FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AED CONTACT: Name, Phone

MEDIA ADVISORY: How Are Women Changing the Arab World?

Arab Women Explore New Pathways to Leadership on International Women’s Day

Washington, D.C., November 11, 2006 — Currently women are playing a significant role in the Arab region’s politics, voting in record numbers and winning seats in municipal and national elections. For example:

  • A Kuwaiti woman recently became that country’s first female candidate to run for office
  • Women have taken up a record number of seats in the Palestinian Legislative Council
  • More than 25% of the seats in the Iraqi parliament are held by women
This mobilization impacts the shifting political landscape. A panel of women will gather at the Academy for Educational Development to discuss the challenges women face as they redefine their roles and forge new pathways to leadership in the Arab world.












WHO: Dr. Farida Allaghi, International Human Development Expert/Advisor Dr. Allaghi, senior advisor to H.R.H. Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia, was previously the director of the Woman & Child Division of the Arab Gulf Program, and the general coordinator for the Arab Council for Children and the Arab Network for Civil Society.











Dr. Rima Salah, Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF
A tireless advocate on behalf of children, women, and the most vulnerable groups in society, Dr. Salah joined UNICEF in December 2004.











Dr. Fatima Sbaity-Kassem, Director, Center for Women, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia
Dr. Sbaity-Kassem is an economist who served as regional coordinator among Arab countries for preparations and follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women.












May Rihani, Senior Vice President and Director, AED Global Learning Group, an internationally recognized expert in gender equity and girls’ education and a native of Lebanon, will frame the discussion and moderate.











WHEN: March 8, 2006, 4 p.m











WHERE: Academy for Educational Development, Academy Hall, 1825 Connecticut Ave., NW, 8th floor

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