DAS GRAY ADDRESSES WOMEN'S CONFERENCE, ROYG

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SANAA 003558 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KDEM KWMN YM PHUM SUBJECT: DAS GRAY ADDRESSES WOMEN'S CONFERENCE, ROYG ANNOUNCES 15 PERCENT QUOTA FOR LOCAL ELECTIONS ¶1. Summary. On December 3 - 5, over 300 government and civil society representatives from across the Middle East participated in a Sanaa-based conference entitled "Women's Rights in the Arab World: From Words to Deeds." Participants discussed a variety of topics, including women's roles in political participation, law, and development. Visiting DAS Gordon Gray addressed the opening session, highlighting USG support for promoting the rights of women through the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) and announcing a $425,000 USAID grant for implementing conference recommendations in Yemen. ¶2. Summary continued. During the keynote speech, Yemeni Prime Minister Abdulkadir Bajammal announced ROYG support for a 15 percent quota for female representation in upcoming local council elections. In another conference announcement, Soumaya Ali Rajaa became the first female presidential candidate in Yemeni history. The final conference statement called on Arab governments to adopt international agreements on women's rights without reservations, adding unfortunate and pointless condemnations of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, and declarations of support for the "right of return" for Palestinian refugees. End Summary. -------------- Moving Beyond Words -------------- ¶3. Sponsored by the Yemeni Ministry for Human Rights and the UNDP, the conference brought together government officials and civil society leaders to discuss concrete steps to integrate Arab women into political, economic and social life. During the opening ceremony, DAS Gray applauded participants' efforts to focus on deeds and not merely words. He outlined USG support for women's rights, including $10 million to the Iraqi Women's Democracy Initiative and support provided through the $293 million MEPI program to reduce cultural, legal, regulatory, economic and political barriers to women's full participation in society. -------------- Deeds for Women in Yemen -------------- ¶4. Bajammal announced ROYG support for a 15 percent quota for female representation in the 2006 local elections. He called on all political parties to adopt the quota, saying development into a modern society depended on women being equal in "law and obligations." He also stressed the importance of addressing "cultural obstacles" that prevent women from participating fully in public and economic life. On December 19, the ruling General People's Conference announced its support for the 15 percent quota during the party's annual conference. (Comment: The announcement of ruling party support for a quota is a step forward for women's political participation in Yemen. Its ultimate success, however, will depend on the opposition parties' willingness to designate the same districts for all-female competition, as women stand little chance of winning in most districts if they must compete against male candidates. End Comment). -------------- Sharing Experiences, Moving Forward -------------- ¶5. Participants shared their experiences and ideas on how to advance women's rights in workshops focusing on the role of women in development, the law, and political life. During a session on political representation, a representative from the government-sponsored Yemeni Women's National Committee discussed ways to overcome the gap that exists in many countries, like Yemen, between laws and real implementation of women's rights. Focusing on women and the law, representatives from Algeria, Jordan, and Tunisia discussed ways to increase female participation in the judiciary system. On women's role in development, a representative from the Lebanese Business Women's Association led a discussion on the importance of a woman's right to participate and play a decision making role in economic activity. ¶6. At the end of the conference, delegates issued a statement calling on Arab governments to implement all international conventions on women's rights without adding reservations that nullify the original intent of the agreements. The statement also called on governments to remove all discriminatory laws that prevent women's full participation in economic and political life. It also encouraged governments and civil society to improve educational opportunities and provide better health care for women. Moving beyond women, the statement also condemned the "American invasion" of Iraq and the "Israeli occupation" of Palestine. ¶7. The end of the conference also witnessed the announcement of Soumaya Ali Rajaa, who became the first female presidential candidate in Yemeni history. Rajaa, who currently heads a Paris-based Yemeni-French cultural association, promised to focus her campaign on the advancement of women's legal and social rights. ¶8. Comment: While the final statement produced little in terms of concrete steps forward, the conference provided an excellent opportunity for women from across the region to share their experiences and voice support for each other's efforts. Post will continue to coordinate with UNDP and the Ministry of Human Rights to develop concrete ideas for implementing conference recommendations. End Comment. Khoury