Awo's 3rd conference aimed at raising awareness on the different dimensions of sustainable development and setting an Arab vision regarding the required future level of women participation in such development.
The concept of development has raised debates and discussions at all levels both in theory and practice; was approached and studied from many political, economic and social perspectives, which varied according to the applied scientific methodology.One the most important definitions describes development as a process of transferring societies from a lower to a better level in society.
Hence, the concept of development can either be as a traditional or as a more advanced approach. While the traditional concept of development focuses on the economic side and the rule of the market, many voices, due to the inadequacy of this concept, called for the necessity to expand the concept of development to include additional objectives and dimensions to economic goals like fulfilling the needs of individuals, increasing investment in human resources capacity building and the intervention of other parties such as the State and civil society and the growing role of women.
What is the development we actually need?
How can we achieve a real and comprehensive development between regions, generations and gender?
Interaction with these changes raised awareness during the last decade of the last century, awareness of the human value as goals and means in comprehensive development. The term human development imposed itself on the economic and political discourse at the international level. The United Nations Development Programme and its annual human development reports play an important role in the dissemination and consolidation of this term . At the same time, the issue of the natural environmental capital preservation for future generations emerged. Within the context of these transformations, the features of sustainable development as a concept became clear through the identification of a close relationship between the economy and the environment and upon recognition that the economic productivity cycle does not represent in any way a "closed system" governed by quantitative criteria only, but it represents also a group of components and outputs based on the interdependence between the environmental capital – industrial capital - and human capital.
Sustainable development materialized as a concept during the ten years subsequent to the Earth Summit in 1992 and focused on human, social, political, cultural, and environmental aspects, paying greater attention to the quality of life and the preservation of environment, as well as the participation of individuals and groups in civil and political life.
Hence the importance of this subject becomes evident as being one of the main concerns of the Arab Women Organization which crosscuts all its programmes and areas of work. With the findings and conclusions reached by the survey studies and the recommendations of its first and second conferences, this concept was integrated into the universal emphasis on women human rights, expressed by the various international conferences, starting from the First Global Conference on Women (Mexico 1975) to the Fourth Conference (Beijing 1995) and the follow-up reflected in the Beijing Platform for Action and follow up evaluations (Beijing +5 and Beijing +10) which confirmed the right of all women in development as main and effective partners. The AWO Third Conference on Arab Women and Sustainable Development provides an opportunity for addressing these issues in-depth and confirming these strategic orientations.
Raising awareness of the dimensions of sustainable development as a concept; and regarding its priority components as essential to the preservation of rights, equality and justice among individuals and generations.
Formulating an Arab vision on the participation of women in sustainable development.
Establishing the principle of partnership by highlighting the importance of the role of Arab women.
Creating a framework for integrating a dimension of sustainable development, taking into account the specific needs of women in urban and rural areas, at the level of planning and programming in all development projects.
Redefining Security: From National to Human Security: How Far have Women been taken into Consideration?
Economic Globalization: How Far and in what Way has it Impacted Women’s Security?
Education and Awareness: The Effective Way to Heighten Women’s Security.
within the framework of the AWO youth program, a working to present the results of a field study which surveyed Attitudes of University Students toward Arab Women Human Security.
within the framework of cooperation between AWO and the Arab Labor Organization, a session was devoted to introducing a proposal for the establishment of " Fund for the Employment of Rural Arab Women".
It is with utmost pleasure and pride that we witness together the holding of the second conference of the Arab Women's Organization in the United Arab Emirates under the gracious patronage of Her Highness Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak. Her Highness has been able; thanks to her profound interest in all matters related to Arab women, to manage the organization with utmost efficiency and distinguished follow up of all genuine and meaningful activities carried out by the Organization personnel under the distinct leadership of Her Excellency Dr Wadooda Badran.
Thanks to all these efforts, a new chapter of bright achievements has been added to the vibrant progress of the Organization, earning all the people who contributed to this success the merit of being praised and commended, particularly the contributions of the members of the executive board in adding to the Organizations institutionalized work.
The selection by the Arab Women's Organization of the theme "Security of Women as a human being" with its renewable and wide concept is the best reflection of the new stage the Organization has reached in dealing with the community with the purpose of conveying the Arab view on such critical issues. Yet, reaching out further towards positive impacts to create a long-term integrated system that links between the necessity of peace to support development and the significance of sustained development to ensure stability and security. Both elements are indispensable and represent the two sides of the coin.
We hope that this conference will be the first step towards a future Arab effort that will place women at the center of this concept and its numerous overlapping aspects. These efforts shall allow women to be free of the causes of fear and need as human beings, to have the options to live in dignity and most importantly to enjoy the right to benefit from every possible option.
This conference coincides in being held while the global economic crisis is still awaiting solutions that will overcome its damages. This situation increases our responsibilities to highlight its impact on Arab citizens, in addition to the nature of the measures and precautions that need to be taken to protect them from the market turmoil and its enormous effects on the security of people, and particularly that of women, in view of the direct link between the economy and the provision of the basic elements of decent living and the maintenance of the stability sought by the people of the world.
In light of this new and difficult challenge that has imposed itself, the only option is to focus on long-term forceful planning that places human needs at the core of all action work and ensure that they are well protected and properly empowered.
As we talk about the safeguards of security and stability planning, please allow me to briefly review with you the Bahraini experience in this field.
Last month, Bahrain launched "Bahrain Vision 2030", a blueprint of long term plans for the national economy based on the concepts of "sustainability for the sake of prosperity", "competitiveness for the sake of development" and "justice for the sake of stability."
This vision, patronized and supported by HM the King, is founded on national aspirations to change the current economic model from an economy based largely on oil to a diversified economy capable of competing globally. The vision will serve as an indicative guide for both the government and the private sector, in order to reach its ideal and essential role, where the citizens shall gain the most through the commitments made to provide them with all factors to live safely and in dignity.
We thus hope that this national project will add a new and strong drive to our Arab economy, which, I am confident, is of high interest to Arab governments based on their economic conditions and their development needs.
You may agree with me that the major concern for those in charge of drawing up development policies and those entrusted with implementing them is the lack of human security and the subsequent risk implications.
Over the years, global efforts have been exerted to reach a precise definition of the concept of human security. This has been an attempt to mark out its intertwined components and eventually lead to stressing the need to ensure "freedom from want" and "freedom from fear", the protection of freedoms and the empowerment of individuals and societies into effective partnership in reconstruction and development.
The setting up of a permanent specialised commission and a fund within the United Nations to follow up this important issue is considered a distinguished effort. This leads me to suggest before this conference that the Arab Women's Organization should take the initiative to launch a dialogue with the World Commission on Humanitarian Security based on the recommendations and conclusions of the conference. This move will highlight the Arab view about this concept and the challenges it faces in the region, and will help benefit from the Commission's plans and programs in addressing the problems impacting development in the Arab world.
Before I conclude, I wish, once more, to praise the outstanding efforts exerted at all times by the honorable President of the conference, which she crowns today by holding and organizing this conference, marked by meaningful themes, significant objectives and a participation of a high-level of experts whose views and expertise we are always keen to listen to and learn from.
I would also like to congratulate the President on the launch of the Arab Women's Media Strategy and the Arab Migrant Women's Network in line with the "Manama recommendations" and as a mean to help elevate the status of women through the vision, mission and content of the two ambitious projects.
Our thanks to the United Arab Emirates for the gracious and remarkable efforts. Wishing the conference all the success.
Your Excellencies, the Heads of Delegations and Distinguished Guests, It is my pleasure to welcome you here and to thank you for accepting the invitation to attend the second conference of the Arab Women Organisation, held on the theme: "Women and human security: Arab and International Perspectives".
We sincerely hope that the meeting will add great value to the current efforts aimed at supporting Arab women and contributing to their betterment in the future.
I would like to begin by offering thanks to Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah and to Her Highness Sheikha Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa for their valuable contributions during their respective terms as President of the Organisation.
I am also pleased to extend my thanks to Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak, who launched the initiative of the Arab Women Summit and who recommended that an organisation for Arab women be established.
My thanks also go to the Arab First Ladies for their continuous support for the Organisation.
The UAE takes great interest in this conference and looks forward to the ideas and discussions that lie ahead on the relationship between human security and women.
Human security is one of the newest concepts used with regards to the principles of freedom, security and development. It is an evolving concept that focuses on transforming those principles into commitments and applicable mechanisms.
In this respect, human security encompasses topics like human rights, good governance, the potential for getting access to education and healthcare and a clean environment, the eradication of poverty and the guaranteeing of equal opportunities to individuals so that they may realise their potential. All these are necessary ingredients for a decent and equitable human life.
Brothers and sisters, The issues related to human security are basically universal and are generally shared by all people wherever they are. It is important, therefore, to tackle them in a highly co-ordinated manner and through openness and a positive dialogue that takes into consideration cultural peculiarities and seeks to bridge differences.
I welcome you again. We in the UAE are extremely happy to host this important event so that we may renew our commitment to supporting women's causes as one of the most vital issues in our struggle to achieve comprehensive Arab progress.
We believe that positive dialogue and interaction among different cultures are key instruments for reform, progress and peace.
Thank you again and I wish this conference success, by the grace of God the Almighty.
It is my distinct pleasure to meet with you today in sisterly United Arab Emirates, to pursue the joint effort we launched about eight years ago, when we held the first Arab Women Summit in 2000, the Summit that ushered in a new stage of joint Arab action for the promotion of Arab women, and constituted an efficient tool to consolidate the position of women in our peoples’ action for achieving progress and invulnerability.
I take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks and deep consideration to Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the Arab Women Organization Supreme Council, for her warm hospitality, generous patronage of our Conference, and keen determination to provide all conditions of success to its proceedings. I also wish to convey my sincere greetings to all members of the Conference preparatory committee and to the Secretariat-General of the Arab Women Organization, commending their diligent efforts to ensure an excellent preparation for this meeting of ours.
The creation of the Arab Women Organization more than five years ago was a major milestone in the process of promoting modern Arab women, furthering solidarity among Arab women, and increasing the fields of joint action in order to meet the huge challenges and stakes facing our societies.
The Second Conference of the Arab Women Organization, which addresses the theme of “Women in the Concept and Issues of Human Security … Arab and International Perspective”, reaffirms the strong determination driving Arab women to move ahead in materializing their aspirations for further solidarity, development and progress, and provides a valuable opportunity to deepen reflection on a major issue posed in our world today, an issue in connection with human security and survival.
This Conference is being held within a fluctuating international situation, and within a critical civilizational stage marked by major changes and huge challenges at the social, economic and technological levels; a stage in which Humanity is confronted with various forms of tensions and conflicts. Discussing women’s place in the concept of human security is, therefore, legitimate and necessary.
Women hold a central and fundamental place in the comprehensive notion of human rights, with its political, economic, social and cultural dimensions, including the solidarity rights, which consist essentially in the right to development, the right to a safe environment, and the right to peace.
I am convinced that the interesting lectures, in-depth analyses and rich discussions that will characterize our Conference, along with the constructive and comprehensive recommendations and suggestions that will emanate from this meeting, will further crystallize the notions related to these issues, and will enhance serious action to promote Arab women’s conditions, in accordance with a coherent strategic perspective and a comprehensive approach that considers women’s needs as one of the priorities to achieve development, democracy, stability, security and peace in the world.
Promoting women in our societies, offering them the means to exercise their rights and accomplish their duties, and preserving their dignity, are a strategic civilizational stake, and a key component of the notion of Arab national security and of the concept of human security in its comprehensive meaning.
In our view, we need to act together, with strong resolve and unwavering determination, in order to make further strides in the process of anchoring our genuine solidarity and materializing our full commitment to the spirit of positive action; our aim being to consolidate the achievements accomplished during the past period, to meet challenges, to reach higher levels of equality and balanced partnership between men and women, and, therefore, to build a balanced, tolerant and solidarity-based society.
Everybody is aware of the importance of international and civilizational changes in achieving a universal awakening vis-à-vis the principles of human rights. Many international charters, in fact, provide a clear explanation of the meaning of protecting human rights from threats and violations. This has given rise to a set of concepts and approaches, such as “human security” and “women’s empowerment”, which are now recurrent expressions in the approaches aimed at promoting the basic principles of human rights in various fields of concern to women.
On the other hand, everybody is aware that international charters and national legislations, however important they are, cannot alone achieve human security, including that of women. It is necessary, therefore, in addition to enacting appropriate legislation, to continuously adopt programs of action designed to anchor equality and disseminate human rights culture.
Women in general, including Arab women, are still exposed, with varying degrees, to a set of social and cultural constraints that limit not only their participation in public life, but also the promotion of their capacity and awareness, the achievement of self-assertion, and the guarantee of their social and economic security.
Besides, women’s suffering from violence is growing more intense, particularly as a result of wars and conflicts. The UNDP report indicates that women are the category that suffers most from the effects of foreign occupation, as is the case in Palestine, Iraq, Somalia, and other countries torn by armed conflicts.
It would be useful to think today of establishing an Arab Women Committee for International Humanitarian Law, within the framework of the Arab Women Organization, to serve as a support to international, regional and national efforts aimed at defending, respecting and disseminating the culture of international humanitarian law in the service of women.
The Arab perspective of women’s security, as part of the notion of human security, does not differ, in its basic references and noble ideals, from the international perspective. For in a world where distances have been shortened and its components intertwined, women’s issues are the same. This, however, should not overshadow the specificities of Arab women’s realities and aspirations.
Despite the considerable progress Arab women have achieved in various fields, the fact remains that Arab societies are still confronted with development challenges. In many Arab countries, illiteracy rates are high, reaching over 40% for women.
On the other hand, Arab societies are still suffering a huge gap between men and women in the economic field. To this we add the high maternal mortality rate in some Arab countries, which has an impact on children and on the balanced growth of generations.
As such, eradicating illiteracy and poverty, and achieving gender equality in all fields, are essential foundations of women’s human security, materializing the concept of comprehensive and sustainable development, and anchoring its dimensions in the Arab region.
Whatever the difficulties, I am convinced that achieving our objectives in terms of Arab women’s promotion at all levels is still possible, given the successful Arab experiences in terms of women’s empowerment and protection from discrimination and threats that might affect their social and economic security.
The Tunisian experience, especially in light of the gains of Tunisian women during the Era of the Change of November 7, 1987, is one of the most significant experiences in this field. It is based on humanist development approaches in which the economic dimension is indissociable from the social dimension. It asserts women’s place in the action of development, through an approach in which the promotion of legislations goes hand in hand with the adoption of the gender-based approach in planning, the materialization of the solidarity dimension, and the adaptation of the mechanisms of social promotion and protection to the needs of women and the family. This in addition to developing mindsets toward establishing a family and societal culture that is in tune with the avant-garde legislations adopted in Tunisia to anchor the values of equality and partnership.
Comprehensive Arab security should be based on a civilizational project that has deep roots and open prospects. There is no other path but to continue granting all due attention to women’s conditions in our Arab society, as it is a necessary prerequisite for a coherent civilizational construction.
I am convinced that this Conference, with the distinguished participations characterizing it and with the conclusions and recommendations it will produce, will constitute the best stimulant for us to move ahead in materializing the concept of human security, free from any form of gender-based discrimination, and which would guarantee for our Arab societies further progress, invulnerability and well-being.
Allow me to stress that the main issue of the conference is truly a very important one as it is in line with the priorities of the present stage. Through discussing the concept of human security from Arab and international perspectives, we actually seek to come up with a set of objectives in order to be able to draft this concept from an Arab perspective and engage in dialogue and discussions on this issue with the international community. We should do this in order to draw up policies and plans of action through which we can achieve the concept of human security in general and women’s security in particular. This objective is our main preoccupation and concern in light of the uncertainty of the impacts of the international financial crisis on families, women and children. This is in addition to study the impacts of other issues and challenges, such as the armed conflicts, disputes, violence, occupation and economic blockade in connection with the violations of women’s security and rights. In fact, women’s development and empowerment can not be achieved in the absence of security and stability.
The main topic of this conference is rightly selected and it is the outcome of intellectual and research efforts made by the Arab Women Organization in its attempt to activate the female joint work at the Arab level. In this context, I would like to express my appreciation of the efforts exerted by the women experts and leaders in this regard.
The Sudanese women have achieved several gains throughout their march. They got the right to election and candidature during the early 1990s. Sudanese women’s representation in the Parliament is 18% and it was agreed that women’s representation in the forthcoming legislative elections should not be less than 25%. Sudanese women are also holding leading positions in the executive, legislative and political bodies. Several Sudanese businesswomen have emerged in the local market and women’s contribution to the economic domain has doubled to register more than 30%. This has been possible thanks to the supportive policies adopted by the state, which seeks the promotion of the status and potentials of women in light of being key partners in achieving sustainable comprehensive development.
The national women’s empowerment policy adopted by the Sudanese Cabinet represents the main basis for empowering women and maximizing their contributions in all walks of life.
We do pursue our official and popular efforts in cooperation with civil society organizations and the private sector with the objective to control maternity deaths, set up programmes and policies for promoting the status of rural women under the executive program for agricultural development, which is a key means for achieving food security and self-reliance in terms of food grains for the entire Arab world in view of Sudan’s latent and unexploited natural resources.
A malicious conspiracy is being plotted against a dear part of our country, namely, Darfur. Whenever we try to settle the problem and bridge the gap, the enemies, who seek to destabilize our nation, work on widening it again and again. However, we are strongly committed to spread peace, development and feeling of brotherhood in Darfur. You have followed up the meeting of Sudanese delegation( more than 60% of the delegation are from Darfur people), which sought to come up with visions and solutions for maintaining the unity of our national fabric. In this context, I would like to highly and sincerely praise the serious efforts and good offices being exerted, especially by the League of Arab States (LAS) and the African Union (AU), for preserving the stability of Sudan. We do also need your support for the resolutions and recommendations, which are in the interest of the people of Sudan.
We are totally convinced that partnership for development can not be achieved overnight, but it requires the creation of an appropriate international environment. Moreover, human rights can be disintegrated. In other words, we can not call for ensuring human rights for men and women without the rights of peoples to development and control on its resources.
In this regard, we could like to reiterate that the siege imposed on the Palestinian women and children is tightened. Accordingly, the matter should go beyond the oral condemnation and calling on the parties concerned to taking serious actions towards the protection of the Palestinian women and children.
We are happy that the Arab Women Organization has adopted what we previously initiatives we proposed in last conferences regarding the issues of women and media.
We highly praise our objective-based march and the achievement of our agenda require enhancing joint Arab action and having full coordination of the efforts being exerted by the official bodies and the civil society organizations towards achieving the society’s security and safety and promoting the conditions of Arab women.
May Allah Guide all of us to the right path for realizing the progress and prosperity of the Arab and Islamic nation.
Allow me to start by extending my gratitude to Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak for the warm and hospitable welcome afforded to us in the United Arab Emirates. I highly commend her astute choice of our conference’s topic. I extend my deepest respects for her steadfast commitment to our Arab identity and all that she has done to empower and protect women in the Emirates and the wider Arab World.
Our present and our future are defined by the actions people take for themselves. Women must be equally involved in shaping our lives, today and tomorrow.
Since the beginning of the 20th century, women in the Arab World have been steadily defining their role and contribution in our societies. Their efforts have intensified during recent times, but the objective has always remained the same – a progressive society, where citizens, have access to equal opportunities and live without discrimination. The objective is not to carve out a new or different role for women, rather to ensure that their contribution is recognized and optimised. For our societies in the Arab World, this must result in a commitment to our nation’s security, stability and prosperity.
We live in a region that has been plagued by conflict and instability for decades. This not only continues to have a detrimental effect on our development efforts, but also, and more significantly, it affects the overall level of human security afforded to our citizens. One cannot discuss human security in the Middle East without addressing Israel’s continued illegal occupation of Arab lands and its total disregard of Palestinian rights. Human security and human rights are mutually reinforcing, not mutually exclusive.
The illegal occupation becomes even more significant when we factor water security and water rights into the discussion. Palestinian, Jordanian, Syrian and Lebanese water supplies continue to be threatened by Israel’s hegemonic violation of our water boundaries. Without water security, the other dimensions of human security become irrelevant. There can be no human life without water, it is a basic human right and it will affect how secure Arabs feel.
Globalisation today has left no doubt that the security of individuals and nations are interlinked and interdependent. This presents us with new challenges, both economic and cultural; two cornerstones of human security. Our cultural security is primarily an outcome of our sense of identity and belonging. We must work to ensure that our cultural identity is not compromised and we must not allow our history, our traditions or our lifestyle to be distorted by external forces.
Despite the challenges we face amidst the current global financial crisis, I believe that we also have an opportunity. Any crisis, especially one of this magnitude, requires the total mobilisation of a nation’s resources and capabilities, particularly the fuller participation of women in our societies. This can no longer be considered optional; it is a national, regional and global necessity.
I urge you not to forget an additional crisis facing our world today, one that does not benefit from widespread attention, the devastating global food crisis. It is a crisis that reminds us of the necessity for the careful re-examination of the matter of food security and that we must approach human security comprehensively. It is no longer an issue for developing countries to struggle with alone; this is a truly global crisis which has left no country unaffected.
We can be proud of the significant achievements Arab women have accomplished in recent years, but we can only build on them if we base our evaluation of them on practical realities. Have these achievements translated into tangible changes in the social conditions of women in the Arab world? And what has been the impact of these changes on the extent of human security afforded to Arab women today? The answers to these questions constitute our shortcomings on one hand, but provide us with a benchmark on the other. Given the tensions that exist in our Arab society between the forces of progress and those of stagnation, the state must positively determine the direction of development. With the inclusive participation of men, women and civil society, the government must take action to resolve this tension in favour of growth and prosperity. Today, women must continue to have the courage and the will to demand progress and struggle together with all who believe in our nations’ future and who work without discrimination. Together with the forward-thinking elements of our societies they will shape their own human security.
Allow me in the beginning to convey our deep appreciation, and gratitude to her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, for sponsoring this important Arab Women conference, and for her generosity in receiving us here in Abu Dhabi. Her patronage to this conference represents only a fraction of the efforts her Highness exerts to elevate the status of women, and to protect their rights for secure, fair, and dignified life.
We feel this effort through the achievements made by women in the United Arab Emirates in terms of the accomplishments, women in this country, have achieved on all levels.
For us in Palestine, we feel and witness her role through the generous assistance and donations her highness provide to Palestinian families, elevating their suffering, and enabling them to live relative normal life. Few days ago, and through her highness' support, a special section to cater for women with special needs, was opened in Palestine.
Elevating the status of women, and enabling them to live secure and dignified life constitutes an important part of our work to build progressive Arab societies. Without giving women their fair deal in terms of equal job opportunities, education, and the ability to form and build their own status, our societies will not progress, and will not assume their rightful position amongst other world societies.
The cause and concept this conference debating is paramount. Providing security to people in terms of enabling them to live secure life, and to work towards sustainable development are essential requirements. Security and sustainable developments are necessary for secure, stable normal life, void of any violence. This is the bedrock upon which societies develop and relations prosper.
I, on behalf of Palestinian women, and in the name of all sectors in our Palestinian society would like to stress the need to develop the above concept and to make it more universal, and to pay a special attention to the situation of Palestinian women and society under the Israeli occupation, enduring extreme difficulties, insecurity, and all forms of humiliation. The occupiers practice all forms of oppression against the Palestinian people. The occupation and its practices cause hardships, frustrate people, and is a major reason behind the existence of internal violence.
I trust that all of you are aware of the extent of Palestinian women suffering, be it women under occupation in Palestine or in the Diaspora.
We in Palestine, in the holy land, the land of steadfastness, look forward for your support and assistance, to do what you can to help tens of thousands of poor Palestinian families. We are also in need of your efforts to put an end to inter Palestinian violence, and to end the division which has inflicted extreme harm to our national cause.
Palestinian women are viewing the efforts to achieve Palestinian reconciliation in Cairo with extreme hope, and are hoping that reconciliation which will end the schism, and bring back Palestinian unity, will prevail.
Palestinian women standing side by side with men for the sake of achieving freedom and independence, and to build the sovereign Palestinian state with Arab East Jerusalem its capital, call on you, the free people, men and women of our world, to stand by the Palestinian people, and to support us in our quest to end the Israeli occupation, and the removal of settlements from the occupied Palestinian land, and to build the independent Palestinian state.
Our Palestinian homeland is occupied, Jewish settlements are expanding by the day, they are stealing our land and denying our identity, they are Judiazing holy Jerusalem, and are aborting all peace initiatives, be that Arab, Palestinian or International.
We call on this second Arab Women Conference, to urge the international community to exert real efforts to end the Israeli occupation of our land, on the basis of the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Arab Summit held in Beirut in March 2002.
It is the right of our Palestinian people, as all peoples of our world, to live free and independent on his national soil, in his independent state. Palestinian women standing side by side with Palestinian men in the forefront of the struggle has achieved some of its political and social rights. They have designated places in the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), and on municipality boards. There are 17 women member of the PLC, and 650 women member of village and town councils.
It should not be forgotten that there are more than 100 women in Israeli jails in addition to more than 11 thousand Palestinian prisoners. All of those have families suffering their absence. They are poor, and unable to make ends meet. This tragic and inhumane situation engulfing women and Palestinian families should make it imperative on the world community to end the Israeli oppression and their endless torture. The Israeli occupation must end.
I would like to seize this opportunity to convey the sincere regards of our people and leadership to his Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed, to his Crown Prince his Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed may God preserve and protect them, and to our brothers and sisters, the People of the United Arab Emirates.
It gives me great pleasure to be meeting with you in the United Arab Emirates in this forum, under the patronage of HRH Sheikha Fatma bent Mubarak, within the framework of one of the leading Arab institutions that epitomizes collective Arab cooperation, namely the Arab Women’s Organization. Today we discuss an issue that has increasingly become recognized as one of the top priorities on the international political agenda; the issue of human security.
Allow me at the outset to express my appreciation and gratitude to HRH Sheikha Fatma bent Mubarak for sponsoring this important event, and her extensive efforts in the planning and preparation works of the conference, which attests to the heightened importance she places on Arab women’s issues, including the means to empower women and enhance their position within society.
The concept of human security came to the forefront of the global agenda in the 1990’s, in the wake of the tragic events in Rwanda and Bosnia, and the subsequent grave violations of fundamental human rights witnessed in these two countries, including the displacement of innocent civilians and the suffering of refugees.
It is important to note that the concept of human security is still evolving, and subject to widespread debate and discussion both within and outside of the UN framework. It is from this that our conference derives its significance, in order to present the perspective of Arab women vis-à-vis this concept, in order to contribute to its formulation.
We would like to say to our societies and to the World that our Arab World is an indivisible and integral part of this World, brought together by growing independence as well as sharing common human values. The security of our peoples is an integral part of Human security everywhere.
We would also like to affirm that the protection of women and guaranteeing their safety and security should constitute one of the fundamental tenets of the concept of human security. Women are more likely to be subjected to violence, harmful practices and human trafficking. In times of war, they are usually the most affected by its repercussions. In times of peace they are more prone to poverty and marginalization. Women are therefore in greater need for the fruits of development in order to enhance their empowerment and their position within society.
We say to both our local and the wider international communities that Arab women do have a voice and an opinion on the matter, and we should succeed in this conference to achieve a clear and well-defined position in this regard…. a common position that we can later promote at the international level as one representing the collective opinion of Arab Women.
Despite the novelty of the concept of human security, the past few years have witnessed great strides in the development of the concept, its main philosophical framework and its fundamental objectives. The debate continues to this date. Since the inception of the concept, it aroused a wide array of controversy, and was met with great apprehension. It was suggested that the concept of human security would serve as alternative to the national security of states; seen by some as an attempt at segregating the individual from his wider community, and segregating people from their homelands and nations.
The introduction of the concept was also accompanied by attempts in UN literature, and other international academic and research centers, to undermine the importance of the notion of State Sovereignty, especially in the wake of a growing level of globalization. There were also simultaneous attempts at introducing the notion of Humanitarian Intervention in order to protect or prevent grave violations of fundamental human rights, including through resorting to coercive force, when necessary.
It was therefore necessary that Egypt, accompanied by many like-mined countries, attempt to rectify false perceptions surrounding the new concept. We affirmed that individual and people’s security are indivisible from National Security….that the concept of human security comes in tandem with national security and does not seek to replace it…that implementing human security was a national responsibility first and foremost,…That it was closely linked with social and human development….And that it could be supplemented by a role at the international level. We affirmed the inviolability of the concept of State Sovereignty, and cautioned that the right to humanitarian intervention opens the door to the illegitimate violation of State Sovereignty. We also asserted our unequivocal support for the respect international human rights standards, and that human security and protection of civilians should be extended to all individuals and peoples. We, in Egypt and the Arab World, owe this to ourselves and our peoples. We advanced along this path through our nationally owned political, economic and social reforms.
While the current dialogue falls short of formulating and agreed definition for the concept of Human Security, I would like to underline our support for any definition that embraces the values of freedom, protection, safety and human rights.
This multidimensional concept should primarily concentrate on the protection of human beings from all material and moral threats. It should seek to protect individuals from economic, social and cultural threats, freeing them from hunger and ensuring the adequate levels of healthcare, education, shelter and a decent livelihood.
Our debate today on the issue of human security in general, and its relationship to women issues in particular, constitutes an initiative by the Arab Women organization that should be praised and promoted.
I am hopeful that tackling this issue, in an all Arab forum, would provide an opportunity and encourage our academic circles, together with their western counterparts, to further deliberate on how to contribute to the formulation of the concept of Human Security.
In addition, our gathering represents a contribution that is specifically Arab, to an issue that has been accorded much importance on the international scene and within the UN as well as other international and regional organizations.
On the other hand, the international character of this conference allows this Arab contribution to fall within the framework of direct dialogue between Arab and international experts. Such dialogue and intellectual exchange is a fundamental prerequisite of itself, which we hope will become a model for similar dialogue between all peoples on issues of common concern.
The subject of this conference is all the more pressing in light of the realities of the contemporary global system. The concept of human security, in all its aspects, has become a matter of extreme urgency, and a means to confront the multifaceted challenges that face human beings wherever they are. These challenges can no longer be confined to certain regions or boundaries due to the unprecedented ICT revolution, the significant development in military technology, and the process of Globalization which has created new economic and social challenges.
The Arab World expects to include such challenges and the threats they pose in any discussion regarding human security. It is our desire to reach an international consensus with regards to this concept and its definition…A consensus that provides security for all human beings and gives globalization a human face, and allows its benefits to be shared by all, while protecting the poor from its adverse consequences….A consensus that enshrines a strong framework to support development efforts in our countries….It should seek to rectify the contemporary international economic and financial systems, so as to relieve us from the consequences of its crises and imbalances and the absence of controls.
On the contemporary Arab Scene, there is a strong link between Arab Women’s challenges and the concept of human security, particularly due to the nature of Arab society and culture which makes women the nucleus of the family and the foundation of society. As such, the protection and empowerment of women, and the enhancement of her status in a way that guarantees her freedom and self-actualization, is a basic need for security, stability and development.
Hence, it is important to view women not only as a demander of protection but also as an architect of security, stability, peace and development. It is with this view that I launched the Suzanne Mubarak Women’s International Peace Movement in 2003. Through practice and experience we have come to realize the effectiveness of this perspective. Aside from the status preserved for women in any society as mothers, sisters, daughters and partners, when women are privileged with awareness, education and social recognition of their capabilities, they are able to better perform their role, and to participate in the development of their societies with greater capacity to contribute.
It is imperative that we work to answer a number of questions surrounding the scope of the perceived concept of human security and women’s security in our region, and the means to implement these concepts, including the reaffirmation of the role of women as safety and security nets in their societies.
I look forward to the conclusions of this important conference, and I trust that they will offer an intellectual as well as practical value added, serving the cause of Arab women and enhancing it.
Since its inception, the Arab women Organization has achieved many successes under the leadership of the Arab First Ladies. It has embraced every Arab woman and earned its place as a forum that presents her issues, interests and priorities. This organization has asserted, through its activities, research, and studies, that it is capable of tackling issues of concern to women in an organized and effective institutional setting.
I would like to congratulate the Arab Women Organization, in particular its Higher Council and its members and staff, and all those who believe in its mission and support its objectives.
My appreciation goes to all those who participated in this conference and all those who support the cause of Arab women…To all those who provide them with protection, security and empowerment and who seek to enhance their status as necessary prerequisite of the development of the wider Arab region.