up strong bodies to promote and protect Arab women's rights. She, in particular urged the summit to set up an Arab women organisation.

"Form our point of view, this is the best contribution we can provide to support our peoples during these critical and dangerous circumstances they are coming through," she added.

Egyptian first lady, Suzanne Mubarak, was the first to deliver a speech during the opening session of the summit, before transferring the summit's presidency to Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan.

Addressing the summit, Mousa urged Arab countries to immediately establish an organisation for Arab women, which he sees to be a framework and an institution" to solve the problems of women everywhere in the Arab countries."

"I called everybody to work to set up the organisation as soon as possible," he said. "It is enough what we have received of criticism and accusation that the situation of the Arab women is among the main deficiencies in the Arab societies, " he added.

Mousa called the summit to draw an "action plan that reflects the commitment of the Arab societies to the comprehensive development within our culture and values."

The Amman summit is tackling several issues hindering the advancement of women (almost half of the 280-million population in the 22 Arab countries), and ways to empower women and increase their participation in the policy-making process.

Queen Rania said the meeting would discuss many issues, including ways to face the challenges that are imposed by the global changes.

"But let us also remember that we are not only here to discuss our inter-Arab experiences, but we meet in Amman to present our issues to the whole world, " she said. "No Arab meeting is able to reach its intended objectives without highlighting the suffering of women in Palestine and Iraq", Queen Rania said in her speech.

On her part, Egypt's first lady listed several future aspirations for Arab women to achieve. She said that it is important for the Arab women to be an effective force for peace in the region and the whole world.

"But the peace we are seeking and defending is that which is based on justice, and not by imposing the reality by force," she said.

Representatives of other delegations taking part in the summit also delivered speeches stressing the need for working out programmes and plans to enhance the welfare of Arab women.

The summit is expected to issue a final communique announcing the establishment of the Arab women organisation.