Under the high patronage of Mauritania’s First Lady, Dr. Maryam Fadel Al-Dah, the Fourth Regional Conference on Women's Empowerment in Arab Countries kicked off on October 28, 2024, in Nouakchott, Mauritania, under the theme of “Women in the Arab World and Africa: Cultural Challenges and Opportunities”.
The Conference, organized by ALECSO in collaboration with the Mauritanian Ministry of Culture, Arts, and Communication and the Mauritanian Moheett Center for Development, Women, and Peace, seeks to enhance solidarity and communication among women in the Arab world and Africa, as well as to intensify efforts and advocacy to address common challenges hindering women’s access to decision-making positions and their participation in shaping the region's cultural and social future.
The Conference, which ran over three days, featured panel discussions that addressed the role of women in building peace and promoting development, amid the social and cultural transformations in the Arab-African region, the status of women in decision-making and their participation in the cultural sphere, as well as economic integration and labor market challenges.
H.E. Mr. Houssein Ould Medou, Minister of Culture, Arts, Communication, and Relations with Parliament, and Government Spokesman, indicated, in his opening remarks, that H.E. President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, current President of the African Union, has emphasized the necessity of empowering women and youth and adopting an active policy aimed at ensuring a significant participation of women and youth in political life and public affairs. He stressed that the efforts made by the Mauritanian government in recent years have increased awareness of women's rights, identified the challenges they face, enhanced legislation for women's protection, and helped address stereotypes that have hindered the progress of Mauritanian women. He noted that the holding of this important event in Nouakchott, the capital of Africa, is a tangible manifestation of the shared commitment to promoting women’s empowerment.
Addressing the Conference, H.E. Dr. Mohamed Ould Amar, Director-General of ALECSO, stated that the Organization continues to engage with partners in order to gain a better understanding of the conditions and challenges faced by women in the Arab and African regions. ALECSO, he added, seeks to suggest possible solutions and contribute to shaping the future of women’s empowerment policies in light of economic, social and political challenges, while showcasing the spirit of responsibility and positivity that creative Arab and African women exhibit toward their communities through sharing their inspiring stories.
The Director-General stressed that ALECSO will continue to work toward strengthening partnerships among governments, civil society, the private sector, and cultural and educational institutions in Arab countries, with the aim of designing and implementing adequate policies, and sharing experiences in terms of women's empowerment, thereby contributing to building a more just, inclusive, and sustainable future.
