Lebanon: Women's forum in Beirut gets off to awkward start

Audience questions unanswered, interrupted
By Ghenwa Yehia
Special to The Daily Star

BEIRUT: The second annual New Arab Women's Forum (NAWF) began the first half of its panel discussions on Thursday at the InterContinental Phoenicia Hotel in Beirut. The purpose of NAWF is to create an open and honest environment in which to discuss the political, economical, social and cultural situations of the Arab woman in today's changing world. The forum brought together a select group of high-profile speakers and participants to share ideas and opinions on these issues, which were separated into several panel discussions. The topics for Thursday included: the Leadership Mystique; Women in Business; Women, Education and Technology; and Women in Politics.

Master of ceremonies George Kordahi, a celebrated TV presenter, was quick to start off the day on a positive note.

"It is high time that we start discussing the issues facing the Arab woman today in our changing world," he told the 200-plus members of the audience and journalists covering the event. "We can no longer ignore the situation ... so it's important that we start developing plans and strategies that enable women to improve their position in our societies in the future."

The opening ceremony included speeches by Nadine Abou Zaki, editor-in-chief of Al-Hasnaa magazine and NAWF executive officer; Hanna Sorour, director of the Department of Women's Affairs, at the Arab League; and Tammam Salam, Lebanon's Minister of Culture.

"Women are the crux of society," Salam said. "We are calling for the restoration of women's rights based on basic human's rights. We need equal rights in all areas."

An award ceremony honouring Education Minister Bahia Hariri, Princess Nouf bint Faisal bin Turki al-Saud, and Palestinian politician Hanan Ashrawi followed. Hariri and Ashrawi, who were in attendance, were met with thunderous applause when they accepted their awards.

"Equality and freedom are not gifts from men," Ashwari said after accepting her award. "They are a right of women to her from her society."

The spectacle of optimism and hopefulness ended with the opening ceremony.

The panel discussions began with noticeably smaller numbers of participants. And what was supposed to be an open forum often seemed more like a closed discussion between the experts in attendance. When it did come time for audience participation, participants were rushed due to a time shortage, and sometimes even cut off. Many audience questions were often answered vaguely or were left completely unanswered.

At one point, a Lebanese woman stood up and declared that the panelists were simply swapping their own personal success stories instead of "suggesting the types of requests and rights women need to make for their own improvement."

A Saudi woman followed, describing her own situation in her home country. "What is my solution?" she asked?

When solutions were offered or the discussion turned interesting, it was often hard to hear over various people talking on cell phones or to their neighbors.

At one point, an audience member turned around to confront noisemakers in the back of the room, only to find that the people in question were connected to a major sponsor.

Despite this, Abou Zaki said the fact that the forum was taking place, especially in Beirut, was a step in the right direction.

"Compared to other countries, Lebanon has achieved a lot concerning the issues of women's rights," she argued. "It is a country moving forward on the right track. But Lebanon, as well as all Arab countries, all have areas they need to improve."

The main point Abou Zaki stressed was that change and improvement would not happen overnight. "The forum acts as the beginning of a long-term plan for changing policies and providing solutions for Arab women," she said.

"The forum is an open, honest discussion," she added. "But change should be evolutionary, not revolutionary. Radical change could bring negative consequences. So here we are opening a discussion that hopefully will lead to change. NAWF is a positive first step."

Hanan Saab, founder, owner and managing director of Pharmamed and vice president of the Lebanese League for Women in Business, agrees with Abou Zaki.

She argued that the opportunity that the forum provides for networking is the key to bringing about change in unequal policies women face, such as gender stereotypes in the workforce, the education system and on a personal level at home.

"Collaboration between women in different sectors equals action," she said. "And with action we need commitment. Then we will begin to see the change."

The first forum was held last year in Dubai. This year's version is being held under the patronage of first lady Wafaa Michel Sleiman and sponsored by Al-Iktissad Wal-Amal Group, among many others.