Beirut's conference of ten years after Beijing

The Executive Secretary of Economy, Social Committee for Western Asia ( ESCWA ) Mervat Tellawi Thursday said woman is the first victim of the armed conflicts and wars.

In an address to the opening of the regional conference " Ten Years after Beijing a Call for Peace," Tellawi referred to the bad living conditions of the Palestinian woman as a result of the occupation and the continuous Israeli aggressive practices.

She also pointed out to the difficult conditions which Iraqi people encounter as a result of missing security and stability under U.S occupation.

Tellawi concluded that there are many obstacles facing the progress of woman, calling for exerting more efforts in a way that woman can play her natural role in the service of society.

Mrs. Randa Berri, representing the National Commission for following-up the Woman Affairs, said the Arab Society, without any mandate or pressure, is witnessing tangible changes that will positively reflect on the woman role as a participating power in the political, social and economic life.

Meantime, Syrian Expatriates Minister Buthaina Shaaban Thursday said there will be no peace or security in the region without development and equality.

Heading the Syrian delegation to the conference, Shaaban said the world should shed light on the suffering of the Palestinian woman in particular, and the Iraqi woman in general as a result of kidnappings, arresting her husband or sons and homes demolishing policies.

She referred to the misleading and distorting campaigns which the western and "Zionist media" practice against the Palestinians and Iraqis.

" The calls which come from outside the region for the so-called 'enabling the Arab woman' aim at attacking the Arab region and making us feel that we are incapable to come up with the international development movement," Shaaban added.

She made clear that the Conference duty is to send the Arab woman voice to the woman in the world in a way the latter supports the Arab woman in her strife for freedom, independence and the just peace.