Challenges facing female diplomats [Archives:2002/28/Reportage]

By Fahmia Al-Fotih
Yemen Times Staff
Attended by a large number of political and diplomatic personalities from different embassies and governmental and non-governmental organizations and under the patronage of the Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Qirbi, along with Oxfam organization-Britain, Sister Arab Forum for Human rights held a workshop on Thursday, July 4, 2002 at Hada Hotel in Sanaa to discuss the challenges that diplomat women face.
Mrs. Amal al-Basha, the President of Sister Arabic forum for Human Rights, gave a welcome speech on this occasion in which she elaborated the important role that the forum plays in protecting human rights values and in defending equal citizenship between men and women.
She also criticized the injustice represented in a number of laws related to women. Womans decision to be a diplomatic is a difficult choice as for example it will limit her marriage to a husband from the same career she said.
She added that all the obstacles could be removed easily by a responsible and political decision to make the laws courageous and fair.
Foreign Minister Dr. al-Qirbi had assured in his speech that his Ministry gives equal chances to men and women alike. Diplomacy requires special skills and abilities that do exist equally in men and women. We do not believe in discrimination in this regard. We give chances to both in a competitive manner he said.
Then readings about the famous Yemeni women diplomats were delivered. The first was that of Yemeni Ambassador to the Netherlands Mrs. Amat al-Aleem al-Sosowa, who presented her experience as a female ambassador and how she was able to adapt herself to this position. Diplomatic work needs patience, calmness and well-behavior besides continuous hard work. I hope I could hear about other Yemeni women nominated as ambassadors she said.
From Egypt Mrs. Gamila Ali Raja, the media counselor in Yemeni Embassy sent her participation in which she thanked the forum, the supporters and the participants from Yemen and other countries for organizing such a workshop on a topic that had never been targeted before. Women are half of the society but 2% or more are the efficient ones. There certainly are some bright examples of Yemeni women famous in the Yemeni public life, however they are just individuals in a long queue of qualified women who are eager to participate in developing the country. But unfortunately, traditional obstacles prevent them from doing so. The efficient participation of women cannot be achieved without the support of the Yemeni political leadership she said.
Mr. Atef Athybat, chargé daffaires of the Jordanian Diplomatic Institute and the Regional Manager of Human Security, had shed light during the event on the types of difficulties faced by women diplomats and gave an idea about the Jordanian womans status in diplomacy.
The workshop was concluded by reading different experiences of ambassadors from four countries. The first to present her experience was Mrs. Frances Gay, British Ambassador to Yemen, who talked about the British womens experience in working in the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Then Mrs. Ramzia al-Eryani, a prominent individual active in promoting womens right talked about her experience as the first woman who worked as an ambassador and discussed the discriminative articles in the Yemeni law such as the retirement issue that reduces the role that the diplomat women could play in the society.
Concerning the German experience, Mrs. Gudrun Isphording, Deputy Head of Mission in the German Embassy exposed the German womans experience in the diplomacy and the achievements she was able to accomplish.
In spite of the current situation in Palestine, a bright Palestinian example was also represented. Dr. Fatima Rabah, the General Manager of Women Office in Palestinian Presidency and Member in the Supreme Council for Childhood explained her experience and concluded that women can be efficient and successful diplomats under any circumstances.

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