The regional strategy for the protection of Arab women against violence, due to be launched at the 3rd Congress of the Arab Women's Organisation, will be a new step and a major gain to enrich the Organisation's actions aimed to further promote Arab women's condition and preserve their dignity. This strategy is intended to meet Arab women's aspirations for further modernity and contribution to building up a better future for Arab societies. The publishing, during the first year of Tunisia's mandate as president of the Arab Women's Organisation, of the reference work entitled «Violence Against Women, Between the Burden of Reality and Consecration of Universal Values,» represented a concrete step on the way of conceiving of this strategy since it broke the wall of silence about the phenomenon of violence and discrimination women are suffering from. The strategy is also intended to act as a road map for Arab women in their fight against violence and discrimination and to allow the Arab Women's Organisation to be in the forefront of governmental structures and civil society components endeavouring to prevent and contain this phenomenon which does not only harm women's position and their role in Arab societies but also holds back their capacities to contribute to the promotion of society and the achievement of the sustainable development targeted. By suggesting this strategy and personally following up the different stages of its implementation, First Lady Leila Ben Ali, has materialised the strong commitment she expressed since the start of her mandate as the Chairwoman of the AWO in March 2009, to propose practical initiatives and adopt new programmes and mechanisms likely to enable the Organisation to start a new stage in further promoting Arab women's rights. No doubt, AWO's 3rd congress will herald new dawn in Arab women's empowerment. Together with her distinguished Arab guests, Mrs. Leila Ben Ali will announce a new strategy destined to fight against violence and thus contribute to do away with retrograte attitudes and mentalities.
