The First Annual Conference of the Middle Eastern Centre for Women’s Studies was Held Successfully

On 10 December 2000 the first annual conference of the Middle Eastern Centre for Women’s Studies was held at the University of London, England. The theme of the conference was "Women’s Rights are Universal, Women’s Rights are Human’s right".

On this day well known authorities on women’s issues and women’s rights activists gathered to address and discuss the most crucial issues concerning women in the Middle East. The opening speech of Nadia Mahmood, the chair of the organization, started the conference.

Speakers and their speeches included:

Nawal el -Saadawi on "Women, Creativity and Politics"; Azar Majedi on "The Islamic Republic and Gender Apartheid - a Regional Perspective"; Sherif Hatata on "The Culture of Globalization and Women"; Nadia Mahmood on "The Economic Embargo and Women’s Status in Iraq"; Sawsan Salim on "The Assassination of Women in Iraqi Kurdistan and the Activities of the Centre for Protection of Women", Zahia Salhi on "The Family Law in Algeria"; Azam Kamguian on "The Universality of Women’s Rights and Post- modern Theories"; and Aida Touma Soleyman on "The National Liberation and Women in Palestine".

Speeches and discussions addressing the realities of women’s lives in Islamic countries and the way cultural relativism and post- modern theories justify women’s oppression and the misogynist religious and cultural traditions and customs, were faced by warm support and applauds from the audience. After delivering speeches and lively discussions, Samira al Mane, the Iraqi writer, presented a peace of literature.

On the day of the conference and days before and after, media including: the Arabic paper; Azzaman, the Voice of America, Mid East news, Media TV, and a local radio station in Stockholm – Sweden interviewed Nawal Saadawi, Aida Touma Soleyman, Azar Majedi, Nadia Mahmood and Azam Kamguian.

In the closing of the conference the declaration of the Middle Eastern Centre for Women’s Studies was presented to the conference as a resolution and was passed by the majority. Then financial support and contributions of the participants for "The Campaign in the Defense of Women in Iraq", was collected.

The first annual conference of the Middle Eastern Centre for Women’s Studies was faced with a warm and encouraging response from many women and human rights activists and organizations, and audience in general. Unfortunately many could not attend the conference due to lack of enough seats. Many Journalists and women rights organizations from other countries have contacted the Middle Eastern Centre for accessing the proceedings of the conference.

The Middle Eastern Centre for Women’s Studies on the basis of its core principles; truth and egalitarianism tries to achieve its commitments to women’s liberation in the Middle East through building networks, holding conferences, launching campaigns and any other possible means.

The Middle Eastern Centre for Women’s Studies

11/12/00

London