On the occasion of International Women’s Day 2026, the Arab Youth Sustainable Development Network (AYSDN) organized a high-level symposium titled “Her Leadership… Her Future: Empowering Arab Women to Achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.” The event took place on the evening of Friday, March 13, 2026, via Zoom, with more than 50 attendees and the participation of a select group of Arab women leaders and experts in the fields of development, economics, justice, and humanitarian work.
The symposium was organized as part of the launch of the Network’s Strategic Direction for 2026–2028, which focuses on promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment as a primary pillar supporting the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
**An Arab Dialogue on Female Leadership and Development**
The symposium featured a panel discussion bringing together several Arab women leaders to discuss ways to enhance women’s roles in supporting sustainable development paths. The session explored expanding women’s participation in the economy, decision-making, and peacebuilding, while reviewing the most prominent challenges facing women in the Arab region and the opportunities available to strengthen their presence across various fields.
**The speakers included:**
* **Dr. Ahd Jassous**, Minister of State for Women’s Affairs in Yemen, who discussed the empowerment of Yemeni women and their role in socio-economic development.
* **Ms. Thikra Al-Jabri**, Executive Director of Al-Amal Foundation for Training and Entrepreneurship (Riyadah), who spoke on empowering women through mentorship, opportunities, and resources.
* **Ms. Al-Rumaysa Yaqoub**, International Law Researcher and Human Rights Activist, who addressed inclusive justice and the integration of marginalized women into rights frameworks and peacebuilding processes.
* **Ms. Najla Basata**, Programs and Partnerships Coordinator at AYSDN, who covered the theme of women’s leadership and decision-making.
The session was moderated by **Salma Khaled**, Deputy Programs Director at the Network, who facilitated the dialogue between the speakers and enriched the discussion on advancing women’s roles in sustainable development trajectories.
**Economic Empowerment as a Gateway to Strengthening Women’s Roles**
In her intervention, **Dr. Ahd Jassous** emphasized that economic empowerment is a fundamental pillar for enhancing women’s presence in society, noting that “economic empowerment helps women become strong and facilitates the expansion of projects.” She also stressed the importance of developing quality education for women and drawing inspiration from successful international experiences, asserting that “access to quality education inspired by the experiences of other nations contributes to raising the efficiency of Yemeni women and enhancing their ability to participate in development.”
**Empowering Women: A Pillar of an Inclusive Economy**
For her part, **Ms. Thikra Ahmed Al-Jabri** emphasized that women’s economic empowerment is no longer just a matter of social justice but a necessity for achieving comprehensive and sustainable economic development. She stated: “Empowering women economically is no longer just a choice for social justice; it is a genuine contribution toward a more inclusive and effective economy.” She added that excluding women from economic activity represents a significant loss for societies, explaining that “failing to empower women means marginalizing more than 50% of society from participating in the local economy.”
**Inclusive Justice: The Foundation of Building Societies**
**Ms. Al-Rumaysa Hussein Yaqoub** stressed the importance of adopting the concept of inclusive justice that guarantees the rights of all women without exception, stating: “Justice that includes women is justice for marginalized, rural, displaced, and disabled women everywhere.” She added that a woman’s role in society should be viewed as an inherent role in construction and development, explaining that “a woman is not a case for welfare or charity, but a full partner in rights, opportunities, and the shaping of society.”
**Women’s Participation in Decision-Making Positions**
In the same context, **Ms. Najla Basata** affirmed that achieving sustainable development and social justice requires a genuine presence of women in decision-making positions, saying: “We cannot talk about sustainable development or social justice if women are excluded from decision-making positions.” She added that women’s participation in policymaking improves the quality of public decisions, emphasizing that “the presence of women in policymaking is not symbolic; it is a presence that raises the quality of decisions and makes them more inclusive of society’s needs.”
**A Commitment to Enhancing Women’s Roles in Development**
The symposium concluded by emphasizing the importance of supporting initiatives that promote women’s participation in various fields and expanding their presence in leadership and decision-making roles. This contributes to achieving more inclusive and equitable development in Arab societies.
Participants also stressed the pivotal role of youth and women in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and building a more balanced and sustainable future in the Arab region—a goal that the **Arab Youth Sustainable Development Network (AYSDN)** seeks to achieve through its various programs and initiatives.
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