MIDDLE EAST: Arab Women Agree on Action for 1995 Conference

AMMAN, Nov 13 (IPS) - Women from the Middle East have agreed on a plan of action for the advancement of Arab women which will be presented at next year's Fourth International Conference on Women and Development in Beijing, China.

In the final document, the delegates from 22 countries in the region take into account the particularly difficult circumstances faced by women in what has for decades been a politically unstable region and especially stress the needs of the rights of young girls.

"Women of Arab countries have achieved a lot in one week. They have got all their ministers...agreeing with a substantial plan of action drawn up by NGOs, experts and delegations," said Intisar Mustafa al-Wazir, chief of the Palestinian delegation at the regional preparatory meeting held this week here in the Jordanian capital.

Al-Wazir is the first woman Minister of Interim Government of the fledgling state. The flag of her country was one of the many new aspects at this ministerial conference which was preceded by an expert group meeting and before that one, by NGO representatives.

Earlier in the week, delegates had agreed that Arab governments should be pressed into accepting 30 percent female representation at all decision-making levels.

"...the participation of Arab women in their parliaments and governments is still very low," said Gertrude Mongella, Secretary- General for the September 1995 Beijing conference.

With an eye on the Middle East peace process Mongella pointed out that women have particular skills in conflict resolution, but most of the time they are unrecognised.

"This is unfortunate because this region provides considerable evidence that women have innovative approaches to conflict resolution which can be effective both at national and international level," Mongella added.

The Plan of Action for Arab women identifies action to be taken at the national, regional and international level by governments and NGOs.

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