Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak meets with governors
Egypt, Culture, 10/15/2001

Egypt's First Lady Suzanne Mubarak, who chairs the National Women's Council, said that branches of the council in the governorates were set up to act as national mechanisms to coordinate among the authorities concerned with women's rights in each governorate.

Mrs. Mubarak said that these branches are not executive bodies but "think tanks" and centres of initiatives to develop studies by various bodies on feminist issues and help upgrade services with the participation of women themselves who will benefit from the results of their efforts.

Speaking at a meeting she held with governors Monday to visualize the work of the National Women's Council, in the Coming stage, Mrs. Mubarak said that the council will not interfere in the work of voluntary organizations.

The governorates will benefit from the work of the branches of the Council within the framework of an overall coordination and vision without interference or competition.

Mrs. Mubarak said that the National Women's Council was set up in February 2000 by a decision of President Mubarak to be the main authority concerned with the issues of women.

Mrs. Mubarak noted that the meeting was being held on the anniversary of the Great October 1973 Victory, "an anniversary which revives the spirit of hope and opens the door of the future to which we aspire, being aware of the most sensitive conditions surrounding us and the unprecedented stage through which we are passing at both the regional and international levels.

Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak pointed out that there were seven challenges which remained in the forefront of the challenges of the present stage, namely:

1. Population remains one of the challenges which calls for more radical and more effective handling through national campaigns taking into consideration the economic, social, religious and health aspects and in which all agencies should cooperate.

2. Conditions of the Egyptian village need a great effort to improve conditions of women in rural areas.

3. Women should be given a chance to participate in public life.

4. Governorates should give a chance to women to participate in activities carried out by government agencies and non-governmental organizations.

5. Amalgamation of women in the National Plan requires that they should appear in public statements. Therefore, women should carry identity cards on an equal footing with men.

6. There is need to develop vocational training centres all over the Republic which number between 2,000 and 3,000.

7. Concentration should be made in the coming period on making the largest number of young men and young women join committees and programmes of the National Women's Council in order to encourage and prepare new cadres and to attract promising young elements to complete the march.

Women should tackle the issue of women's participation in the coming local elections and the role of governorates in supporting this trend.

Previous Stories:
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  Nagui's museum, landmark of modern Egyptian art   (9/24/2001)
  Italy presents Mrs. Mubarak with rare copy of 'Book of the Dead'   (9/11/2001)

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