		Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 23 - 29 July 1998 Issue No.387
Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875		Current issue \| Previous issue \| Site map

NDP women criticise women's lot

By Rania Khallaf

MRS SUZANNE MUBARAK attended, for the first time ever, a meeting of the women's committee of the National Democratic Party (NDP) congress on Monday. The meeting was held in a small Cairo University lecture room. Mrs Mubarak was seated in the front row, flanked by Secretary-General of the National Council for Motherhood and Childhood Amina El-Guindi, Minister of Social Affairs Mervat Tallawi and Deputy Speaker of the People's Assembly Amal Osman.

Farkhunda Hassan, secretary-general of the NDP women's committee, presented a report on the role of women in development. The report showed that, with the exception of the electronics and pharmaceutical industries, the participation of women in most industries remains limited. However, it said 60 per cent of those holding part-time jobs or involved in menial activities are women, and that their wages are much lower than those of men. The report called for increasing the share of loans made available to women to finance micro-industries as well as providing women with more opportunities to occupy leading political and social posts.

Although the one-class school experiment has proved successful, the report warned that the percentage of illiteracy among women remains high. On the other hand, the participation of female voters in general elections increased from 2.6 per cent in 1956 to 34.4 per cent in 1996. But their representation on local (municipal) councils dropped from 10.25 per cent in 1980 to 1.18 per cent in 1997. The report also said that since 1963 only seven women have been appointed cabinet ministers.

Women, the committee recommended, should be given the opportunity to work as judges. Another recommendation urged that more public services, particularly in education, be made available to rural women. Women leaders should also be provided with training and with social awareness courses, the committee said.