CAIRO: US ambassador at large for Global Women's Issues, Melanne Verveer, held a roundtable discussion at the US embassy on Monday to discuss the future of Egyptian women, following the January 25 Revolution. Verveer said that she met with civil society groups, dynamic women running small and medium sized businesses, entrepreneurs to listen to their views and needs and better understand how the situation is moving forward in Egypt. "I hope my voice can echo what the women here have been telling me," Verveer said. Verveer said that the main problems voiced by businesswomen running small and medium sized businesses is access to funds, credit opportunities and holding conversations with leaders in the economic sphere like the World Bank to reinforce the women's role in the economy. Verveer added that the women expressed the need to bring Arab women together to discuss their experience in political participation and the challenges they face. US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton unveiled details of an economic support package aimed at creating jobs and spurring foreign investment, in addition to an already announced $150 million being redirected to support the transition and the financial sector during a visit to Egypt in March. Verveer said she would urge the US administration to allocate a good sum of that economic support package to businesswomen who own small and medium sized business. Verveer cited the small and medium sized businesses as the backbone of Egypt's economy during this difficult transitional period, following the revolution. She added that reviving small and medium businesses would provide job opportunities and help improve Egyptians' living conditions. She also revealed plans to initiate programs that connect people who have access to funds and are willing to invest in small businesses, entrepreneurs and NGOs in Egypt. Political presence Regarding women's participation in the political arena following the revolution, Verveer expressed her disappointment that the women haven't participated in the committee that amended the Egyptian constitution and set the tone for the upcoming parliamentary elections. "Democracy without the participation of women is hypocrisy," Velveer said. Verveer said that the participation of women in the decision making process leads to stronger decisions that are more representative of the society's needs. Verveer cited issues including violence against women, education and family concerns as issues that are "essential to the society," and wouldn't be considered unless women addressed them. Velveer said that her wok in Egypt wasn't affected by the change of the governing regime, following the revolution. "My interactions are usually with civil society groups, business women and all sectors of society," Velveer said. Verveer added that positive laws were issued in the favor of women under the former regime including the decree against harassment. She added that these laws should be built and developed, not disregarded. Verveer said that she hoped the new constitution would protect the rights of every person in Egypt, including women. Regarding the women's quota, Verveer said that it was up to the Egyptians to decide whether to maintain it or not. However, she said that the women's quota can open doors for women in politics that would otherwise be closed. Verveer cited several success stories of implementing laws that stipulate the participation of women in several countries including India and Rwanda. Verveer said that issues including safe drinking water, health, education and less corruption were achieved via women holding decision-making positions in these countries. Verveer added that Rwanda had the highest level of women's participation in parliament as a result of the women's quota. With the help of the National Council for Women, the 2007 constitutional amendments reintroduced the female quota system in Egypt, followed by a law passed by parliament last February that officially reinstated the women's quota system, awarding women 64 seats through 32 constituencies. The constitutional decree announced by the Supreme Council of Armed forces (SCAF) in March maintained the women's quota in the upcoming parliamentary elections, scheduled to be held in September. Verveer said that a new institution representing the interests and demands of women, and is able to pressure the decision-makers in the government needs to be established. Verveer said that there is great concern that people believe that their life will instantly improve after the revolution. "It's going to take everybody's work to create a better tomorrow," Verveer said. "I believe Egypt's women are very strong," she added.
