Arab women's summit ends in Jordan

The summit achieved most of what it promised

By Kim Ghattas BBC, Amman

The second Arab Women's Summit has ended in Amman after two days of speeches and round table discussions.

Queen Rania hosted the summit

The summit, attended by 18 Arab countries, was held under the slogan "The Arab woman - a new vision".

Jordan's Queen Rania, who, at 32, is the youngest queen in the world, took over the presidency of the gathering from Egypt's first lady Suzanne Mubarak.

The summit issued the Amman Declaration and a final communique with 14 recommendations.

'Palpable progress'

The summit ended after it achieved most of what it had promised.

It has put women's issues under the spotlight, a rare thing in the Arab world.

It has brought about the creation of an Arab women's organisation working under the umbrella of the Arab League.

And for Jordanian women, there was even palpable progress - laws on citizenship, passports and pension have been amended, giving Jordanian women more rights.

In their final recommendations, the delegates urged Arab governments to help change and improve the image of women, particularly through the media.

The delegates also called for the creation of a special Arab legal group which would help chart legislation that helps women's emancipation.

Terrorism condemned

But even when it is about women's issues, politics are never far behind in the Arab world.

A row erupted during the last working session regarding Iraq and the Palestinians.

The Syrian, Iraqi and Palestinian delegates to the summit insisted that the Palestinian and Iraqi issues be mentioned - not only in the declaration but also in the recommendations.

The declaration said it rejected the threats of war against Iraq and condemned all forms of terrorism, including what it called Israeli state terrorism.

The summit's recommendations also called for the creation of an Arab fund for Palestinian women.