Women activists from Middle East critical of current peace efforts to hold press conference in New York

NEW YORK, March 12, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Gloria Steinem, internationally renowned women's rights advocate, will introduce a group of women activists from the Middle East at a press conference in the press briefing room at United Nations Headquarters in New York on Tuesday 15 March 2016 at 11am.

The women - from Libya, Syria and Yemen - are very critical of the current lack of political will to include women in peace and security efforts in their countries.

They are: Zahra' Langhi from Libya, Sahar Ghanem from Yemen and Mouna Ghanem from Syria. Ms. Langhi is the co-founder of the Libyan Women's Platform for Peace. Ms. Sahar Ghanem, a former community organizer, is currently an advisor to the Yemeni Prime Minister's Office. Dr. Mouna Ghanem is the founder of the Syrian Women's Forum for Peace. She will join the press conference by telephone.

Hibaaq Osman, founder and CEO of Karama, a Middle East organization that aims to advance women's participation, security and rights in the Arab world, will moderate the press conference. Karama is based in Egypt. Ms. Osman is from Somalia.

The women will be available for interviews afterwards in New York on 15 and 16 March. They speak English and Arabic.

They are part of a Karama delegation of women from 8 countries in the North Africa-Middle East region, including Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. All members of the delegation are available for media interviews. Biographical details can be made available. Languages spoken: English, Arabic and French.

The press conference will be live streamed at http://webtv.un.org and archived at the same site.

Press conference sponsored by:
Donor Direct Action - linking front line women's rights activists around the world to money, visibility and popular support www.donordirectaction.org
Karama - forging a Middle East regional movement to fight for women's rights www.el-karama.org 
The Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations www.irelandunnewyork.org

SOURCE Donor Direct Action

Related Links

http://www.donordirectaction.org