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The work of the Arab Network for Gender and Development “@NGED” does not end with the closing of the annual meeting. It rather starts in different directions including thinking of the future of the network and the expansion of its influence, the involvement of other parties and its opening up onto new partnership actions.
“CAWTAR” has set up this year a committee tasked with organizing the sixth annual meeting due to be held on December 15, 16, 2007 in Tunis.
The center’s efforts are also focusing on collecting the largest possible number of data on partners and members of the network as well as membership in the network.
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Second issue of “Hiwar” newsletter
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The “Barlaman” organization, member of “@NGED” network and partner of “CAWTAR” in the implementation of the project of Arab Women and Local Governance in Egypt, has prepared the second issue of “CAWTAR” electronic newsletter “ Hiwar” which is a special issue on the project of Arab Women and Local Governance. The issue covered the various activities and events which discussed the participation of Egyptian women in local governance and the political field in general. It also contained information on “CAWTAR” project on Arab Women and Local Governance and a report about workshops and meetings held within its framework in the first half of 2007.
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Arab Women and Local Governance in Yemen |
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In coordination with journalist Fatima Mutahar, member of “@NGED” network and member of the project of Arab Women and Local Governance in Yemen, the radio station of Sanaa broadcast on June 2, 2007 a special program on “CAWTAR” project on “Arab Women and Local Governance.” The program was re-broadcast on the afternoon of June 3. As for journalist and broadcaster Aref Assorme, member of “@NGED” network and producer and presenter of the program “issue in a dialogue,” which is a weekly 45-minute program, he invited the Minister of Local Governance in Yemen and Professor Amal Al Bacha, member of “@NGED” network and chairwoman of the Arab Human Rights’ Forum “Al Chaqaeq,” which is a partner to “CAWTAR” in the elaboration of the project of Arab Women and Local Governance in Yemen.
Prof. Amal tackled the conclusions of the national study on Women and Local Governance in Yemen. The latter is one of five other national studies carried out in Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria and Lebanon, in addition to Yemen.
http://localgov.cawtar.org
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Publication of institutions’ guidebook
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“@NGED” members contributed effectively to provide information and assistance to “CAWTAR” when it published for the first time in the Arab world “a guidebook of institutions: combating poverty and micro-credits to empower women in the Arab countries.” It contained data on 350 institutions from 22 Arab countries operating either in credit or training and services in combating poverty, or backing credit institutions.
The guidebook was funded by institutions active in the fight against poverty and micro-credits. They are: the Micro-credit Network in the Arab Countries “SANABEL,” “Grameen” initiative, the Arab Gulf Program for United Nations Development Organizations, the Islamic Scientific, Educational and Cultural Organization and the Islamic Development Bank.
“@NGED” members including Mrs. and Messrs. Rana Lakhal and Maysar Al Saadi from Jordan, Faouzia Al Khaja and Aicha Matar from Bahrain, Tahar Lamouchi from Tunisia, Nafissa Al Ahrach and Mahassen Qarin from Algeria, Zahira Kamel from Palestine, Mariana Khayat Al-Sabbouri, Adib Naama and Rabii Fakhri from Lebanon, Bochra Ajouchine and Houria Nouinou from Morocco, Nihad Abu Al Qumsan and Leila Naamat Allah from Egypt and Fatma Sidi Mohamadou Amintou Mint Sidi Mohamed and Fatma Sidi Mohamed from Mauritania have made valuable contributions.
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"Rural women and social services" ... 7 participations
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In response to the call for partnership which was launched by “CAWTAR” in July 2007 on “rural women and social services,” the center received 7 projects proposed by members of the Arab Network for Gender and Development “@NGED” from three Arab countries: Jordan (2 projects, Iraq (2 projects) and Sudan (3 projects).
Parties who had proposed these projects highlighted the subjects tackled in them as part of the central issue “rural women and social services” as well as the duration of the project and the budget proposed for its implementation. Institutions which had presented these proposals were: “ the Jordanian Women’s Union” , “Family Development Association”, “Tomorrow’s Iraq humanitarian and Cultural Association” , “Iraqi Women’s Justice Organization” , “ Grandchildren Association” in Sudan, Sudanese“ Initiatives Group” and the Nutrition and Rural Development Center (NARD) from Sudan as well.
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| World Women’s Fund advisor |
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Prof. Nihad Abu Al Qumsan, Chairwoman of the Egyptian Center for Women’s Rights and a member of the Arab Network of Gender and Development (@NGED) has been picked as advisor of the World Women’s Fund. The representative of Arab women is expected to play a major role in matters of world support to women. In her capacity as advisor of the World Women’s Support program, Prof. Nihad is expected to present valuable interventions and data on a given women’s group interested in lending support in a given area while endeavoring to connect the World Fund with women’s groups interested in presenting requests for support and also reaching groups in regions and communities lacking services and accordingly provide information on strategic initiatives and priorities for grants.
The member of @NGED will be the advisor of the council for a three-year term. This position will provide her wit the opportunity to draw attention on the most important issues faced by women in Egypt in particular and the Arab world in general. Indeed, the World Women’s Support Program is seeking to reach women in various regions to create a world of equality and social justice.
www.ecwronline.org |
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Prof. Bassam Icha, member of @NGED from Libya was entrusted in June 2007 with working out the Tunisian strategy for the dissemination of children’s rights, in association with the Observatory of Information, Documentation, Training and Studies on the protection of Children’s rights coming under the ministry of the affairs of women, family, children and elderly.
The choice made on Prof. Icha among several experts is due to the method he had proposed and which focused on programs based on an approach of children’s rights from the perspective of human rights and gender.
Pending the completion of the strategy by the end of the current year, the member of @NGED network conducted an analytic study of the available documents such as the working plans and some surveys and others. He also held meetings with several directors of children’s clubs and integrated centers and their animators and some of senior executives in the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of the Affairs of Women, Family, Children and the Elderly. |
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CAWTAR’s Media Unit launched competition to award best public service Moreover, Mr. Bassam Icha, member of @NGED was elected in Qatar as chairman of the Media and External Relations Committee at the Arab regional office of Inclusion International which is, an international non-governmental organization interested in issues of the disabled
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Prof. Bassam Icha, member of @NGED, took part as a reference expert in the regional workshop on the cultural rights of special needs people, the disabled as example which was held by the ISESCO organization, in association with the World Islamic Advocacy Association in the Libyan capital, Tripoli. This event was part of the celebration of Tripoli as Capital of Islamic Culture.
Prof. Bassam Icha worked out a reference document entitled “guidelines for the implementation of the cultural rights of the disabled in light of the new international convention on the disabled and the preservation of their dignity”.
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