“Spring Forward for Women” · PDF filecandidate to win an individual seat in the Egyptian People’s Assembly and ... Ms Nadia Ihadadene ... Spring Forward for Women Conference

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European Parliament, Brussels5-6 November 2014

“Spring Forward for Women”Conference



Contents:

I. Women Representatives from the Arab States’ Parliaments...............................3I.I. Arab Parliament......................................................................................3I.II . Algeria...................................................................................................4I.III. Bahrain..................................................................................................5I.IV. Egypt.....................................................................................................5I.V. Iraq........................................................................................................6I.VI. Jordan....................................................................................................7I.VII. Lebanon...............................................................................................7I.VIII. Libya....................................................................................................8I.IX. Morocco................................................................................................8I.X. Palestine.................................................................................................9I.XI. United Arab Emirates...........................................................................10I.XII. Yemen................................................................................................10

II.Representatives from the European Parliament (Panelists).............................12

III. Representative from the European Commission...........................................15

IV. Representatives from UN WOMEN.................................................................16

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Biographies



Arab Parliament

Dr Nawal Mahmoud Elayan Al-Faouri - JordanDr Nawal Mahmoud Elayan Al-Faouri is a member of the Arab Parliament where she is Chairperson of the Social Affairs Committee and Chairperson of the sub Committee for Women. She is also Senator in the Jordanian House of the Sen-ators. She serves as a Counsellor to the Ministry of Social Development, work-ing on Family Protection and Domestic Violence Projects. Within government at the regional, national, and local level, Dr Al-Faouri has been a fierce advocate for women’s rights and social development. She was a member of the Jordanian National Commission for Women (JNCW) and also contributes to this work at the international level through her membership to the Women and Child Committee in the Global Islamic Council, among others.

Ms Rahila Aamir Al Riyami - OmanAs a member of the Arab Parliament, Ms Rahila Aammir Al-Riyami heads the Human Resources Development Committee. She was formerly a mem-ber of the Shura State Council of Oman. She was one of the first women in Oman’s political history to serve in Parliament. Prior to this, she was Director of Planning at the Ministry of Education. She has also demonstrat-ed a strong commitment to women’s economic and political development, having been involved in many meetings and conferences at the national and regional level, notably, an experience sharing initiative between the Gulf states in promoting and deepening the role of women in the exercise of leadership.

Dr Suzan Saad Zaghloul Hassan Ahmed - EgyptBefore becoming a member of the Arab Parliament and its Social Affairs Committee, Dr Suzan Saad Zaghloul Hassan Ahmed was the first woman candidate to win an individual seat in the Egyptian People’s Assembly and Shura Council Election. She stood as a Freedom and Justice Party repre-sentative from Suez in the Constituent Assembly from 2012-2013. Prior to this, she led a career in scientific research, where she has used her profes-sional and political experience, as well as her membership in the Female Scientists Committee of the Syndicate of Scientific Professions, to advance the role of women in the fields of science and technology.

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Ms Fatma Gharbi EP Mamoghli - TunisiaMs Fatma Gharbi EP Mamoghli is a member of the Arab Parliament. Her po-litical activity began in 2011 in the wake of the Tunisian revolution. At that time she joined the Ettakatol Party in the elections to the Tunisian National Constituent Assembly. She has since left the party to join Nidaa Tounis in the Democratic Bloc. She was both Vice-President of the Legislative Com-mission on Human Rights, Freedoms and Foreign Relations, and a member of the Constituent Commission on the relation between the legislative and executive branches of government. She currently sits as a member of the Arab Parliament’s Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee.

Algeria

Ms Hafida BenchehidaMs Hafida Benchehida is a Senator in the Council of the Nation and sits in the Foreign Affairs Committee. Throughout her career as an internation-al interpreter and consultant for international seminars, she has attended major regional summits and workshops. More recently, she has used her position to advocate for women’s political rights; participating in the Wom-en Parliamentarian Forum (Brussels, November 2013). In August 2014, she represented the Senate at the Bali Forum of the Alliances of Civilizations, as a member of the panel entitled “The Role of Women”.

Ms Ismahane BenguesmiaMs Ismahane Benguesmia represents the Wilaya province of Batna at the Popular National Assembly of the People’s Democratic Republic of Alge-ria since 2012 as member of the National Liberation Front Party (Front de Libération Nationale). She holds a university degree in political science and international relations. Before joining the Parliament, Ms Benguesmia worked in the education and civil service sectors in her municipality.

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Ms Nadia IhadadeneMs Nadia Ihadadene represents the Wilaya province of Boumerdes in the Popular National Assembly of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria since 2012. She is Deputy for the Socialist Forces Front (Front des Forces Socialistes), a party of which she has been a member since 1996. Before taking up her mandate at the Parliament, she worked as an inspector in the education sector. She has also been active for many years in the education sector labour unions in her country.

Bahrain

Ms Ebtisam Abdulrahman Hejres AhmedMs Ebtisam Abdulrahman Hejris Ahmed has been a Member of Parliament for the Bahraini National Assembly as an independent representative of the Capital Governate since 2011. Throughout her career she has focused on business, and particularly advocated for women and young entrepreneurs, as a member of Bahrain’s Young Entrepreneurs Association and Chairper-son for the EUAAEA’s European Centre for Businesswomen. This experience culminated in her appointment by UNIDO as Ambassador of Entrepreneurs in 2011.

Egypt

Ms Fadia Salem Ebidallah SalemA former member of the Egyptian Shura Council, representing the Reform and Construction Party in Sinai from 2012-2013, Ms Fadia Salem Ebidallah Salem has used her position to advocate strongly for the rights of Bedouin women. As a human rights activist and lawyer, she has been involved in her constituents’ local issues, organizing humanitarian medical aid and legal defence for Bedouins and advocates for the rights of Sinai women. She has continued these efforts through her position as chairperson of “The Child and Bedouin Woman Society Association”, and representation of other or-ganizations.

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Ms Magda Hassan Youssef ElnewishyMs Magda Hassan Youssef Elnewishy was a Member of the Egyptian Par-liament, representing the Wafd Party in Ismailia from 2012 to 2013. Her role in national government began after extensive experience in local gov-ernance. She was the first woman representative in the National Demo-cratic Party (NDP) in the governorate of Ismailia in 1977, and the youngest woman secretary assistant. She was also responsible for the organization committee in the NDP in 1980 and member of the Committee on Mater-nal and Child Health and Population in Ismailia. Through this work she has advocated for the rights of Arab women, and helped coordinate political networks for Muslim women in Africa.

Ms Sana Ahmed Mohamed GamaleldinMs Sana Ahmed Mohamed Gamaleldin began her political career as a local councillor in Al Fatah party from 2007 to 2011. During this time she also ran in the 2005 and 2010 national parliamentary elections. In 2012 she was elected a Member of Parliament for the Egyptian Social Democratic Party, representing the Second District of Assuit. Throughout her political career Ms Gamaleldin has been notable for her vocal opposition to issues of cor-ruption, both before and after the 2011 Revolution. In particular, she was noted for questioning the relationship of the Freedom and Justice Party to the funding of the Muslim Brotherhood during their administration, 2012-13.

Iraq

Ms Huda Sajad Mahmood Al-KhayyatMs Huda Sajad Mahmood Al-Khayyat is a member of the Iraqi Council of Representatives for the second session, 2010- 2014, as a State of Law Coalition representative for Baghdad. Through this position, she is also a member of the Committee on Women, Family and Children. Alongside her political position, she is the Head of the organization ‘Hands of Mercy’ for human rights and people with special needs, which sponsors vulnerable segments of Iraqi society, including women, children and the disabled. This year she was re-elected to the Council for a second term, 2014 – 2018, during which she will also serve as a member of the Committee on Labour and Social Affairs.

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Jordan

Ms Myasar Salem Aied Al FroukhiSince 2010, Ms Myassar Salem Aied Al Froukhi has filled one of three wom-en’s quota seats reserved for Bedouin women in the Jordanian House of Representatives. As a member of the El Nahda Parliamentary Bloc, she rep-resents the district of Northern Badia. She is the first woman MP to be elected from a Bedouin district. Throughout her career as a journalist and activist, Ms Al Froukhi has represented the rights and concerns of rural and Bedouin women in Jordan. In parliament, she has continued this through her membership with the Rural Areas Committee, from 2010 to the pres-ent.

Dr Rula Ahmad Mohammad Al-FarraA Member of Parliament for the Jordanian House of Representatives, Dr Rula Ahmad Mohammad Al-Farra holds a Jordan Stronger Party list seat and is a member of the Tawafoq Bloc since 2013. She is currently Secre-tary General of the Jordan Stronger Party, President of the Public Freedom and Human Rights Committee, and a member of the Education and Media Committees. Prior to this, she worked in both media and education. She has used her public visibility to advocate for human rights and women’s rights, as a member of the Women’s Union, and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Arab Organization for Human Rights

Lebanon

Ms Bahia El HaririMs Bahia El Hariri has been a Member of Parliament for the Lebanese Na-tional Assembly since 1992 as a Future Party representative. She served as Minister of Education (2008-2009), and is currently the head of the Parlia-mentary Commission for Education and Culture and member of the Parlia-mentary Commission for Foreign and Immigration Affairs. She is politically involved at the international level as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNESCO. She has been the elected head of the Women’s Committee in the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union since 2012, and serves on the Advisory Council of World Links Arab Region (IWSAW, 2012). Outside of her political life, she is head of the Hariri Foundation in Sidon, an educational and charitable organization.

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Libya

Ms Amal M. A. BayouSince August of this year, Ms Amal M. A. Bayou has represented the Eastern part of Libya as a member of the Libyan House of Representatives, where she is a member of the Committee on Women and Children and an active member of civil society. Ms Bayou has devoted her career prior to her par-liamentary membership to scientific research. She has been a Member of the Faculty of Science at Benghazi University since 1995. She also has ex-tensive experience in medical research as Chief of Laboratory Department at Alhawari and Aljala hospitals.

Morocco

Ms Naima Ben YahiaMs Naima Ben Yahia has been a representative of Istiqlal on the National List in the Moroccan House of Representatives since 2011, where she ad-vocates strongly for social and gender equality issues. Through the Ministry of Social Development, Family and Solidarity, Ms Ben Yahia is the Director of Women’s Affairs and Gender, co-ordinator for the parliamentary working group of male and female parliamentarians for gender equality, and the Moroccan parliamentarian head for the gender and gender development public policy group.

Dr Fatima GouaimaDr Fatima Gouaima is a representative for Mouvement Populaire on the women’s national quota in the Moroccan House of Representatives since 2011. A medical doctor prior to her political career, she is now member of the Committee on Social Affairs where she advocates for gender equality and the fight against violence and all forms of discrimination. She is also a strong opponent of capital punishment, and is an active member of the Parliamentary Network against the Death Penalty.

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Ms Rachida Tahri Ms Rachida Tahri is a Member of Parliament for the Moroccan House of Representatives as a Progrès et Socialisme (PPS) representative on the women’s national qouta since 2011. She holds membership in multiple Par-liamentary Committees involved in social and human rights issues, such as the Commission of Justice, Legislation and Human Rights. She has further demonstrated her commitment to women’s rights and democratic values, through her involvement with the Group of Democratic Progress, and the “Women Empowering Women” Group.

Palestine

Dr Najat A. A. Al-AsttalDr Najat A. A. Al-Asttal has been a Member of Parliament for the Palestini-an Legislative Council, as a Fatah representative since 2006. Alongside her political career, Dr Astal holds a baccalaureate in Medicine from Ain Shams University, Cairo; a Masters in General Health from Ben Gurion University, Israel; and a doctorate. She is the General Director of Al Amal Hospital in Gaza, and works extensively with the Red Crescent Society. She is the Head of, and Hospital Manager for, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS), in Khan Younis, Gaza.

Dr Sahar F. D. Al QawasmiDr Sahar F. D. Al Qawasmi has been a Member of Parliament for the Pales-tinian Legislative Council, as a Fatah representative for Hebron, since 2006. She is a Member of the Political Committee, Social Affairs and Health Com-mittee, and Economics Committee. She continues to practice as the Head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology department at Al Mizan Hospital and ad-vocates for the rights of women through the Palestinian Motherhood and Childhood High Council and the Palestinian Woman Union. Alongside her work at the regional and international levels representing women’s rights, she is also involved in organizations concerned with conflict prevention and resolution.

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Ms Rabiha D. H. Hamdan Ms Rabiha D. H. Hamdan has been a Member of Parliament for the Pal-estinian Legislative Council, as a representative for Fatah, since 2006. She has served as the Minister of Women’s Affairs, and is currently the Deputy Minister Assistant at the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Alongside her polit-ical affiliation with the Fatah Revolutionary Council, Ms Hamdan has been actively engaged in women’s, youth, and social issues. She is currently head of the Women’s Unit in the Palestinian National Liberation Movement, member of the Palestinian Women’s General Union, and a founding mem-ber of the Women’s Affairs Technical Committee and the Youth Institution.

United Arab Emirates

Dr Muna Juma Essa Jassim Al Bahar Al SulaitiDr Muna Juma Essa Jassim Al Bahar Al Sulaiti is a Member of the Feder-al National Council of the UAE, where she works on issues of social care. Alongside her political position, Dr Al Bahar is involved with philanthropic work, as the Deputy Executive Director of Care and Community Services, Dubai Foundation for Women and Children. Previously, she was the Exec-utive Director of Social Development Programmes at the Emirates Foun-dation for philanthropy. She also has professional experience in the field of education, as the former Head of Department of Social Work at UAW University, where she is still an Assistant Professor.

Yemen

Ms Raja Abdullah Ahmed Al-MasaabiMs Raja Abdullah Ahmed Al-Masaabi is the Chairperson for the Arab Cor-poration for Human Rights, at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour. Throughout her career she has become an international expert on the rights of persons with disabilities. She has used this expertise as coordinator for the Ministry of Health at the World Health Organization. In 2013, she was appointed, by the Spmouda Organization for International Peace, Goodwill Ambassador for International Peace. She is now the Director of the Yemeni team programme of Goodwill Ambassadors for International Peace.

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Dr Amatalrazzak Ali Hummed Al-HawriDr Amatalrazzak Ali Hummed Al-Hawri has been the Minister of Social Af-fairs and Labour for the General People’s Congress Party since 2006. She was elected, and appointed Minister at the General Conference of the Sev-enth Assistant Secretary-General of the General People’s Congress. She has spent much of her career in the field of education. As Associate Professor at the Faculty of Education, University of Sana’a (1987-present). she has utilized her expertise as an advisor to and coordinator for the Ministry of Education, and as an education expert with the Arab Women Organization (part of the League of Arab States).

Dr Gawhara Hamood Thabet Al-HubaishiDr Gawhara Hamood Thabet Al-Hubaishi is currently the Yemeni Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs in the Yemeni National Reconciliation Govern-ment since 2011. She has been a member of the General Committee of the Yemeni Socialist Party since 1998. She was a member of local council elections in the governorate of Aden in both 2001 and 2006. In 2005, at the Fifth General Conference, she became the Assistant Secretary General of the Party and soon moved to political office at the national level.

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European Parliament

Ms Malin Björk - SwedenMs Malin Björk is a Swedish member of the European Parliament, elect-ed in May 2014 representing the Left Party. Before that she worked as an adviser for the leftist group GUE/NGL (united European Left/Nordic Green Left) in the European Parliament. She also worked for several years for the European Women’s Lobby in Brussels.Malin is a feminist activist and under-lines the importance of international feminist solidarity as well as anti-rac-ism and LGBT rights. In her work in the committees for Gender Equality (FEMM) and Civil Liberties (LIBE) she is fighting for the recognition of wom-en’s rights and better gender equality policies in the EU. She is also a de-fender of public welfare, migrant and workers’ rights, opposes EUs forced austerity measures and fights for people before profit.

Ms Vilija Blinkevičiūtė - LithuaniaMs Vilija Blinkevičiūtė is a Member of the European Parliament since 2009. She is a Vice-Chair of the Committee on Women`s Rights and Gender Equal-ity, a Member of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs and a Member of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs. She was a two-term Minister of Social Security and Labour of Lithuania (2000-2008), responsible for social affairs, employment and gender equality is-sues. She is a Vice-Chair of the Lithuanian social democrat party (LSDP) and a Member of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Demo-crats in the European Parliament (S&D).

Ms Iratxe García Pérez - SpainMs Iratxe García Pérez is a Member of the European Parliament for the PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers party), part of the Party of European So-cialists. She entered politics in the Spanish General Election of 2000 when she was elected to the Spanish Congress representing Valladolid Province. In July she was reelected for her third term at the European Parliament, where she is now chairing the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM). She is also the President of the Spanish Socialist Delega-tion at the European Parliament. She is a member of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety and the Committee on Agri-culture and Rural Development and is also a member of the PES Women Bureau

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Ms Ana Gomes - PortugalMs Ana Gomes is a Member of the European Parliament since 2004 and was re-elected in 2009 and 2014. She is currently a full member of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, and of the Subcom-mittee for Security and Defence, as well as full member of the Delegation for relations with the United-States and the Delegation to the Parliamen-tary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean. She is substitute mem-ber on the Foreign Affairs Committee and on the Subcommittee on Human Rights. Ms Gomes has been Rapporteur for Libya, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia. Her main work focuses on foreign affairs, namely security and defense and human rights, justice and home affairs, fight against tax heavens and cor-ruption, and the rule of law.

Ms Heidi Hautala - FinlandMs Heidi Hautala, previously the Minister for International Development and State Steering in Finland in 2011-2013, is working her third legislature as an MEP in the Greens/EFA group. She has complemented her extensive political career at national and European level with other professional ac-tivities (journalist, founder of a restaurant) and combined it with her var-ious voluntary work commitments related mostly to human rights. Heidi, now vice-chair the Greens/EFA group, sits in the development, budget and legal affairs committees. In addition, she is the co-chair of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, and the European Parliament working group on reproductive health, HIV/AIDS and development.

Ms Ulrike Lunacek - AustriaMs Ulrike Lunacek, MEP since 2009, is the Vice-President of the European Parliament, EP-Rapporteur for Kosovo and Co-President of the LGBT Inter-group of the EP. From 1983 to 1995 she worked as journalist, editor, inter-preter and teacher in development, education, feminist, and LGBT NGOs. From 1996 to 1998 she was Secretary General of the Austrian Green Par-ty, then from 1999 to 2009 Member of the Austrian Parliament, being the Austrian Greens` Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Development Issues as well as on Equal Rights for the LGBT community. From 2006 to 2009 she was Co-Spokesperson of the European Green Party (EGP).

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Ms Linda McAvan - UKMs Linda McAvan has been Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on De-velopment since July 2014. She was previously a substitute member of this com-mittee for ten years and has been active on a range of issues, including women’s rights and girls education in developing countries. She is a member of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly and previously served as its Vice-President for two and a half years. Her other previous roles in the European Parliament have cen-tred on Environmental and Public Health concerns. Linda was first elected as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) in 1998. She was re-elected in 1999, 2004, 2009 and 2014 as head of Labour’s regional list for Yorkshire and the Hum-ber - a region in the North of England.

Mr Martin Schulz - EP PresidentMr Martin Schulz has been a Member of the European Parliament since 1994 and has served in a number of committees, first serving on the sub-committee on Human Rights and then on the Committee on Civil Liberties and Home Affairs. In 2004 he was elected group leader of the second largest group in the European Parliament. As leader of the Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, Martin Schulz campaigned for social justice, promoting jobs and growth, reform-ing financial markets, fighting climate change, championing equality and creating a stronger and more democratic Europe.Martin Schulz was elected President of the European Parliament on 17 January 2012 for a mandate of two and half years, in July of this year, he became the first President in the history of the European Parliament to be re-elected for a second term.

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European Commission

Dr Michael A. KöhlerIn March 2013, Dr Michael A. Köhler was appointed Director for EU-Neigh-bourhood Policy at the Directorate-General for Development Cooperation, where he is responsible for cooperation with Mediterranean Arab coun-tries and Israel, Eastern Partnership countries in Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus, and Russia. Previously he had been Head of Cabinet to the Commissioner for Energy, and to the Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries. Since he joined the European Commission in 1994, Dr Köhler has held several positions, including desk officer for Yemen and Iraq; As-sistant to the Director for Southern Mediterranean, Middle and Near East; Deputy European Correspondent; Deputy Head of Unit in charge of the co-ordination of Common Foreign and Security Policy.

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UN WOMEN

Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka is United Nations Under-Secretary-Gen-eral and Executive Director of UN Women since 2013, and has devoted her career to issues of human rights, equality and social justice. She has worked in government and civil society, and with the private sector, and was actively involved in the struggle to end apartheid in her home country of South Africa. From 2005 to 2008, she served as Deputy President of South Africa, overseeing programmes to combat poverty and bring the advantages of a growing economy to the poor, with a particular focus on women. Prior to this, she has served as a government Minister, and as a Member of Par-liament in the South African Government. Dr Mlambo-Ngcuka began her career as a teacher and gained international experience as a coordinator at the World YWCA in Geneva, where she established a global programme for young women. A longtime champion of women’s rights, she is affiliat-ed with several organizations devoted to education, women’s empower-ment and gender equality.

Dr Sameera Al-Tuwaijri - Saudi ArabiaDr Al-Tuwaijri joined UN Women in July 2012 as the Regional Director of the UN Women Regional Office for the Arab States in Cairo, Egypt. She has over 10 years of international development experience in addition to her prior experience as a qualified doctor in Obstetrics and Gynecology and director of a leading hospital in Saudi Arabia. Since 2010 Dr Al-Tuwaijri has been the lead health specialist for health policy, population and nutrition in the World Bank in Washington. Before taking up her post with the World Bank, she was Director of Occupational Safety and Health in the Interna-tional Labour Organization in Geneva (2007-2010). She served as UNFPA’s Regional Advisor on Health Policy for the Arab States, based in Jordan from 2004 to 2007.

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Documents

“Spring Forward for Women” · PDF filecandidate to win an individual seat in the Egyptian People’s Assembly and ... Ms Nadia Ihadadene ... Spring Forward for Women Conference