Women Activists Gather at UN to Demand Urgent Action by Governments to Fulfill Obligations to Increase Women’s Leadership
Women Activists from the Middle East and North Africa Gather at UN to Demand Urgent Action by Governments to Fulfill Obligations to Increase Women’s Leadership
When: Tues, March 10, 2009 NY time ( time GMT)
What: Women lag far behind in public roles due to deeply entrenched gender roles, violence, and
lack of political will on the part of governments to fulfill their commitments under international law. Speakers will discuss root causes of the low numbers of women leaders (such as limits on their mobility), threats to women’s equal participation in decision-making (such as lack of protection and security), and best practices to accelerate women's equal participation in the political process in the Arab region. High-profile women’s activists and political leaders from the Middle East and North Africa, members of Karama (a movement of women’s groups fighting to end violence against women), will share their experience with the media, release a policy paper and discuss their urgent concern that women’s political participation and roles in decision-making in the Arab region still rank the lowest in the world. Reporters will have the opportunity to ask direct questions. Speakers will be:
· Amal Mahmoud Fayed, Secretary General, Forum for Women in Development (
· Saadia Wadah, Executive Board, Moroccan Society for Resisting Violence against Women (
· Fatima al Dabbas, Women's Committee, Arab Human Rights Organization (Jordan)
· Karima Kamal, Deputy Chief Editor,
· Hibaaq Osman, Chair, Karama (Moderator)
Where: Millennium Plaza Hotel (44th St &
Contact:
Phoebe Schreiner, Consultant, Karama | +1(917) 981-1082 | greentara09@gmail.com
Sarah Vaill, Advocacy Director, Karama | +1(323) 251-6521 | sarah@sarahvaill.com
About KARAMA: KARAMA (meaning "dignity" in Arabic) is a movement of women leaders and activists from nine countries of the
