A call for an organization for all Arab women has emerged from a meeting chaired by Egyptian First Lady Suzanne Mubarak, who used the meeting as a forum to urge greater support for Palestinian women.
The proposal emerged from the fifth preparatory meeting for the extraordinary Arab Women’s Summit, according to the daily Al Ahram.
The preparatory meeting was held Sunday with the participation of representatives from 18 Arab countries.
“Arab women’s efforts to organize, coordinate and exchange expertise are considered part of their deep feelings and national solidarity with Palestinian women, who are offering the biggest sacrifices,” said Mubarak, who also heads Egypt’s National Council of Women.
The move reportedly came in response to the resolutions of the first Arab Women’s Summit in Cairo.
The participants in the Sunday meeting discussed the structure of the proposed organization and agreed that it should be an independent financial and administrative entity, although part of the Arab League.
The first lady added that the struggle of Palestinian women was part of the general Arab women’s struggle, and called on women throughout the Arab world to support their Palestinian sisters.
She also called on women’s organizations worldwide to advocate on behalf of the Palestinian women in order to protect them and their families from attacks by Israeli occupation forces.
Mubarak also announced that the extraordinary Arab Women’s Summit would be held in Cairo November 11-12 under the banner Towards a Future Vision for the Arab Woman.
“The new organization will have its own independent convention and will coordinate its activities with the existing organizations devoted to serving the Arab woman. Arab countries will head the organization alternately in alphabetical order,” said Mubarak, adding that it had been agreed in principle to put this proposal on the agenda of the Arab foreign ministers’ conference on September 9.
It will also be on the agenda of the Arab economic and social council meeting, which will be held on September 13, the daily said, citing Mubarak – Albawaba.com
