Arab Woman Campaign – January 29, 2023

The launch of the “Government Women’s Forum – Sustainability” was announced today with a remarkable presence and widespread media coverage. The forum is a first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at bringing together women from various government and semi-government sectors in the Arab world to find sustainable solutions for increasing the involvement of women in all levels of government work.

The press conference was held in Amman, Jordan, to announce the launch of the Government Women’s Forum – Sustainability. The event was attended by His Excellency Ambassador Ahmed Rashid Khattabi, who is the Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the Media and Communication Sector of the Arab League, as well as Dr. Ibrahim Abu Zekry, President of the Arab Producers Union and Arab Women Ambassador. Further attendees included Dr. Rihab Zein El Dine – Ambassador of Arab Women and His Excellency Dirar Belhoul Al Falasi, member of the Federal National Council and Executive Director of Watani Al Emarat Foundation.

⁃ Women are partners of men in progress and growth
At the event, His Excellency Ambassador Ahmed Rashid Khattabi, the Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the Media and Communication Sector of the Arab League, delivered a speech in which he emphasized the Arab League’s commitment to supporting and empowering women in all sectors. He stated that women are equal partners in development and that it is important to provide the necessary support to fully advance their role. He highlighted examples of this in various Arab countries, including the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Morocco, where women have increased representation in parliamentary work and various sectors of government work.

His Excellency the Ambassador also emphasized that the “Government Women’s Forum – Sustainability” is a crucial and promising opportunity to acknowledge and address the challenges faced by women in government work.

⁃ Collaborative work in human growth and development
His Excellency Dirar Belhoul Al Falasi, who is a member of the Federal National Council and the Executive Director of the Watani Al Emarat Foundation, emphasized in his speech that the foundation is dedicated to realizing the vision of the UAE’s leadership to invest in and develop its people. He noted that the foundation believes in the importance of both national and Arab collaboration in promoting sustainable development.
The “Governmental Women’s Forum – Sustainability” organized by the Arab Women’s Campaign and the Watani Al Emarat Foundation, is in line with the declaration of 2023 as the “Year of Sustainability” by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates.

His Excellency emphasized that the forum would provide a crucial opportunity to assess the challenges, opportunities, and achievements of women from various Arab countries and will result in recommendations and innovative solutions that will further advance the partnership between women and men in achieving sustainable development.

⁃ A milestone towards a sustainable approach of the campaign
Dr. Rihab Zein El-Dine, Ambassador of Arab Women, promoted a speech which addressed the work of the Arab Women’s Campaign since its establishment in 2005. The campaign operates under the General Union of Arab Producers and focuses on using visual, print, and audio media to address women’s issues.
She announced a new project, the “Government Women’s Forum – Sustainability,” in partnership with Watani Al Emarat Foundation, which aims to support Arab women and highlight their achievements.

The “Government Women’s Forum – Sustainability” will be held in Dubai throughout the year and consist of six sessions, each lasting two days. During these sessions, workshops and studies will be conducted to address challenges, opportunities, and solutions for women’s roles in various sectors, including health, education, energy, media, security, tourism, diplomacy, and more.

⁃ Accomplishment of goals
During his speech, Dr. Ibrahim Abu Zekri, President of the Arab Producers Union, highlighted the Union’s efforts in launching media initiatives and projects that promote joint Arab action, such as the Arab Women’s Campaign. The Campaign was founded 18 years ago by Dr. Mustafa Salameh, Secretary General of the Union of Arab Producers, and is still led by Dr. Rehab Zein El-Dine as the Arab Women’s Ambassador. Under the Union’s umbrella, the Campaign has achieved one success after another, staying true to its original ambition and goal.

The “Government Women’s Forum – Sustainability” was held during the second day of the “Government Institutions Forum for Sustainable Development,” organized by the General Secretariat of the Arab League, the Media and Communication Sector, and the Arab Satellite Broadcasting Authority, in partnership with the Arabian Media Network.