ABU DHABI, 24 October 2007 — The Federal National Council (FNC), in cooperation with the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), will host in Abu Dhabi the second regional conference of woman parliamentarians and decision-makers in Gulf Cooperation Council states.
The conference will be held on Oct. 30-31 and is being organized under the patronage of Sheikha Fatima, supreme chairperson of the Family Development Foundation, chairperson of the UAE Women’s Federation and chairperson of the Arab Woman Organization. The first conference was held in Bahrain last year.
The forum, entitled “Women Making a Difference in Parliament,” will examine the role and input of women legislators and ways to promote women’s inclusion in the process of legislation.
Abdul Aziz Abdullah Al-Ghurair, chairman of the Federal National Council, said: “The conference aims to highlight the increasingly vital role played by women in the Gulf, specifically as parliamentarians and decision-makers. It will seek to hone their political and parliamentary working skills through the exchange of knowledge and experience.”
He added, “Holding a conference of this stature and significance in Abu Dhabi indicates the major progress achieved by women in the GCC countries, especially as parliamentarians. In addition, the conference will also highlight the active role played by the GCC women in the region’s dynamic economic, political and social arena.”
According to the IPU, which is a worldwide organization of parliamentarians, the average number of women in Parliament in the Arab world rose to nine percent in January 2007 from seven percent in January 2006. However, this is far from the world average of 17 percent, bearing in mind that the average of women MPs in the UAE has exceeded the world average by reaching around 23 percent.
Anders B. Johnson, secretary-general of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), said: “We are eagerly looking forward to the key conference in Abu Dhabi. This event is a reflection of the significant changes and progress that have taken place in the region and, in particular, the UAE, where women have made rapid strides in political life.”
He added, “The presence of women in the UAE Cabinet and the FNC provides further implication to the Abu Dhabi conference. We are privileged to hold this forum in partnership with the FNC and we look forward to a constructive debate.”
