Jordan Times
Friday, March 3, 2006
Seminar on achievements
of region's women slated for March 8
By Sheila M. Dabu
AMMAN — Women for Women International (WWI) is
hosting a panel and discussion on the “achievements of women in the region and
ways forward” on March 8 to celebrate International Women's Day.
Women's rights activists, parliamentarians, ambassadors, members of civil
society and media in Jordan are expected to attend the event.
“The event will celebrate women's achievements in the region in honour of
International Women's Day. Women's Day is an opportunity to hold this event,
talk about women's issues and address them,” event organiser Charlotte Lancaster
told The Jordan Times on Thursday.
Among the potential topics for discussion is Morocco “as an example of a country
in the region where women have made achievements,” with changes in personal
status laws on divorce, marriage and family status, affording women rights in
these fields, Lancaster said.
She added that the Iraqi constitution could also be a potential topic.
WWI is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation that assists
socio-economically marginalised women in post-conflict countries by providing
women survivors of war with the tools and resources to move from crisis and
poverty into a civil society that promotes and protects peace, stability and
self-sufficiency.
WWI also provides services to socially excluded individuals aimed at addressing
their short-term economic needs while enhancing and building their capacity to
create long-term economic solutions.
For women beneficiaries of WWI, the first step is the Sponsorship Programme
where they receive direct financial aid from a sponsor to deal with the direct
effects of war and conflict such as food, water and medicine.
WWI's programmes focus on recovery, rehabilitation, rights awareness, and
technical, vocational and leadership training to achieve financial independence
and sustainability for women survivors of war, according to the WWI website.
Washington-based WWI has seven offices worldwide, including Iraq, Afghanistan,
Rwanda, Kosovo and Nigeria.