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Al-Ahram Weekly 16 - 22 March 2000 Issue No. 473 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 16 - 22 March 2000 Issue No. 473
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Special Focus Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles A vision for the future
By Nevine Khalil
Every year on 16 March Egypt celebrates National Women's Day. The celebrations were crowned this year by the launching of the National Women's Council (NWC), which had been established on 11 February by presidential decree and is chaired by Mrs Suzanne Mubarak.
Holding the celebration on Sunday 12 March, shortly before the Eid Al-Adha (feast of the sacrifice) holiday, hundreds of women activists, officials and representatives of non-governmental organisations congregated for the first national conference on women. It was inaugurated by President Hosni Mubarak.
Addressing the conference, Mrs Mubarak said that the NWC should be seen as "an umbrella organisation for all women in Egypt." Earlier in the day, she told her audience of prominent women activists she believes that "all women in Egypt should consider themselves as members of the NWC general assembly."
At the end of the conference, Mrs Mubarak announced that the NWC is preparing a charter for Egyptian women defining the guidelines for work on women's issues. It will be based on "the suggestions and opinions we receive through the newly-created proposals committee to which every citizen will have access."
The one-day conference dealt with three main topics: women's participation in development; women's role in a cultural revival; and women's participation in public and political activities. A number of recommendations were issued at the close of the conference, underlining the necessity of closing the gap between legislative and constitutional provisions on women's rights and their practical application. In addition, laws should be revised to ensure that they do not run counter to women's constitutional right to equality with men and the necessary procedures should be followed to ensure women's political participation. The recommendations also urged women to take an active interest in public life and artists and intellectuals to emphasise the importance of women's societal role in their works.
It was recommended as well that NWC branches be opened throughout across the country, special attention be given to surveys and statistics dealing with women, a committee be created to investigate problems obstructing the advancement of women, and efforts doubled to promote female literacy. The conference finally called on foreign organisations and donor countries to help the NWC achieve its goals of comprehensive social development in the third millennium.
Renowned economist Heba Handoussa discussed the role of women in economic development and eminent ecologist Mohamed Kassas spoke about women's role in protecting the environment. Chairman of the Academy of Arts Fawzi Fahmi described how women can contribute to the nation's cultural revival. Political science professor Salwa Goma'a discussed ways of enhancing cooperation between men and women in running political and social affairs.
In his inaugural speech, President Mubarak said that the time has come for non-governmental organisations to share the responsibility for development with government bodies. He emphasised that "women have a pivotal role to play in achieving Egypt's qualitative social transition because they are responsible for preparing new generations to face the challenges of the new century." NWC Secretary-General Mervat El-Tallawi noted that Mrs Mubarak's chairing of the NWC is "a clear expression of the political determination for the advancement of women."
Addressing the conference's topics, the president affirmed that "comprehensive, balanced development cannot be achieved without removing the disparities and yawning gap between the participation of men and women in society."
Mubarak stressed that women have a vital role to play in development and, "most importantly, on the issue of [limiting] population growth." As for a cultural revival, he said that culture and education go hand in hand, and that a "culture of reading" should be embedded in the minds of all citizens.
Finally, Mubarak urged women "to take part in public and political life without hesitation." He expressed his hope that the next parliamentary elections, scheduled for November, "will witness a qualitative transformation allowing women to participate more actively in legislative action."
In her opening speech, Mrs Mubarak said that the NWC was established to meet the dire need for an organisational body concerned with women's affairs, and that priority will be given to younger cadres.
She said that the NWC will be at the centre of a number of activities. These will include: proposing policies; ensuring that legal and organisational frameworks are in place to enable women to play an effective role; activating the role of civil society in supporting women across the country; providing the educational, health and cultural services needed to ensure women's effective participation in public life; and countering women's marginalisation in decision-making.
Mrs Mubarak pointed out that studies have demonstrated that many women are "deprived of education, health and cultural services, job opportunities, professional training and participation in public action."
Another reason for creating the NWC is that it will serve as an umbrella for all women's activities at a time when "full democratic participation by all elements of society is needed to resolve the prolific number of social diseases," she said.
"We fully understand that hoping for, and targeting, goals, is easier than achieving them, and that talk is easier than action," the NWC chair said, "but we also know that having a vision for the future is the beginning."
