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