Mrs. Mubarak inaugurated Arab women's summit
Regional, Culture, 11/12/2001

Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak inaugurated Sunday the Arab women's extraordinary summit. that will run for two days.

Addressing the summit, Mrs. Mubarak, chairwoman of Arab Women's summit and National Council for Women (NCW), stressed that the convocation of this summit sends a clear-cut message to the world that the Arab women is not away from the current developments.

"We are all partners in one world. We share the same aspirations and problems," she added.

She said the first Arab women's summit declared 2001 as the year of Arab women and agreed to hold on this occasion this exceptional summit.

She added that the summit is being held for two reasons. Firstly, in order to review the outcome of the three forums that were held since the first Arab women's summit.

The second reason is to announce the establishment of the Arab Women's Organization.

The organization will be under the Arab League's umbrella but at the same time will have its financial and administrative independence. The organization aims at improving Arab women's conditions and enhancing its effective contribution on the development march.

"I want to stress that this organization will not serve women only but it is a step on the road of upgrading Arab nation," she said.

"The organization will help enlighten women of their national rights and duties. We were keen that the organization groups governmental and non-governmental parties," Mrs. Mubarak added.

Today's meeting is an important step regarding Arab women's march and the materialization of Arab nation's aspirations .

She said the latest events that hit the world have brought some economic, social, political and security changes. All these changes are, of course, sources of concern and lead to confrontations.

The Arab conscience which looks forward to better future should take into consideration these changes. These developments should encourage women to have an influential voice calling for international justice, comprehensive peace and permanent stability.

This voice should back Arab demands,support the Palestinian women in their just struggle for regaining legitimate rights and liberating their land.

No matter what were the attempts to suppress the Palestinian and silence their voice, they will move forward on the road of just and comprehensive peace which is the only guarantee for the region's stability, she said.

Addressing the Arab women's extraordinary summit, Queen Rania, wife of Jordanian King Abdullah II, said terrorism and violence will not come to an end unless security was provided to all people suffering from terrorism and those struggling for self-determination.

Queen Rania urged all Arab women to exert utmost efforts to create a more secure world.

Also, Sheikha Sabika, wife of Bahraini Emir, said the Arab women should work on protecting youth from dangers of terrorism through a new diction of dialogue based on the Islamic values and peace, tolerance and respect of other opinions.

She said the first Arab women summit laid down Arab foundations to enable woman to take part in the public life without ignoring their political rights, and this is exactly what has been achieved for women in Bahrain.

She called for rallying Arab efforts to face up the future challenges, underlining the importance of focusing on legal conditions in preparation for economic and political stability.

She added that the Bahrain women will take part, for the first time. in the coming elections.

Mrs. Laila Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali, wife of the Tunisian president, said the holding of this summit shows how greatly Arab women have become aware of the efficiency of common action and desire to keep this action abreast of the challenges which confront our societies.

The tension and conflicts the world is experiencing today urge women to cling more closely to the values of liberty, justice and tolerance which are the salient features of Arab culture, civilization and religion.

While firmly condemning the attacks on the US last September , and while expressing our compassion for the victims' families, we stress once again that it is necessary to deal with the phenomenon of terrorism in a radical way and within the context of the UN.

She expressed solidarity with the Palestinian women's struggle for regaining their usurped rights.

Fatma Al-Bashir, wife of the Sudanese president, said the conference is being held at a time the Islamic nation is passing through difficult conditions and a hard test of our efforts to face up to them.

She expressed Sudan's support for setting up an Arab women's organization which would help improve women's conditions and the country's readiness to host any other forum on women.

Addressing the conference, Soha Arafat, wife of the Palestinian leader, expressed the Palestinians appreciation of President Hosni Mubarak who is giving more effort and time to back the Palestinian cause.

She called for lifting the siege imposed on the Arab and Islamic nations.

Sheikha Latifa Al-Fahd Al-Sabah, head of the Kuwaiti delegation, said women have great responsibilities in taking care of youths and protecting them from addiction, urging the nation to provide women with the necessary tools to play their role in the development march.

She hopes the Arab woman's organization would be devoted to serve women's causes.

Fatma Bint Mubarak, wife of the UAE president, expressed hope that the Arab women's organization would play an effective and pivotal role in forming mechanisms to follow up the implementation of the summit resolutions.

She urged rallying efforts with women's organizations worldwide to expose the aggressions the Palestinian women are being exposed to, calling on all women to back the legitimate struggle of the Palestinian women.

Sheikha Fatma' speech was read out by Nodra Khalifa A1Swidi, head of the UAE Women's Federation.

Amomra Fatma Badra, head of the Algerian delegation expressed the Algerian women's belief that this era posed relentless challenges, underlining the importance of extending bridges of cooperation among Arab countries to study the issue of women.

She reviewed the achievements of Algerian women who stood unshaken in the face of ordeals Algeria had experienced.

Previous Stories:
  Mrs. Mubarak to open Arab women's summit conference Sunday   (11/10/2001)
  Iraq lauds Mrs. Mubarak's advocacy of Arab women's causes   (11/10/2001)
  Cairo's Arab extraordinary summit on women   (11/10/2001)

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