Jordan Times
Monday, July 19, 2004
UNIFEM launches 'Progress of
Arab Women 2004' report
By Rana Husseini
AMMAN — A UN report released Sunday revealed that while women make up 49 per
cent of the population in Arab countries only 28 per cent were in the active
workforce, making these figures the lowest of any region in the world.
However, the report acknowledges and emphasises the number of successful
professional women in executive positions in a variety of Arab countries and
also notes the increase in Arab women's representation in national parliaments,
the establishment of the Arab women's organisations and the rising role of NGOs.
These findings were listed in the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)
report: “Progress of Arab Women 2004,” which aims to provide an insight into the
world of Arab women and the progress achieved throughout the years.
The report's key objectives were to serve as a tool for identifying unfulfilled
promises and for revisiting current strategies and programmes of action for
protecting women's security in the Arab states.
Three levels of action in the region are investigated towards women's
empowerment in the report: The policy level where international commitments are
being made, the operational plans and actions at the national level, and the
achievements and challenges in terms of the everyday lives of women.
“This is the first report of its kind in the region that UNIFEM issues on
progress of Arab countries,” UNIFEM senior programme officer, Dana Malhas, told
The Jordan Times.
The report, marking the 10th anniversary of the Beijing Conference, is expected
to serve as a mapping tool for Arab countries to review the progress made in the
implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action, according to Malhas.
“Based on the feedback we get from organisations and individuals locally and in
the region, we will decide if we want to issue a report every one, two or five
years,” Malhas added.
Her Majesty Queen Rania acted as patron at the report's launching ceremony,
which was attended by ministers, and representatives of NGOs, UN agencies,
embassies, the media and universities.
The report also reflects the experience of Arab women in the context of social,
economic and political security in a region that continues to face traumas and
insecurities including radical social transformations, demographic transitions,
poverty, resource shortages as well as occupation, war and civil strife.
In the context of social security, the report examines families, which are vital
social institutions and an integral part of the Arab identity in light of social
transformations and demographic transitions.
Revisiting family codes and state practices which make women's citizenship
contingent on family relations, reforming welfare regimes so that they
accommodate the needs of women, and regulating labour markets with gender
sensitive and flexible mechanisms are proposed as three key elements of social
security.
Economic security, as introduced in the report, refers to the need to protect
people through the provision of job opportunities, a secure income, economic
rights, and effective participation in economic life.
Education, training, microfinance and access to other loan and financial
resources have been identified as means for enhancing women's opportunities for
income generation.
The chapter on “securing politics” reexamines possible explanations for the low
political participation of women in Arab states, since “the number of Arab women
involved in politics is still far from representative of their population in
society.”
Some of the obstacles, according to the report, include lack of support and
guidance necessary for women to reach decision making positions and lack of
knowledge and understanding of political rights and responsibilities.
Yet, the report adds that the number of successful professional women in
executive positions in a variety of Arab countries is an important
accomplishment.
The report was commissioned by UNIFEM and written by Arab experts to reflect the
experience of Arab women in the context of social, economic and political
security, UNIFEM Regional Director Haifa Abu Ghazaleh said.
“Although much has been achieved so far, more still needs to be done to
ameliorate the status of women across the region for them to be very effective
and powerful within their families, communities and societies,” she added.
Students from the Princess Basma Youth Resource Centre presented a sketch on
gender equality highlighting women's rights to education and economic
development, in addition to all aspects of gender equality.
At the end of the ceremony, Abu Ghazaleh presented Queen Rania, president of the
Arab Women's Summit, with a copy of the report, marking its launch from Jordan
and highlighting the great strides the country has taken in the area of women
and development.