Doha: The Arab League called on all member states, regional and international organizations, and civil society to intensify efforts and strengthen partnerships to advance the issues of Arab women, secure their rights, and enhance their participation in various fields. This is in recognition of women as essential partners in achieving sustainable development, peace, and stability in the Arab region.
According to Qatar News Agency, in a statement on the occasion of International Women's Day, observed on March 8 every year, the League emphasized that empowering Arab women is a key pillar in its strategies, programs, and activities. The League believes that comprehensive and sustainable development can only be achieved through the active and equal participation of women in all fields. It reaffirmed its strong commitment to supporting Arab women's issues and enhancing their pivotal role in the process of sustainable development and the advancement of Arab societies.
In this context, the Arab League announced its participation in the 69th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69), where the State of Palestine, as the Chair of the Arab Women's Committee, will deliver the Arab statement during the session.
The League also highlighted that it will organize three high-level events on the sidelines of the Commission's session at the United Nations in New York, in cooperation with member states and relevant regional and international organizations.
The first event is a high-level side event titled "Women of Gaza Rising for Freedom and Dignity," scheduled for this Tuesday at the UN headquarters. The event aims to shed light on the resilience and struggle of Palestinian women under exceptional circumstances, highlight their crucial role in preserving societal and family structures, and document ongoing violations of their human rights. It will also seek to garner international support for empowering Palestinian women and enhancing their participation in reconstruction and peace-building efforts, alongside calling for the implementation of International Court rulings and the provision of necessary international protection for the Palestinian people.
The second event, titled "Care Economy: Valuing Paid and Unpaid Work," will take place this Tuesday and focus on the importance of recognizing the economic and social value of paid and unpaid caregiving work, largely undertaken by women. It will examine its impact on empowering women and achieving gender equality, while also showcasing innovative policies and programs that contribute to redistribution of caregiving work and establishment of social protection systems for caregivers. The event will involve Arab ministers, experts, and senior officials from Arab states and relevant UN and international organizations.
The third event, organized by the Arab League, will be held next Wednesday and titled "Arab Women Towards Creativity and Innovation: The Age of Industrial Revolution." This event aims to highlight the importance of enhancing Arab women's participation in creativity and innovation, enabling them to benefit from opportunities presented by the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and showcasing successful experiences from Arab countries in this field. It will also explore ways to strengthen regional and international cooperation to support Arab women in technology and the digital economy.
The Arab League noted that these events are part of its ongoing efforts to implement the Arab Women's Development Agenda (2023-2028) "Gender Equity and Equality for Sustainable Development and Environmental Sustainability." The League aims to enhance coordination and cooperation between Arab states, regional, and international organizations to support Arab women's issues and align with global commitments on women's empowerment, particularly the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.