by guest contributor Joe David
Photo credit: Samia Abdel Wahed
The grand entrance hall of the United States Institute of Peace overflowed last week with hundreds of prominent men and women from government, academia, and business. They came to hear and honor the Arab woman. The day-long event, which began with panel discussions and ended with a gala dinner, marked the League of Arab States’ Fifth Annual Arab-American Day Celebration, held this year in collaboration with the USIP.
The day-long events focused on the important role played by Arab women in stabilizing their communities. “Arab women have shown a steadfast commitment, especially during times of war and change, of never wavering in their struggle to bringing peace and stability to their communities,” Ambassador Salah Sarhan, the Chief of Washington Mission of the League of Arab States, said. “The Arab League considers the issue of violence against women and girls in the Arab world to be one of its most important challenges it faces.” In this context, Ambassador Sarhan emphasized that the League is addressing this challenge by using its position of strength to reach out to women and to help them achieve societal justice, gender equality, and prosperity through education. To show its commitment to ending violence against Arab women and girls, it held “16 Days of Activism,” a special dedication to them, which began on November 25th, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and ended on December 10, 2016, the designated Human Rights Day.
H.E. Ambassador Salah Sarhan presenting the Award to Ms. Hanan Al-Hroub, Honoree Winner of Global Teacher prize (2016) of the Sunny Varkey Foundation
“We can no longer permit any further delay in increasing women’s representation in the societal interests of their communities.” Ambassador Inas Mekkawy, head of Women, Family and Childhood Department at the League at LAS Headquarter in Cairo, said. “Women have demonstrated remarkable courage and have undergone incredible suffering. Nevertheless, as Ambassador Sarhan stated, they have remained steadfast, without wavering in their aspirations. This will continue and grow by our assistance and our combined partnership.”
Guest of Honor, Dr. Inas Mekkawy
Based in Washington, D.C., the League has as its mission to represent the interests of its 22 member states and to offer cross-cultural dialogue that will build ties of joint cooperation and understanding between the United States and the Arab world. According to Panel Moderator Randa Fahmy, Founder, Fahmy Hudome International, “This is particularly important today because of the changes that are occurring rapidly in the U.S. and the Arab world.”
To give special recognition and attention to the role of today’s Arab woman, fourteen high-profile panelists participated in the morning and afternoon discussions. Each presented her thoughts on the need to empower Arab women in order to strengthen institutions and help communities address conflict peacefully. Nancy Lindborg, president of USIP, set the tone for the morning and afternoon panel discussion by stressing the importance of how education and economic opportunities can best serve the development of each woman. “When women do better, so does the economy.”
According to Donald Steinberg, CEO of World Learning, “We have learned, when a community draws from the wisdom of women, they are more peaceful, less violent.” Activist Ilhan Omar, newly elected Minnesota House Representative believes “this will continue if we remain active and vigilant, and never compromise. Women must no longer be marginalized. They must be allowed to step into power – rather than to be empowered.”
Ms. Amy Schedlbauer
In the closing remarks to the day-long discussion, Amy Schedlbouer, director of the Office of Regional Affairs, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, U.S. Department of State, reconfirmed her department’s commitment to the region – “to its social and economic development, and to responding to any interferences to its growth, including gender exploitation.”
The full-day of activity, which began with lively, inter-active panel discussions, culminated with a gala evening of fine food, music, wine, and awards in honor of those women who have made special contributions to their communities and their world.
Ms. Kristie Kenney, Ambassador (Ret) Gordon Gray , Executive Vice President to National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce (NUSACC)
During the evening comments, Ambassador Sarhan summed up the purpose of the day-long discussion and gala. “Today’s Arab women are breaking barriers with spectacular achievements. They are the soul of life, the angel of mercy that is bringing us all together harmoniously. Where women contribute, peace follows, violence drops. This must be our future to which there will be no turning back.”
Ms. Kristie Kenney
Ambassador Kristie Kenney, Counselor, U.S. Department of State, followed him, and she gave her special recognition “to the wonderful diversity that is America, which has been made strong by those Arabs who have come here from other areas of the world to lend us their voice, their culture, and their experience.” Along with Ambassador Kenney, Don De Marino, Chairman, National U.S.- Arab Chamber of Commerce, extended a special welcome to the Arab community “to the many Arabs in our country who have chosen to be a part of our rich heritage that constitutes our great nation.”
H.E. Ambassador Hunaina Al-Mughairy of the Embassy of Oman
One such person is H.E Ambassador Hunaina Al-Mughairy, Ambassador of Oman, who is enjoying the honor of being the first Arab Ambassador. “My success has given me the opportunity to dispel any misconceptions of the limited role of the Arab woman in our society.”
H.E. Ambassador Fareed Yasseen
The 2016 Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize for teaching was given to Hanan Al Hroub, a Palestinian teacher who devoted her life to troubled children. Special honor posthumously was given to Zaha Hadid, for her outreach to the world with the extraordinary design of her mathematically balanced architecture. H.E Ambassador Fareed Yasseen, Ambassador of Iraq, summed up what many who have seen her works discovered “She is the best architect period. She beat everyone with her design. No one has achieved what she has achieved.”
On display were 24 paintings provided by Syra Arts of Cairo and Washington DC promoting Contemporary Egyptian and Middle Eastern artist. Founded by art collectors, Sylvia Ragheb and Randa Fahmy, the company’s mission is to raise awareness of the Middle East’s flourishing arts scene and to help Egyptian and Middle Eastern artists penetrate the U.S. art market.
Mezzo soprano Cynthia Samaha and a traditional Arabic takht, the Saltanah Ensemble, provided the evening’s entertainment.
