First lady Calls for Better representation of women in decision-making positions in Arab world

The First lady, Dr. Mariem Mint Dah, stressed that the Mauritanian woman, which is proud of her Arab and African affiliation, has always played a balanced pioneering role in maintaining the components of affiliation and identity ,on one hand, and achieving the comprehensive development goals, on the other hand.

In her participation, via videoconference, in the works of the 8th conference of the Arab woman Organization, she called for a better representation of women in decision-making positions in our different Arab institutions.

Here is the complete text of the first lady’s speech:
“Firstly, I would like thank my sister Mme Claudine Aoun for her generous invitation to attend the 8th conference of the Arab woman organization.

It is a great honor to introduce to you the challenges of the Mauritanian woman, especially since our conference, entitled “Arab woman and cultural challenges”, enjoys a great popularity among the nation of one million poets.

This nation clings to an Arab culture, inherited from their ancestors and is keen to maintain it despite decades of colonization and systematic attempts to obliterate the identity by removing Arabic from the administration and education curricula.

In this context, the Mauritanian woman remained proud of her Arab and African affiliation and has always played a balanced pioneering role in maintaining the components of affiliations and identity, on one hand, and achieving the comprehensive development goals, on the other hand.
The Mauritanian woman, however, still faces many challenges.

In this regard, I would like to insist on the necessity of a better representation of women in decision-making positions in our Arab institution. The female representation is still below standards. I think that we better reach concrete proposals in this regard.

In several Arab countries, Arab woman still face difficulties to get a quality education that enable her to assume senior positions and contribute to scientific research. In this context, I would like to praise the important strides made by Lebanon.

The issues of domestic violence and child marriage should be addressed through an unwavering determination.

Undoubtedly, girls’ access to financial credit and entrepreneurship is a priority, especially in times where the word is experiencing severe economic crisis and growing unemployment.

At the end, Mme chairwoman, I propose that our meeting lead to the formation of a working group, commissioned to develop an Arab strategy on the crucial gender issue to remove barriers to women’s access to education, employment and leadership positions.
Thank you very much”.