The BA Inaugurates the Regional Conference on Sustainable Development and Gender Equality for Parliaments of the Middle East and North Africa
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Dr. Moustafa El-Feki, Director of the Library of Alexandria, together with Dr. Sahar Nasr, Minister of Investment and International Cooperation inaugurated the Regional Conference on Sustainable Development and Gender Equality for Parliaments of the Middle East and North Africa. They were joined by Ms. Urleka Carlson, Representative of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, MP Tarek Radwan, Head of the Foreign Relations Committee in the Egyptian parliament and Mr. Fayez Al Shawabkeh, Secretary General of the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union.
Dr. El-Feki expressed his delight that the Inter-Parliamentary Union – the oldest enduring international organization so far –chose to hold this conference in the BA; an institution that has always embraced all the initiatives that support the path of development. He also welcomed the high profile attendees gathered to discuss the opportunities and challenges faced by the parliaments in implementing the goals of sustainable development and gender equality. Moreover, he drew attention to the fact that women empowerment had always been one of the most important goals that parliaments strived to achieve. However, he stated that we still need a legislative revolution and a cultural paradigm shift to consolidate the effective participation of women in the path of development.
Dr. Nasr welcomed the cooperation between the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the Egyptian Parliament and the BA to organize this important event, expressing her delight that the Inter-Parliamentary Union had chosen Egypt to host this conference, and especially the BA, which supported over the years communication and cooperation between nations. She expressed her pride to take part in this conference as it embodies the continuing cooperation between parliaments and governments to necessitate a paradigm shift in societies, and integrate the goals of sustainable development in legislations and national policies.
Additionally, she noted that the conference coincides with the International Day of Democracy celebrations, which is a chance to stress the importance of democracy, citizenship values and ways of strengthening the effective role of women and youth on both the regional and international level. She also said that President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi had set a clear and comprehensive vision for Egypt, and the government transformed this vision into developmental programs and projects on the ground. She asserted that Egypt realized from the beginning that equality is the basis for development, reinforcing the economic dimension in achieving equality between men and women.
Ms. Urleka Carlson, Representative of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, said in her speech that she was proud to participate in the Regional Conference on Sustainable Development and Gender Equality for Parliaments of the Middle East and North Africa, especially in Egypt that witnessed the Universal Declaration of Democracy, which was attended by members of the Inter-Parliamentary Union twenty years ago. She also noted that the Inter-Parliamentary Union is a universal organization that was established in 1889, and has, ever since, believed in the value of political dialogue, peace, human rights and the peaceful resolution of conflicts. Moreover, she stated that women suffer from discrimination and violence in different parts of the world, and that they have never attained their rights of education, health and a decent life, in addition to the fact that these circumstances have been aggravated over the last years because of wars and armed conflicts. She ascertained that equality between the two gebders is one of the most important goals of governments and parliaments in the world, and that any progress accomplished in this field is a step in the direction of achieving sustainable development.
MP Tarek Radwan, Head of the Foreign Relations committee in the Egyptian parliament, said that this conference is a great opportunity for sharing experiences on the role of parliaments in the path of achieving sustainable development, indicating that it is a well-targeted process, and should be a conscious, comprehensive and inclusive societal process.
Mr. Fayez Al Shawabkeh, Secretary General of the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union, emphasized the important role of parliaments in setting programs with the aim of achieving developmental change that guarantees the elimination of differences between men and women, and ensures the participation of women in the political process. This should also give women the social, economic and political power granted to men, and make her a real partner in the assessment of the state policy and the formation of future economy.