RIYADH, 20 December 2005 — With reforms aimed at broadening women’s opportunities being floated by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, women who attended this weekend’s workshop entitled “Women and Millennium Development Goals” told Arab News yesterday that conclusions should be forwarded to the Shoura Council for necessary consideration.
“I was really proud of the professional manner in which the workshop was conducted. It gave an insight into women and (the UN’s) Millennium Development Goals,” said Jeddah-based radio talk show host Samar Fatany, who chaired the session “Women and Media” on the final day of the workshop.
She pointed out that the workshop took place at the right time when reforms that are intended to provide Saudi women with greater opportunities and more protections are coming into effect.
“I feel that opinions expressed by Saudi women should be presented to the relevant authorities in the Kingdom for necessary consideration,” said Fatany.
Describing the workshop as a great achievement, Wafa Al-Rashid said: “Erudite discussions and the enthusiasm shown by the participants revealed that Saudi women are committed to the welfare of women and family in the Kingdom.”
Princess Adila bint Abdullah inaugurated the workshop Saturday. It was sponsored by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in cooperation with the Saudi British Bank.
Hatoon Al-Fassi, assistant professor for women’s history at King Saud University, said the first ever conference of this nature has enlightened women on several important matters. “We need more such dialogues among our Saudi women so that proper awareness could be created among women at all levels,” said Al-Fassi.
She also pointed out that the Kingdom is part of the United Nations and it has contributed a lot financially and otherwise toward achieving UN goals.
“Therefore it is nothing but right for us to get the best benefit from the expertise of this global organization,” she said.
“It was a grand and transparent event where Saudi women were given an opportunity to speak their minds without any hesitation,” Dima Al-Azem, from public relations of the UNDP, told Arab News.
While appreciating the high-level of discussions at the three-day meeting, Muna Abu Sulayman, a popular talk show host who was appointed UNDP’s goodwill ambassador in the Kingdom, stressed the need for more role models among female journalists. She said role models would provide professional guidance and inspiration in the profession.
In her speech on “Women and Media”, Sulayman lamented that lack of professionalism in women’s publications in the Kingdom.
During the session on “Violence Against Women”, the delegates called for handing out severe punishment to men who abuse women. “Violence in any form against women should be condemned,” a delegate said.
The participants also condemned violence on children, which lead them to go astray in early childhood.
