WORKSHOP 2
Implementing the Copenhagen Commitments:
Action to Improve the Status of Women

    The workshop resulted in the following recommendations for enhancing the status of women and to incorporate and establish linkages between the Copenhagen Commitments and the agreements made at the Beijing World Conference for Women:

• Set early dates to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women and the girl child prevalent in education, training, job opportunities and health services.
  
• Establish mechanisms within the government and non-governmental organisations to increase women’s participation in management and enhance women’s roles in decision-making.
  
• Amend legislation that prevents women from effective participation in social, economic, political and educational spheres.
  
• Protect the rights of working women, especially rural women, ensuring their right to receive proper wages.
  
• Utilise media resources to challenge the stereotypical and traditional image of women in society through; for example, amending school curriculum to include gender sensitive material.
  
• Set up and strengthen regional Arab networks to enhance the status of women and co-ordinate and co-operate in pursuing the implementation of the agreements made at the Copenhagen and Beijing conferences.
  
• Allocate a sufficient percentage of the national budgets for projects that aim to enhance the status of women, along with the support of major international organisations.
  
• Set up a regional fund to support sustainable development projects that aim to improve the economic, social and health status of women, as well as improve the quality of life for needy families.