Women first

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THIS WEEK, at headquarters of the Arab League, the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) released the Arabic version of "The Arab Women Progress Report 2004" . The report aims to "assess the current welfare of Arab women" in all sectors of life, Hayfaa Abu Ghazala, UNIFEM Regional Director, stated in a keynote address at the opening ceremony, reports Magda El-Ghitani.

The Arabic version is particularly tailored to allow all concerned in the Arab world to access a clear and detailed understanding of the status and the challenging socio-economic problems sustained by women in the Arab world. It offers decision-makers and researchers a wealth of information on Arab women's critical needs, building capabilities, enabling environment, and general well being. The objective, UNEFEM says in an introduction to the report, is not only to dissect the problems but to help define solutions.

Gender bias, economic disparities and legal discrimination were identified by the report to be among the main problems faced by women in the Arab world.

According to the report, the most disturbing problem is the negative perception of women by their own families and societies. Arab women often have very low self-esteem. Arab societies, the report advised, need to move beyond the limited perception of women as mere "mothers, sisters and wives".

There is a desperate need to recognise the full capabilities of women, the report noted.

Meanwhile, the report provides an account of the "progress" achieved by Arab women and proposes ideas on how to sustain and further the success stories that have been monitored in several Arab countries. According to the editors of the report, some impressive successes were made in improving the quality of the educational and healthcare systems. The upgrading of women's political participation was also monitored.

In an introductory statement, Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa stressed the need for all Arab countries "to create a strategy that would improve Arab Women conditions."

According to Arab League High Commissioner for Dialogue of Civilisations, Ahmed Kamal Abul-Magd, advancing the status of Arab women was a pre- requisite for advancing the progress of Arab societies in general and that such a move will be spotlighted in the 2005 UN Development Report that is expected to come out in a few weeks time.