Minister calls for protection of immigrant arab women

Arab women immigration should take place in respect of their dignity and values, sai Tuesday the delegate minister in charge of Moroccan expatriates, calling for the protection of immigrant women.

Nezha Chekrouni, who was speaking at a symposium themed "for a better protection of the rights of women Arab immigrants," said "governments of host countries should draft the necessary laws to protect women and put an end to all forms of injustices or racism they may confront."

"The weakness of legal provisions regulating immigration in the Arab world, poverty proliferation and illiteracy all represent a danger and a blatant regression in the liberties and rights of immigrant women," she said.

Chekrouni noted that even European and American countries view immigration from a "security" perspective, deploring that these countries still have not ratified the international convention on the protection of immigrants' rights which was adopted in 1990 by the UN General Assembly.

The minister urged the Arab Labor organization, which initiated the meeting, to create a cell in charge of Arab immigrant women, set up an observatory for Arab women, exchange expertise in women initiatives and create a website for immigrant Arab women.

The director general of the Arab Labor Organization, Ibrahim El Kouider, said in a speech read in his name, immigrant women are facing serious difficulties because of their unstable situation in foreign societies, the lack of social coverage and women's ignorance of their rights in host countries.

On her part, Anaam El Moufti, representative of queen Rania of Jordan, deemed that the development of Arab society cannot be achieved without the promotion of women's role.

She added that this promotion should be realized according to clear-cut outlines, including the review of legislation restricting women's rights, raising the awareness on women's role and drafting laws securing a more active role for women.