Oman to chair Arab Supreme Council meeting

Cairo: Sheikha Ayesha bint Khalfan bin Jumiel Al Siyabiya, Chairperson of the Public Authority for Craft Industries (PACI), heads the Sultanate’s delegation to the eighth meeting of the Supreme Council of the Arab Women Organisation (AWO).
The current session 2017-2019 will be chaired by the Sultanate.
The participants will discuss the role of women and their contributions in supporting Arab action and will adopt a number of resolutions aimed at achieving a common vision regarding the themes that promote and highlight women’s achievements in various regional and international forums.
They will review a report on the general administration of the Organisation from November 2015 to December 2017, as well as a number of items including the draft action plan of the Organisation for 2018 and the draft budget of the Organisation for 2018 and the theme of the seventh conference of the Organisation. The Supreme Council of AWO includes the “First Ladies “ of the Organisation’s member states or their representatives and shall serve for a period of two years and shall rotate in accordance with the alphabetical order of the States adopted by the Arab League.
On the other hand, the Sultanate participated in the 15th Ordinary Meeting of the Executive Council of the AWO, which was held in Cairo, Egypt.
The delegation of the Sultanate was led by Sheikha Ayesha bint Khalfan Al Siyabiya, Chairperson of PACI and member of the Executive Council of the AWO.
The Chairperson of PACI submitted a presentation titled “Omani Women: Gains and Achievements” which reviewed the status of Omani women and their contribution to the process of social renaissance and the achievements of governmental efforts related to ensuring the participation of women in various aspects of life.
Mervat Tallawy, Director General of AWO said this meeting comes within the context of a delicate stage in the history of the Arab region because of the threats surrounding it, noting that women are active members and bear the heavy sacrifices and burdens that are most affected by these threats, wars and armed conflicts.
The Executive Council of AWO chaired by Dr. Lana Mamkij, President of the Executive Council, Representative of Jordan, discussed a number of issues related to the status of women in various member countries. It reviewed the report of the public administration, as well as the study of the draft action plan of AWO and the review of the draft budget of the Organisation for 2018.
The Executive Council of AWO includes representatives of Member States specialised in women’s affairs and its presidency shall be for one year and shall be rotated in accordance with the alphabetical order of the States adopted by the Arab League.
The Sultanate, through its participation in the meetings of the Executive Council of AWO is keen to discuss the frameworks of joint cooperation with regard to the empowerment of women in various areas of performance, community work and sustainable development.