Organized by the Al-Iktissad Wal-Aamal Group and Al-Hasnaa Magazine, in cooperation with the Arab League and the MBC Satellite media group, “The 2nd New Arab Woman Forum” was held on the 23rd and 24th 0f October at the Phoenicia Intercontinental Hotel, Beirut. The Forum received wide media coverage and was attended by more than 600 participants from 22 Arab and foreign countries.

Main features of the Forum were:

1- Prominent official presence represented by the patronage and attendance of the First Lady of Lebanon Mrs. Wafaa Suleiman and the participation of a number of ministers and officials from Lebanon and other countries The first day Tarek Metri (Information), Bahia Hariri ( Education), Tammam Salam (Culture), Raymond Audi (Refugees), Elias Al-Murr (Defense), represented by colonel Jamal Sarhal, French Urban Affairs Minister Fadela Amara, Jordanian Senator H.E. Dr. Ruwaida Al Ma’aitah, Ex-Ministers Jihad Azour and Wafaa Addika Hamza, and Ex-Palestinian Minister Hanan Ashrawi, Director of Women Affairs in the Secretariat General of the Arab League Hanna Sorour in addition to a number of ambassadors and their wives in addition to current and ex-deputies.

2- The wide-ranging media coverage of the Forum and its activities by the MBC media group and the participation of media celebrities like George Kordahi and Zahi Wehbe and other women media personalities, in addition to the attraction of a huge audience of women’s organizations, community groups, trade unions, jurists, and the media.

3- The honoring of three ladies in appreciation of their social, humanitarian and national efforts in their respective countries. These special prizes were presented by the first Lebanese Lady Mrs. Wafaa Suleiman, the Minister of Culture Tammam Salam and the General Manager of Al-Iktissad Wal-Aamal Group Raouf Abou Zaki. The recipients were the Minister of Higher Education in Lebanon, H.E. Mrs. Bahia Hariri, Princess Nouf Bint Faisal Bin Turki Al Saud (Received by H.E. Mrs. Bahia Hariri) and the Palestinian Chairperson of the Executive Committee of the Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy- MIFTAH  Ex-Minister H.E. Dr. Hanan Ashrawi.  

4- The Forum was also marked by Minister Hariri’s announcement of an official initiative to honor      “Al-Iktissad Wal-Aamal Group” and “Al-Hasnaa Magazine” in the first day of February 2009 which coincides with the “Arab Woman Day”.

Conclusions

The Forum’s seven working sessions that lasted two days dealt with leading Arab Women’s and arrived to the following conclusions:

First: The assertion that women’s causes are a social issue involving both men and women, an issue of integrity and equality that excludes gender-based discrimination, particularly in the domain of individual rights. The status of woman in society and government should be the same and that’s why development should target both genders on equal footing.

Second: The necessity of constantly spreading awareness of women’s causes. This should be accomplished through women’s development of their own identity and self-image. This is because a woman’s self-image will at the same time help in determining the identity of her male partner and balance within the social order. It will also define her attitude towards man and a man’s attitude towards her, especially since she is the mother, the homemaker, the teacher and ultimately the building block of society as a whole.

Third: The forum emphasized the importance of completing reforms and programs initiated by many Arab countries which aim at empowering woman in all domains through establishing implementation mechanisms for that purpose. Arab Businesswomen committees and boards have also been established and women’s causes an important share of political and parliamentary debates, a factor which resulted in the promulgation of improved family laws and other laws which brought about more equitable treatment of women, especially regarding civic and political participation.

Fourth: The forum stressed the pioneering role of the woman throughout Arab history, and praised and acknowledged her vital role and contribution to society, a fact that is in turn helping in the emergence of a new Arab society that is enabling women’s participation in the media, business and other endeavors, recognizing their capabilities and putting these to good use in the process of social change and progress.

Fifth: The forum calls for advancement of Arab women through re-examining the social system where despite some progress made, there is still a lot to be achieved.  For instance, Arab women’s participation in the job market still does not exceed 30% despite their high qualifications and their entry into the world of business and finance. The same goes for political participation where the role of women is still very limited despite the fact that some countries have adopted measures to make it easier for women to play a bigger role in decision making positions.

Sixth: The Forum gave special attention to the issue of leadership by women in the 21st century Arab world and called for mechanisms to enable leadership roles that allow Arab Women to play a bigger part in Arab society, particularly in the political domain. This is underpinned by the fact that women are more consensus-oriented than men and pay more attention to the human dimension when making decisions, a characteristic that would allow them to resolve important issues through constructive dialogue rather than coercion.

Seventh: The Forum stressed that differentiation (but not differences) between men and women should be the starting point of a progress of change to reach integration in all social, political, economic and personal relationships that bind them together, and that solving problems with man should not be through confrontation, surrender or argument, but through dialogue, discussion and openness. There Forum also noted the role played by economic factors in changing the status of the woman in terms of protecting their rights and achieving independence and freedom, which in turn is helping in boosting their involvement in the wealth generation process. This involvement should lead to a positive change in their legal status and individuality.

Eighth: The Forum also called for

1. Laying out a national plan for the advancement of the women’s political position and promoting political awareness in both sexes because active citizenship is the main factor of change rather than mere laws.
2. Enhancing the awareness of Arab Women and society through the publication and dissemination of international charters regarding democracy and human rights, especially international treaties related to economic, social, cultural, political and civil rights, and other statutes  relating to abolishing all types of discrimination against women, and other international treaties related to children’s rights  in schools, colleges, universities, public and private administrations, and other institutions.
3. Ratification of all laws related to the Arab Woman in accordance with the human rights charter, lifting all restrictions limiting her legal rights and entitlements, and establishing a specialist body with the task of overseeing the enactment of such reforms.
4. Protecting and caring for abused women by providing them with proper shelters and improving the services of existing institutions. A more favorable image of a woman should also be reflected in the arts by portraying her as a valuable member of society rather than a sex object. Such as endeavor would be an important contribution towards the elimination of sexual prejudice and all misconceptions of sexuality and its functions in society.
5. Promoting realistic and well-informed attitudes toward sex among new generations and asking schools to provide better preparation for marital relationship through responsible sexual education as a part of the educational curriculum, while at the same time strengthening controls and censoring technologies regarding immoral material on the internet with view of protecting youth and future families.
6. Banning the exploitation of women as advertising material while creating a new consensus that will encourage more correct treatment of women in the media. The Forum also stressed the importance of building children’s self-confidence and self-esteem, especially on the part of parents.

Downlaad Concluding Statement (Arabic)