The president of the AIWF sees improved role of women in the job market despite a continued gap with men

The president of the Arab Internationa Women Forum (AIWF) Haifaa AL-Fahom Kilani highlighted the progress in the role and condition of Arab women in the job market over the past decade which, according to her, is as a result of the struggle of women and the political will at the highest official levels (!?). Kilani also noted that there was increased investment in the education of girls in most Arab countries as well as more opening for women in the Arab job market despite differences amongst Arab countries.
Kilani was speaking in an interview with the Al Hayat newspaper conducted during the annual conference of the “The role of women in business leadership, from the partnership to the overall growth” which was held last week in Berlin and was entitled “women’s role in leading businesses: from partnership to comprehensive development”.  Kilani asked Arab governments to enact laws  that will ensure gender equality in employment and pay and highlighted the need to benefit from the German experience especially with regards to women’s position in the job markets as studies by the global business monitor indicate that there are three times more men than women who set up corportations in Arab countries whereas this difference does not exceed 30% in Germany.
The conference also discussed the challenges facing Arab and German women in leadership positions and the needed incentives as well as ways for strengthening economic growth and innovation, scientific and cultural cooperation between Germany and the Arab world.  
Source: Al-Hayat 28 October 2013