Despite the pandemic, a women's alliance was formed at the 2^nd Middle East and North Africa Women's Conference held in Beirut in the past months. While each member of the alliance represents their country, Bushra Ali, the president of the JÎN Women Association, said, “We have prepared the strategic plan of the alliance and we will announce it soon. Now we are working on the details of this strategic plan; its goals for 2022. We will announce everything in this month.”

CAROLINE BAZZI

Beirut- The Covid-19 pandemic continues to cause many problems for people all around the world. Many women’s organizations have held virtual events due to the pandemic. Despite the pandemic, the 2^nd Middle East and North Africa Women's Conference was held in Beirut last year on July 30 and 31. 100 delegates from 18 countries, including Iran, Morocco, Rojava, Turkey, Tunisia, Palestine, Afghanistan, and Egypt, attended the conference. As months have passed since the conference was held, Bushra Ali, the president of the JÎN Women Association, spoke to JINHA about the challenges they have faced and their plans for 2022.

“Despite the challenges, we overcame the problems”

Stating that they have faced many challenges due to the pandemic, Bushra Ali said that they, as the association, attach importance to face-to-face meetings in order to carry out joint work with associations in other countries, particularly in Lebanon. “But we have to hold virtual meetings since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. We planned to hold the 2nd Middle East and North Africa Women's Conference in May 2020 but we had to postpone it to July 2021 due to the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite the challenges, we overcame the problems and held the conference last year on July 30 and 31.”

They held meetings

A women’s alliance was decided to be formed at the conference. “Each member of the alliance represents their country. Women attending the conference chose women from their own countries to be members of the alliance. And we held online meetings with these women to discuss the basic principles of the alliance and how we can be in solidarity with each other. We have prepared the strategic plan of the alliance and we will announce it soon. Now we are working on the details of this strategic plan; its goals for 2022. We will announce everything in this month,” Bushra Ali told us.

Important decisions

Bushra Ali also told us that their association held many meetings and seminars for women in 2021. Stating that many important suggestions and decisions emerged at the first conference held in 2013, Bushra Ali drew attention to that these suggestions and decisions remained only on paper due to the absence of a committee that can ensure the decisions to be implemented. “We made two strategic decisions at our second conference; first was the announcement of the women’s alliance and the second one was to form a local women’s committee.”

Their projects are ready

Stating that they have worked to form a women’s committee, including all delegates, Bushra Ali said, “We decided to have three presidents for the alliance so that it is not limited to a single person. This will also help strengthen the spirit of the alliance. 17 people form the core of the alliance and the alliance has members. The congress of the alliance will be held every three years. At every congress, women will discuss the strategic plan and how it will be implemented. Our association has many projects to work on as part of its 2022 plans.”