Former FNC member starts the women’s leadership conference

 By: Fatma Bujsaim

Image: Najla Al Awadhi giving keynote speech

Former Federal National Council member, Najla Al Awadhi, gave the keynote address to the women’s leadership conference in the Rotana Beach Hotel.

Al Awadhi has stated, “While we are here to celebrate, we are doing ourselves and the future generation injustice”. She believes that even though Arab women have come a long way, they still have a longer way to go. The regions political participation of women is below 10%.

She also points out that the Arab world suffers a lack of education and has gender discrimination. Women are look at as inferior to men by both men and women in the society.

It is true that our society is not yet ready to see a woman leading them, but it is ready to see women in the work force and creating a difference.

Al Awadhi said we have a glass ceiling holding us back, “the glass ceiling that is difficult to break, the glass ceiling of our minds.” She also said that the answer to this problem is very simple and practical. It first starts at home; mothers raise their boys, so they should take the time to make them understand these gender issues.

Another solution would be civil society. “Each person is part of civil society,” she says. People should be good in their jobs for the sake of positive change.

Al Awadhi also stated that “social media changed the face of the Arab world”, people would be surprised at how much it changes and its effects. People should embrace the power of social media and use it to create change.