AWLI Welcomes Princess Basma at the Advancing Women Leaders Conference

11/09/2009

Amman, Jordan - Over this past weekend, the International Republican Institute's (IRI) Arab Women's Leadership Institute (AWLI) welcomed Her Royal Highness Princess Basma Bint Talal for an informal roundtable with participants during its conference, Advancing Women Leaders.

Princess Basma, founder of the Jordanian National Commission for Women and who is known as a champion of women's rights and human development, addressed the audience of nearly 50 women members of parliament, civil servants and young leaders from across the Arab region.

"To have someone as highly respected as Princess Basma address our first plenary conference was truly an honor," said AWLI Chair, Tami Longaberger. "Her Royal Highness delivered a message to the women that resonated deeply. Her advocacy on behalf of women's rights and advancement is an inspiration to women in the Arab region and globally."

AWLI's three-day conference provided participants with intensive trainings and opportunities to learn not only from expert trainers, but also from each other as they shared ideas and experiences with their colleagues from other Arab countries.

AWLI supports the efforts of Arab women to increase women's participation in public life and the political process throughout the region. Through trainings and peer-to-peer networking, the Institute connects aspiring leaders to their counterparts in other Arab countries and helps them gain leadership, advocacy, management and governance skills enabling them to compete for leadership positions within their communities.

Based in Amman, Jordan, the AWLI is led by a Governing Board whose members include Ms. Tami Longaberger from the United States, Dr. Eman Al Hussein from Jordan, Ms. Nehad Abol Komsan from Egypt, Dr. Sundus Abbas from Iraq, Dr. Wajeeha Sadiq Al Baharna from Bahrain, Dr. Lily Feidy from Palestine, and Najat Zarrouk from Morocco. The Institute is funded through a grant from the National Endowment for Democracy.