Leading academic emphasises women's role in politics

A leading Kuwaiti academic taking part in the Arab Women Leadership Forum held in the UAE has stressed the importance of women's participation in the political scene in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
Professor Nada Al-Mutawa, head of the Center of strategic Studies, Kuwait University, called for offering GCC women the opportunity to prove themselves in all fields.
Still, there is need for official media to promote women "role models", Al-Mutawa told a session of the 4th Arab Women Leadership Forum on Wednesday.
She also reviewed some of the strategies likely to help realize gender equality in the political and parliamentary scenes, and stressed the role by the society to support women "to be a part of the parliamentary agenda and priorities." The session was run by Managing Director of the Gulf and Middle East Regional, Office of The Protocol School of Washington Saeed Al-Salkhadi. Addressing the session, member of the Federal National Council (FNC) in the UAE, Sheikha Al-Ari, directed a message to the future generations, namely one has to prove himself/herself to realize their goals in life.
She also stressed that "women's existence in all fields of life is a necessity." According to Al-Ari, UAE's vision for the 2015 includes a bigger role for women in the political scene.
Since women form half the society, they have the right to take part in politics, Bahrain Shura Council member Jamal Fakhroo. He added that participation of women in the Bahraini elections, 2002, 2006 and 2010, hit 45-47 percent. Member of the Saudi Shura Council, Hanan Al-Ahmadi, stressed the dire need to spread political awareness through education stages. She stressed the importance of women's role in decision making circles.
The Arab Women Leadership Forum was opened on Tuesday under the auspices of UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.