Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh Launches TAG-UNDP for Women in the Knowledge Age

There is no excuse for women not to be contributing to the output of knowledge and wealth- HE Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh

AMMAN------- April 30,  2014------ The Regional Office of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in the Arab States organized a High-Level Regional Consultation in Amman to present a new initiative entitled “Promotion of effective and inclusive participation of Arab women in public life - Participation project” in the presence of HE Ms. Reem Abu Hassan - Minister of Social Development, Dr. Sameera al-Tuwaijri, RegionalDirectorof the United NationsEntity for Gender Equalityand Womens Empowerment, HE Dr. Sima Bahouth - Assistant Secretary General at the UN and Regional Director of the United Nations Development Program Bureau for Arab States, and HE Dr. Haifa Abu Ghazaleh - Assistant Secretary General and Head of the Department of Media and Communication at the League of Arab States.

The aim of drafting a participation project over the next three years is to address the shortcomings of participation in public life, to address the violations of citizenship rights for women in the Arab region, in addition to ensure gender equality, especially in countries in transition.

The main outcome of the project is that Progress is achieved quicker through the reduction of gender inequality and by promoting womens empowerment.

A host of women, representing the League of Arab States, the United Nations Development Program, research centers, boards members of human and women’s rights, Arab and international institutions concerned with women, academies, women civil society leaders from 21 Arab countries, and a wide range of government stakeholders, experts, activists and donor parties at the regional and international level participated in the dialogue and consultations.

Her Excellency Dr. Bahouth expressed gratitude to HE Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, and praised his efforts in the service of the Arab community.

Abu-Ghazaleh requested the transition to a new priority from the woman herself and the organizations concerned with them.

Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh expressed his pride in the partnership with the United Nations Development Program that produced the SME Toolkit, which helped thousands establish and develop their projects saying:"It is time to present the program of a new partnership in the field of guiding – and not empowering – women to the output of knowledge and wealth”, adding “making knowledge needs only a subjective decision. This initiative, TAG-UNDP, is for a woman in the knowledge age.” Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh praised the role and leadership of HE Dr. Bahouth in the Arab development process.

He referred to the partnership of the Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), regarding the use of information and communication technology in education in the Arab states, which resulted in issuing the first report on this specific subject in five states. He said: “The report does not include any numeration on the percentage of women; in addition we noticed that there is an absence of women in our partnership with the Economic and Social Commission for West Asia – the UN in the program of trips for cognitive creativity.”

Abu-Ghazaleh clarified that “What we need is an awareness and guidance program through the establishment of an informative website, including a database for the purpose of achieving a transformation in the female community.

In this regard, he stressed that there is no excuse for women not to be contributing to the output of knowledge and wealth saying “Digital creativity is a subjective decision, and needs only mental ability and communication skills, and they are made available to both men and women.”

He stressed on the superiority of women at Talal Abu-Ghazaleh community centers for knowledge, and noted that the first three Awards for Excellence at the Talal Abu- Ghazaleh University College for Business Administration were obtained by female graduates, not male graduates.