First Lady Mubarak meets NCW members

Egypt's First Lady Suzanne Mubarak chairperson of the National Council for Women (NCW) held a meeting late Wednesday with the council's members on the sidelines of the closing session of the second conference, concluded earlier on Wednesday.

During the meeting, Mrs. Mubarak called for more emphasis on four basic issues which are provision of women's identity cards (IDS), eliminating illiteracy, the status of women supporting families, and voting cards for women.

She praised the NCW performance in providing women with ID cards that would be followed by the voting cards.

A protocol will be signed with the social affairs ministry on activating the role of the 150 rehabilitation and training centers, she added.

In a final communiquue at the end of a two-day conference late Wednesday, the NCW lauded the state's political will to promote women's conditions and called for conducting surveys every five years on women's achievements and needs.

It urged the public and private institutions to shun gender discrimination in employment. In its recommendations, the NCWcalled as well for amending nationality and insurance laws to provide equality between men and women.

It also called for a comprehensive family law that would safeguard women's right to travel without a prior consent from husbands.

It urged promoting the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOS). Deputy Prime Minister Youssef Wali, several former ministers and many prominent figures attended the closing session.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak said that Frakhanda Hassan had been named as a Secretary General of the NCW.

She replaces Mervat El-Talawi who is now occupying the post of executive secretary-general of the UN Economic and Social Commission for West Asia.

Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak Wednesday evening expressed satisfaction over the positive results reached by a conference of the National Council for woman.

Addressing the two-day gathering, she said that the ideas emerging from the conference reflected full awareness.

"The motto we uphold and pursue to move from the stage of the words to the stage of deeds is partnership for the better," she said.

The results of your conference will necessarily reflect on the next national plan. It also reflects interest in women's development and problems, given that women are a key part of society, she told the participants.