National Committee for Woman: Challenges & future [Archives:2002/47/Local News]

BY MUJAHED AL MUSSA’ABI
YEMEN TIMES STAFF
Founded in 1996, the National Committee for woman has proved women’s successful participation in the development of the society in Yemen through its different activities and contributions to local or international functions.
“The main objectives of the NCW is to assist women practicing their rights, supporting women’s issues, qualifying Yemeni women through different training courses and offering help to eradicate women’s illiteracy especially in the rural areas” said Ms Muna Al Harethi, Coordinator of the Sana’a governorate at the NCW.
She confirmed in a brief statement to the Yemen Times that woman could prove high efficient performance in different public or civil organizations. On women’s political participation, Ms Muna said “I think the political leadership has given women good opportunities to take part in the political life and the woman’s attendance in different ministries is quite reasonable”.
In spite of the fact that the Yemeni constitution guarantees women’s rights similar to men specially in the political field, the Research and Studies Center indicated that women’s participation in the local councils election of 2001 was very low.
Only 35 seats, out of 6676, were occupied by women and some still believe that parties had supported women to vote in the last elections by granting them more opportunity as voters than as candidates.
“That’s not very true. There are certain social traditions which may deprive Yemeni women of full participation, besides the lack of awareness and social acceptance for women. In fact there are complicated factors and these are the challenges the Yemeni women are facing. I hope the future will be better” Muna AL Harethi concluded.
Ms. Noria Shuga’a Addeen, participants coordinator and head of governorates coordinators :
“We have concentrated on eradicating and supporting rural women who suffered a lot from illiteracy, negligence and social suppression and violence. We have now 19 women coordinators to work in 19 governorates on woman issues. Within the NCW activities is conducting number of studies and on woman affairs to enhance woman’s role in the community along with male partners.” Said Ms Noria.
She indicated to the limited view towards women and violence against women which can expand to many aspects of life “We live in an oriental community in which the man refuses to help and share his wife sometimes at home for instance. So we still need more time and awareness to achieve the required change for the best”. Noria indicated.
About the ambitions of the NCW in the future said the head of coordinators “We are looking for bringing woman towards decision-making authority. We are looking for better qualification and training for the Yemeni women. These ambitions cannot be achieved without others’ support and adequate finance as well as full awareness of the society towards women’s role in the democratic Yemen.” Noria concluded.

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