RI to host women's congress

RI to host women's congress

JAKARTA: Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim country, will
host a three-day congress of the International Muslim Women's
Union (IMWU), which is scheduled to start on April 7.

Organizing committee chairwoman Tutty Alawiyah said on
Wednesday that the congress, which is to be opened by President
Megawati Soekarnoputri, would discuss various women's issues in
Muslim countries, especially their rights.

"The President said participants (of the congress) had to
ensure that the results of the congress reached women at the
grassroots level," Tutty said after meeting Megawati at the State
Palace on Wednesday.

Several international women's leaders are expected to attend
the congress, including UN Human Rights Chairwoman Najat Hajjaji
from Libya.

During the congress, which will be attended by 138
representatives from 86 countries, the participants will hold a
mass prayer out of concern for the U.S.-led campaign in Iraq.

"The IMWU has also sent a letter to UN Secretary-General Kofi
Annan calling for an emergency meeting to stop the war in Iraq,"
said Tutty, who is the former state minister of women's
empowerment. --JP