MALAYSIAN PM`S WIFE IN INTERNATIONAL PEACE MOVEMENT

From Mokhtar Hussain

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Mesir, July 17 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian prime minister's
wife Rosmah Mansor has been invited by Egypt's First Lady Suzanne Mubarak to be
part of the women's international peace movement initiated by the Egyptian
president's wife.

Rosmah said she fully supported the efforts by Suzanne Mubarak's Women's
International Peace Movement as it was championing women's lot, especially those
facing food shortage and gender inequality.

The movement was established in 2003 to, among others, enable women to also
play an important role in creating world peace.

Rosmah said she was also happy that the problems faced by women and children
were highlighted at the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) First Ladies Summit which
ended Thursday.

The summit held at this Red Sea resort was the first to be held
simultaneously with the 15th NAM Leaders Summit.

"The African continent is experiencing various problems like food shortage
and gender inequality. African women are being marginalised in the villages and
not given assistance or loans to do business," Rosmah told Malaysian journalists
covering the NAM Summit here.

She said Suzanne Mubarak was also concerned about the smuggling of people,
especially women and children, which was raised by Malaysia during the summit.
-- BERNAMA