Young Women Speak Out, East and West

Abstract

In the context of the Euro-Arab Dialogue begun in Malta last year, a Euro-Arab Women's Seminar was held in Beirut between July 26 and 30, 1995. Jointly organized by the Progressive Youth Organization, representing the Arab Youth League, and the Youth Forum of the European Union, the seminar gathered young European and Arab Women, each representative of youth or women's association in their respective countries. The women were eager to voice their opinions and discuss their concerns forty days before the Beijing Conference, the outcome of which will set the framework for women's activities and struggles for the next decade. The dialogue covered an exhaustive list of women-related topics, such as the participation of yotmg womenin education and their situation in the labor market; sexuality and health; women in civil society (participation of women in politics, legal rights); and the influence of religion on women's roles in society.