ARAB WOMEN ORGANISATION WANTS WOMEN'S SECURITY ENSURED

ABU DHABI, Nov 14 (Bernama) -- Participants at the just-concluded second
conference of the Arab Women Organisation (AWO) have urged governments,
international communities and civil societies to strongly commit themselves to
initiatives in seeking human security for women at times of armed
conflicts.

They want the states to take the necessary legislative and judicial
measures to combat all forms of violence and discrimination against women, as
well as create adequate mechanisms to put these measures in place.

The participants of the three-day conference which ended Thursday, also
stressed on the daunting challenges women faced under occupation, siege and
armed conflicts in Palestine and Iraq, saying that violence had become the
common order of daily life for these women.

In the final statement of the AWO, the participants also denounced the
abuse of human security as a pretext for intervention into the internal affairs
of
other states.

Saying that protection of woman and provision of her security should be a
key element of human security, the participants emphasised the following
principles:
1. Urging states to adopt the comprehensive security concept which
complements the framework of national security with that of human security, with
respect for sovereignty of the state;
2. Urging those dealing with women's rights and provisions of their human
security-related requirements to coordinate efforts for better performance aimed
at reducing threats against security of women;
3. Building a community awareness that works to support rights, standing
of a woman and her security-related issues;
4. Adopting principles of freedom of women and her place at the Arab and
Islamic positive cultural heritage;
5. Confronting the culture of exclusion of women from public life;
6. Engaging women in the decision-making process at all levels as a
necessary
preparation for enjoying security;
7. Pursuing the empowerment of women in all walks of social life, notably in
the political scene; and,
8. Ensuring that women take advantage of information and communications
technology.

The participants, both men and women, commended the political commitment
shown by Arab countries to the cause of women and the momentum of programme of
their empowerment, a development which has left a deep impact on changing the
reality of millions of Arab women for the better.

However, at the same time, they realised the great negative impact of
global transformations and international political and economic crises on the
capacity of women to gain their rights in security and peace and exercise the
same.

The brunt of this global reality on the security and peace of women are
exacerbating in the case of women reeling under the burden of poverty, disease,
illiteracy and discrimination, the participants noted.

Through the three days, the conference analysed and assessed diverse
dimensions of human security and its relationship with women.

During the six working panels, themes dealing with culture, education,
health, environment, economy, social policies and armed conflicts were
debated.

The plenary session defined the theoretical concept and symbiotic
relationship between national security and human security. The working programme
ended with discussions which proposed a future action plan that will serve the
human security order of the Arab women.

The conference assembled a line-up of male and female representatives of
Arab governments and Arab and international research think-tanks and NGOs to
explore the best mechanisms the human security concept provides to assist women
gain their rights and protect them, as well as to enable them to enjoy justice
and equality.
-- BERNAMA