Arab women issues debated at Turkey's conference on women

The Minister of Expatriates, Butheina Shaaban, delivered Syria's speech to the 25-28 Feb. conference on "Women, Politics: the Experiments, Achievements and Challenges in the Middle East" which was opened Wednesday in Istanbul under the patronage of Mrs. Amina Erdogan, wife of the Turkish Premier.

The Minister talked about Beijing Conference decisions and the obstacles to the optimal representation of women in the decision-making circles.

Shaaban added that laws and legislations in Syria secure women's right to any job without any discrimination between men or women. She stressed that the Syrian women actively participate in all aspects of life, citing the number of women parliamentarians who constitute more than 11 percent as well as in local administration councils and in education.

The Syrian delegation to the Conference includes Ms. Suad Bakkour, Chairman of the Women Union, Mrs. Lamia al-Assi, the Assistant Minister of Finance.