BY SAMAR FATANY The European Union is stepping up pressure on companies and governments in Europe, threatening a legally binding quota if companies fail to increase the number of women in top positions. Gender discrimination in the workplace is still a subject of debate in the more advanced countries of the world, in spite of global and national laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination against women in business and the workforce. Even in Germany, where the Chancellor is a woman, prominent women in business still suffer from discrimination more than in any other European country. The situation of women in business and in the workplace was the focus of discussions during the 1st German-Arab Women's Network Forum: Leading Women for Sustainable Economic Growth, held under the patronage of Princess Sumaya Bint Al-Hassan on April 12, 2012 in Hamburg, Germany. Arab and German women shared their experiences and exchanged views regarding the position of women in business and in public life. The eloquent opening statements of German officials were strong messages indicating that these women mean business and that they will no longer put up with discrimination. The Deputy Mayor of Hamburg Dr. Dorothee Stapelfeldt, in her statement, stressed the need to promote the role of women in order to serve the economy, the family and society at large. She said, gender discrimination is a recognized global problem in the workforce. However all countries are obligated by international law to reduce it. To do so, she said, we need to educate people about the negative impact of discrimination. Diversity in styles and approaches can add more value and increased productivity. Companies must recognize the capabilities of qualified and professional women and their vital role in leading society towards a better future. Eva Maria Welskop-Deffaa, Head of the Department of Equality Policy at the German Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, talked about the need to provide women with equal wages and equal opportunities in the governmental and nongovernmental sectors. She said that German women are qualified and have a sense of responsibility; however, they are still limited in their contributions because of the prevailing discriminatory trend in leading German companies. As a result there is growing demand for the implementation of a quota system that would guarantee top positions for women in leading German companies and in the government. Arab women representatives from Jordan, Egypt, Morocco and Saudi Arabia all agreed that women in Arab countries share the same fate if not worse. They are marginalized and are struggling to implement laws and regulations to end discrimination against them socially and economically. Reem Barghouty Damen, Chairwoman of the Jordan Forum for Business and Professional Women, shared the role of her organization in advancing the interest of women through strategic partnerships with NGOs and international organizations in order to create a proactive societal role for Jordanian women. She said the Jordanian Forum has been very active in addressing discriminatory issues that hinder the participation of women in business and the workplace; however, much more needs to be done to achieve the desired goals. Haifa Al-Kaylani, founder and Chairwoman of the Arab International Women's Forum (AIWF), talked about the initiatives of her organization in championing the advancement of gender equality and sustainable development in the Arab world with partners committed to meet the challenges of the future. She highlighted the AIWF's advocacy work with the objective of creating public awareness of women's potential and achievements, and linking Arab women in 22 countries with each other and with their counterparts in the international community to promote the role of women in the Arab world. Prof. Dr. Dina Shokry, from the Mediterranean Academy of Forensic Sciences in Egypt, spoke about the Arab spring and the active role of women in the workforce and in government. She said that women have assumed leadership roles in all fields and many have worked hard to serve their community. She added that as a doctor she is very active in addressing domestic violence and social discrimination, and she spoke about effective awareness campaigns that support women who are victims of domestic violence and are afraid to report spousal abuse. The Forum also heard the unique experience of Saudi women who have shown great determination to gain higher qualifications and succeed in many sectors of society. They continue to work hard to break through the glass ceiling that is preventing them from reaching higher level positions in government and in the workplace. The Arab and German women discussed the quota system and new laws and regulations designed to facilitate the movement of women to higher positions in government and in business. Some Arab countries, such as Morocco and Jordan, have successfully introduced quotas, and it was suggested that Arab women may also need to join the call of German women for quotas to guarantee women access to higher executive positions. Saudi women could certainly benefit by gaining more seats on municipal and consultative councils. The network Forum provided an excellent opportunity for German and Arab women to exchange common goals and best practices for a better society. It attracted a large number of leading business and professional women in Hamburg who were eager to learn about the culture and way of life of Arab women. The event was organized by the Euro-Mediterranean Association for Cooperation and Development (EMA). EMA is an organization, headquartered in Hamburg, which advocates the interdisciplinary deepening of economic cooperation and the enhancement of intercultural understanding between Germany, North Africa, the Middle East and the GCC countries (EMA-region). With a young and very dynamic team as well as high ranking board members, such as Prince Hassan Bin Talal as Honorary President, EMA plays a special role in Germany for the promotion of German-Arab dialogue. The participation of professional Arab women in such events can contribute towards erasing the negative stereotypes of Middle Eastern women and enhance economic cooperation and intercultural understanding between Mediterranean countries and the Arab world. (Samar Fatany is a radio broadcaster and writer. She can be reached at [email protected]) __
