women;s political participation

Remarks by Catherine M. Russell, Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues at the National Democratic Institute (NDI) Offices in Washington, DC

At the end of 2011, women made up about 10 per cent of all parliamentarians in Arab states - far below the 19.5 per cent figure worldwide. However, some women in the region are making small steps into the political arena. Lebanon has a reputation as the most liberal country in the Arab world.