News of the Women's Conferences

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called upon Dr. Jamal Karam Harfush, a member of the Lebanese delegation to the Economic Council of the United Nations Organization, to undertake the task of preparing and organizing the two conferences — that of the Commission on the Status of Women and the Regional Conference — which will be held at UNESCO, in Beirut, between March 21 and April 9, 1949.

For the preparation and organization of the two conferences — the Commission on the Status of Women and the Regional Conference — the Lebanese government has appointed a women's committee composed of the ladies: Evelyne Bustros, Laure Tabet, Najla Saab, Farida Bissar, Joumana Ahdab, Renée Salim Nakla, Ibtihaj Kaddoura, Zahia Osseiran, Najla Kfoury, and Jamal Karam Harfush.

The task of organizing the two conferences of the General Arab Women's Union and of the branch conference of the International Women's Union is undertaken by Miss Ibtihaj Kaddoura, president of the Arab Women's Federation of Lebanon; and Miss Aminah Khoury Makdisi has been appointed director of these two conferences.

The conference committee has charged a number of Lebanese ladies and young ladies with preparing studies on the following subjects, as follows:

1 — The field of political rights:
1 — the lawyer Miss Nina Trad; 2 — the lawyer Miss Mariam Itani; 3 — the lawyer Miss Laure Nasr.

2 — The field of economic rights:
1 — Miss Rose Ghorayeb; 2 — Miss Mayy Said Hamadeh; 3 — Miss Amira Osseiran.

3 — The field of social rights:
1 — Dr. Saniyya Habboub; 2 — Miss Zahia Kaddoura; 3 — Miss Olga Sara.

4 — The field of cultural rights:
1 — Dr. Najla Abu Izzeddin; 2 — Dr. Salwa Nassar; 3 — Mrs. Widad Maqdisi Cortas.

Among the most important personalities: the president of the conference, Madame Lefaucheux, a member of the French Parliament, who is among the most devoted of those who have struggled and worked to obtain woman's political rights. What is known of this lady, in addition to the distinguished place she occupies in the political and social fields, is that she is a virtuous mother and wife.

The Danish delegation is headed by Mrs. Begtrup; Mrs. Begtrup is distinguished by her femininity and her elegance.

The delegation of Mexico is headed by Madame Amelia de Castillo Ledón, who holds a doctorate in letters and is an elegant and beautiful lady.

The head of the American delegation is Judge Kenyon.

And the delegation of Greece is headed by Mrs. Lina Tsaldaris, widow of the former Prime Minister of Greece.

The International Council of Women has appointed two delegates to represent it: Miss Minerva Bernardino, president of the American Committee for Women, and the Lebanese lady Laure Tabet, wife of Mr. Georges Tabet and president of Women's Solidarity in Lebanon.

The committee overseeing the organization of the congress of the General Arab Women's Union and the branch conference of the International Women's Union has charged certain Lebanese ladies with delivering lectures at the general sessions of the international conference. They are:

1 — Dr. Najla Abu Izzeddin: on cooperation between East and West.

2 — Mrs. Salma Sayegh: on woman in the fields of culture and society.

3 — Mrs. Salwa Mahmasani Moumina: on "Woman in Politics and Society."