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Conferences

Regional Conference on
“Arab Women, Peace and Security:Challenges Facing Women in the Arab States Region”
Stop The War on Gaza… Today, and Not Tomorrow
Kuwait, 15-16 February 2024

  • Regional Conference
  • videos
  • Speeches of the Participants
  • Urgent Call
...

Under the slogan "Stop the War on Gaza... Now, Not Tomorrow," the regional conference (Arab Women, Peace, and Security: Challenges Facing Women in the Arab Region) commenced with five working sessions examining regional and local efforts to combat violence against women and children in armed conflicts.

The Kuwaiti Women's Associations Union organized the regional conference (Arab Women, Peace, and Security: Challenges Facing Women in the Arab Region "Stop the War on Gaza... Now, Not Tomorrow") for two days under the patronage of Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Al-Yahya. The conference was held in collaboration with the Arab Women Organization and featured the participation of a select group of women ministers, representatives of some international, regional organizations concerned with women's affairs. The conference is of utmost importance given the current international events and reflects international and local efforts to combat violence against women and children during armed conflicts.

The conference was attended by several prominent figures, including former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt Ambassador Mohamed Al-Arabi, the Director-General of the Arab Women Organization Dr. Fadia Kewan, the Regional Director of the United Nations Women for Arab States Dr. Susan Al-Zaghn, and the Advisor to the Palestinian Presidency and Chair of the Executive Council of the Arab Women Organization Ferial Salem.

The opening ceremony included a televised speech by the Chairwoman of the National Women's Council and President of the Executive Council of the Arab Women Organization, Dr. Maya Morsi, as well as a special session featuring a speech by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Palestinian Studies Foundation Dr. Tarek Mitri on "The War on Gaza and the Future of the Palestinian Issue."

The conference also witnessed the active participation of several prominent figures who presented important papers shedding light on various critical issues for discussion, including Minister of Women's Affairs in Palestine Dr. Amal Hamad and the Regional Program Manager at the World Health Organization - Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr. Rana Al-Hajja.

The conference comprised five working sessions that highlighted several important topics. The first session reviewed "The Role of Palestinian Women in Confronting Israeli Occupation and Documenting Occupation Crimes Against Women and Girls," "An Overview of the Health Situation in Gaza," and "Documenting the Impacts of the Israeli Aggression on Gaza: Facts and Figures."

The second session addressed the topic "The Consequences and Effects of the 1990 Kuwait Occupation and the Impact of Armed Conflict in Sudan on Women, Children, and Steps Towards Peace." The third session focused on International Humanitarian Law and the System of Resolutions Concerning Women, Peace, and Security.

The fourth session discussed "From Ceasefire to Sustainable Solutions: How to Return to an International Initiative for Justice, Security, and Peace in Palestine," while the fifth session covered "Efforts of Arab National Mechanisms in the Context of Implementing Resolution 1325."

The conference's concluding session announced the launch of the Kuwait Appeal for the Protection of Women and Children in the Arab Region During Wars and Armed Conflicts.

Sheikha Fadyah S. Al-Sabah,
Chairwoman of Kuwait Union of Women’s Associations.
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Sheikh / Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah
Deputy of Foreign Minister
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Professor. Fadia Kiwan,
Director General of the Arab Women Organization
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Dr. Tarek Mitri,
Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Institute for Palestine Studies
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Dr. Talal Al-Mutairi
Ambassador of Kuwait to the League of Arab states
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Ambassador Sheikha / Jawaher Ibrahim Da'ij Al-Sabah
Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Human Rights Affairs
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Arab Women Peace &Security

Speech of H.E. Dr. Amal Hammad Minister of Women’s Affairs of Palastine

Speech of Mrs. Thani Abbas Director of Nora Organization combating Violence against Women and girls  Sudan

Speech of HE. Dr Maya Morsi President of the national councilfor Women Arab republic of Egypt

Urgent Call

Issued by
the Regional Conference
Arab Women, Peace, and Security

held under the sloga
"Stop the War on Gaza... Now, Not Tomorrow"

organized by the Kuwaiti Union of Women's Associations and the Arab Women Organization February 15-16, 2024.

We, the participants in the Kuwait Conference on Arab Women, Peace, and Security, held on February 15-16, 2024, under the slogan "Stop the War on Gaza... Now, Not Tomorrow," organized by the Kuwaiti Union of Women's Associations in collaboration with the Arab Women Organization.

In the face of the ongoing brutal war on the Gaza Strip and attempts to displace its inhabitants... and in light of this flagrant challenge to international humanitarian law and all international legal regulations of wars aimed at protecting civilians, especially children and women... and to prevent the collapse of trust in international legitimacy and the role of the United Nations, and in global humanitarian values...

we, the participants in the Kuwait Conference on Arab Women, Peace, and Security held on February 15-16, 2024, under the slogan "Stop the War on Gaza... Now, Not Tomorrow," organized by the Kuwaiti Union of Women's Associations in collaboration with the Arab Women Organization, urgently call upon.

Firstly: The United Nations Security Council... to issue a strong resolution:
  • Ceasing the war on Gaza immediately to prevent the continuation of the genocide. b. Halting all forms of displacement. c. Facilitating the delivery of urgent humanitarian aid to the people of the region, especially urgent aid for women, girls, and children. d. Launching an immediate UN initiative to end the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories in accordance with the international resolutions issued in this regard, affirming the rights of the Palestinian people to establish their independent national state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, and affirming the national rights of Palestinians in the diaspora.
Secondly: To His Excellency the Secretary-General of the United Nations Mr. Antonio Guterres
  • Initiating a UN workshop to review the implementation of Resolution 1325 and to consider completing its enforcement mechanisms effectively to provide serious protection for women and girls in times of wars, armed conflicts, and occupation.
  • Dispatching an investigation and inquiry committee into the violations suffered by women and girls under Israeli occupation and during the war on Gaza, and against female prisoners in Israeli prisons.
Thirdly: To the Human Rights Council, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the International Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination in Geneva
  • Sending an urgent mission to Gaza and occupied Palestine to collect information and documents about the violations occurring there during the war on Gaza, conducting live interviews with the victims and their families, and making a clear decision to condemn the practices of Israeli occupying forces.
Fourthly: To the International Red Cross and all international and regional relief agencies:

Doubling efforts to expedite the delivery of urgent humanitarian and relief aid to the people of Gaza and all occupied Palestine, especially the necessary aid for girls and women.

Fifthly: To international and Arab human rights institutions:

Mobilizing efforts and launching a wide campaign to document the crimes and violations committed by Israeli forces in Gaza and all of Palestine, and bringing a case to the International Criminal Court against Israeli war criminals for prosecution and not allowing them to escape punishment. b. Launching a campaign to recruit the largest number of countries to join the initiative of South Africa before the International Court of Justice.

The participants also affirmed their intensified efforts at the national level through consultation between official national bodies and civil society organizations concerned with women's rights to develop a national action plan to activate the national role in supporting the Palestinian cause in general and protecting women and girls specifically during wars.

The participants also expressed their deep concern about the continuation of military operations in Yemen, Sudan, and Syria, as well as Israeli military attacks on southern Lebanon and the continued catastrophic repercussions on women and girls there, making it necessary to intensify international efforts to secure protection for women and girls in those countries and accelerate the end of wars.

The participants extended their appreciation and admiration to journalists in all local, Arab, and international media outlets for their efforts and courage in exposing live facts in the service of truth, justice, peace, and security despite being systematically targeted by Israeli occupying forces.