Abu Dhabi, 11th Nov. 2008  -- Arab First Ladies called today for greater empowerment of women in the Arab World so as to play their vested role in serving and building their countries and communities on equal footing with their male partners and communicating with other peace-loving nations for the sake of maintaining and bolstering human security collectively.

They stressed the need for promoting Arab-Arab and Arab-international dialogue cooperation for the service of human security causes.

Speaking before the second Arab Women's Organisation (AWO) conference, hosted by the UAE at the Emirates Palace under the theme: "Women and human security: An Arab and International Perspective", the wives of Arab leaders hoped the three-day forum would serve as a promoter of cross cultural dialogue to arrive at a common ground of understanding and betterment of human security.

They affirmed that woman is a proactive, vital factor in attaining human security and should be engaged in efforts seeking to realize that goal.

High profile speakers also paid a rich tribute to Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, President of Arab Women's Organisation (AWO), for her dedication and commitment to progress of Arab women.

Asma al-Assad, The First Lady of Syria, thanked Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak for the warm and hospitable welcome afforded to the participants in the United Arab Emirates. "I highly commend her astute choice of our conference's topic. I extend my deepest respects for her steadfast commitment to our Arab identity and all that she has done to empower and protect women in the Emirates and the wider Arab World." She urged the Arab women to be equally involved in shaping "our lives, today and tomorrow", adding that since the beginning of the 20th century, women in the Arab World have been steadily defining their role in contribution to their societies. Their efforts have intensified during recent times.

"The objective is not to carve out a new or different role for women, rather to ensure that their contribution is recognized and optimised. For our societies in the Arab World, this must result in a commitment to our nations security, stability and prosperity", al- Assad underlined.

She indicated that the region has been plagued by conflicts and instability for decades. This not only continues to have a detrimental effect on developmental efforts, but also, and more significantly, affects the overall level of human security. "One cannot discuss human security in the Middle East without addressing Israel's continued illegal occupation of Arab lands and its total disregard of Palestinian rights. Human security and human rights are mutually reinforcing, not mutually exclusive." Al- Assad added that the current global financial crisis should not deter people, but total mobilisation of resources and capabilities are required, particularly the fuller participation of women in their societies. This can no longer be considered optional; it is a national, regional and global necessity.

Tunisian First Lady Leila Ben Ali also thanked Sheikha Fatima for her warm hospitality and generous patronage over conference.

She said that the "creation of the Arab Women Organisation more than five years ago was a major milestone in the process of promoting modern Arab women".

Ben Ali underscored that women hold a central and fundamental place in the comprehensive notion of human rights, with its political, economic, social and cultural dimension, including the solidarity rights, which consist essentially the right to development, the right to a safe environment, and the right to peace.

"Promoting women in our societies, offering them the means to exercise their rights and accomplish their duties and preserving their dignity, are a strategic civilisation stake, and a key component of the notion of Arab national security and the concept of human security in its comprehensive meaning", she added.

She emphasised that eradication of illiteracy, poverty and achieving of gender equality in all fields, are essential foundations of women's human security and development as well. (WAM/MN)