By Sami Zaptia.
Tripoli, 27 January 2013:
The One Voice 2013 women’s conference under the slogan ‘New Horizons’ opened yesterday at the Rixos . . .[restrict]hotel, Tripoli.
The two-day conference was sponsored by the German embassy and co-organized by five Libyan women’s NGOs from eastern and western Libya: Attawasul Association, Maan Nabneeha Movement, Voice of Libyan Women, Libyan Women Union Tripoli and Women Support in Decision-Making.
This is the second One Voice conference following the successful 2011 edition at which EU head Catherine Ashton appeared.
GNC head Mohamed Magarief was unable to attend the VIP opening session, but ex-prime minister Abdulrahim al-Kib, German ambassador Rainer Eberle and GNC member Amina Megheirbi were.
The British ambassador Michael Aron, Austrian ambassador Franz Horlberger, Abdurrahman Arabi, head of Civil Society at the Ministry of Culture and Louise Hopper Second Secretary at the British Embassy, amongst others, were also present on day one.
The topics covered during the two days included: advancement and challenges in women’s rights since liberation, improving the partnership between government and civil society, the role of women in Libyan media, youth and women and future change, the role of women in the constitution, security provisions for women, violence against women and sexual violence, religion and legislation in the new Libya and coordinating the politicians and the people.
The conference room was packed with nearly 200 participants, the majority of whom were women, and the debate on day one was very vigorous between panel members and participants. The conference continues. [/restrict]
