Arab Women Organization’s Sixth Conference
12/13/2016
to
12/14/2016
Cairo Marriott Hotel "Aida Hall", Cairo
Under the auspices and chaired by Mrs. / Ronak Mustafa Abdul Wahid. Wife of the President of the Republic of Iraq President of the Arab Women's Organization at its seventh session (2015- 2017)
* Arab Women Organization (AWO) held its sixth annual conference, titled “Role of Women in the Arab Countries: Pathways to Reform and Change”, in Marriott Hotel Zamalek, Cairo, on 13th & 14th of December 2016.
* The conference is chaired and held under the auspices of the Presidency of the organization for the current session, H.E. Mrs Ronak Abdul Wahid Mustafa, Iraq’s First Lady, with the participation of the delegations of the AWO Member States, headed by the First Ladies or their representatives.
* The conference also includes members of AWO’s Executive Council, in addition to international and Arab experts, representatives of regional and international organizations, ministers, representatives of Arab and African countries, civil society, and diplomats, as well as senior public officials.
The Importance of This Conference Now
* With the changes witnessed in the Arab Region in recent years brought about by the “Arab Spring”, many major political, economic, and social challenges emerged. These challenges were faced by all members of the society, but more specifically, they interacted with the status of women.
* Consequently, AWO devoted its sixth conference to study and examine the presence and role of Arab women in the process of reform and changes- seen in different forms in the Arab region. By organizing this conference, AWO seeks to underscore:
Women, as citizens constituting half of the human resources, are key players in creating change and reform, not to mention their contribution in protecting the national security and peace in their countries.
The status of women in Arab countries requires more attention. It is one of the main areas of desired reform, especially in light of a social culture that restricts and confines their role with a narrow and limited domain.