Spirit of Empowerment Global Women's Conference

that is the way business goes. All misplaced priorities.

Well I would like nothing more then to have every unempowered woman in the region attend this event, however then there would be no event because there would be no money to put one on. :P As I said before, this will be ongoing, and the hope is that money raised from this event will go to more accessabile things like workshops, seminars and programs to really help the unempowered women.

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Stop talking empowerment nonsense and start my supper!!!!!!!!!!

Diamondgirl, it's too bad you won't be able to attend the Conference as it sounds like you are someone who has deinitely benefited from women's empowerment in Qatar.

So instead, why don't you buy tickets for your families housemaids to go. Housemaids in the gulf, more than anybody, need to feel the spirit of empowerment. I think they could definitely offer a valuable perspective.

I think all the Qatari women who are successful and have benefited from women'empowerment in Qatar should spnsor their housemaids to go. More than anything else, I think this gesture would be in the SPIRIT of empowerment.

ps. I'm not being sarcastic, I'm serious. Whatya think?

To expect an unempowered woman to pay QR1700 to 4000 to even let her discuss her problems is really a sad thing.

Who do you expect to buy the ticket? The Empowered woman or the empowered MAN.

With all due respect, I beleive one will not hear the voice of the unempowered woman at the forum.

I really fail to understand - Qatar Tennis Open can get sponsors (with near empty stands & huge celebrities) while an forum of such major importance cannot get sponsors?

All that pretentious put on stuff that will prove the fact that women should stay home, cook and clean house....

What a waste....

Qwerty in Canada we say "What a gip" when something is a rip off. I've never heard the term gip used to mean vomit.

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Gypsy,

Gip (verb) in English slang, means to vomit. Additionally, Gypsy (also variants like Gipsey, Gipsy, Gypsey or Gypsie) is a term for certain ethnic and cultural groups, as Butterfly quite rightly stated.

Regards,

Qwerty

ooops

Sorry butterfly, in English slang to gip someone is rip someone off. That's why I asked if it was purposly done.

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I didn´t do it on purpose and even if I did I can´t see how it could be offensive. As far as I know, gypsy and gipsy (as in the gipsy kings) mean the same thing, an ethnical group in Europe.

Do you know how a gypsy´s bride to be virginity is proved (a must the night before the wedding?). Talk about women´s empowerment.

qataria women have the right to vote.

Many of the women who need to be empowered will not be able to afford the delegates fee. Isn't it a bit "let them eat cake" from those who are already empowered?

I'm all for this. But it's up to the women to show they want it.

Remember, Egyptian women got the right to vote before British women.

But look at the world now.

Happy to see interest in this important subject.

Here's the facts. BBCWorld and CNBC as sponsors have provided complimentary adverstisement and cover the story in the news. They contribute to regional awareness of women's issues. They do not sell advertising or pay for the conference. They gain brand exposure and association with a worthy community cause.

Women's issues in Qatar are real and significant. Women do not strive to JUST have work. That is not what empowerment is about. Women are entitled to freedom of choice to participate in their societies at the levels they choose for themselves.

Regional women have several incredible and inspiring accomplishments. If the opinion is otherwise - perhaps profiles are too low and more media is required to address the perceptions.

Ticket prices are heavily subsidized by sponsors and the organisers, Ticket fees cover 15 - 30 % of expenses only and rates are significantly below those held in the region. Regrettably participation of corporate Qatar was below expectation and reliance on ticket sales to offset some expenses was necessary.

For those unable to attend, reports will be filed on the website post conference. Also we anticipate that stories will be run on the networks to share the outcomes.

No one event will solve all issues. If there are better ideas - let us know and we will support you in getting them up and running. There is no monopoly on Corporate Citizenship. Volunteers willing to organise worthwhile initiatives are always welcome.

seek knowledge and the truth

Sounds great, Gypsy, wish I could come to support as a woman who has freedom of choice to follow my dreams. I am fortunate with fabulous family but not all are like mine. This is a worldwide issue. Even in 'western'countries there are similar problems. Women in this country have fantastic oppurtunities if they choose to take them up. Wish it was being televised. I'm out of town on business but will get feedback from my staff when I return. Insha'Allah it will be a success. Certainly an interesting guest list. Good luck.

Was the Gipsy misspelling purposly done butterfly? It is expensive, but it's cheaper then most other conferences in the country, so....

Vasquez, it doesn't say anything in there about getting women working. Some women may not want to work. This is about giving women here the freedom of choice and teaching them confidence to follow their dreams.

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Sounds quite interesting - but I don't see an issue here, lots of women both expats and locals are working?

The real issue must be something like - how do we stop this being such a paternal society? Is the religion to be blamed (let the bashing begin) or is it the honour driven society?

BTW - Richard you might be old and on the blue pill (nudge nudge) but senile no I don't think so. You still remember your childhood during the depression...

- I took the blue pill and found myself alive in Qatar - wish I had taken the red and stayed in Europe

Forgive me if I´m wrong, but chargin over 3000QR for a one day conference does sound a little like a ripoff!!! Anyways, it is amazing how much I have heard about women empowerment since coming to Qatar. It is a topic that they loooove to discuss. Personally, I´d like to see less talk and more action.

Thanks for the explanation, I'm impressed that there has been research done on heart of where I agree the issues lie- family holding back women.

All the best, hope it goes well.

Honestly Heartless, our main goal right now is to sell out the tickets (which is going well yay!) SO that way we can prove that this is a concern in Qatar, that way we won't have problems with sponsorship next year and we will be able to give away more tickets to students and others who wish to attend, but can't afford the price. :)

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The conference is the result of 2 years of research. A major part of the focus group were "housewives" and younger women, who gave their opinions on what the issues facing them were. These are the issues that we are going to bring up.

Corporate issues (such as segergation issues, etc) will come up for sure, but so will other issues. The debate topic is "Is the family holding back the advancement of women in the Arab world."

We don't intend to shy away from topics.

The reason we have to ask such a high price is because this event isn't fully sponsored unfortunatly, and to put on an event like this is quite costly. We would not have even gone through with it if we hadn't received such support from Qatar Foundation, who says they will take our findings and help us run with them.

This is just the kick off to a yearly event, as well as seminars and workshops throughout the year.

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How are they going to collect the opinions of women who do not work, and are themselves NOT empowered? Do those opinions matter? Or just the opinions of the corporates paying the "corporate price"?

Sorry for my obvious cynicism about this conference- I have seen so many women's initiatives do nothing but create the necessary publicity for people who want to be seen as "helping".

Could possibly have been a Doha Debate? I know he's discussed these issues before, which is why he was keen to join in on this one.

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last year. Though the one I am thinking of at the Sheraton wasn't global. It focussed on empowerment of Arab women and was very good, moderated by Tim Sebastian. I am easily confused and a bit senile but i am sure that I didn't imagine it.

Patriotism cannot be our final spiritual shelter; my refuge is humanity. Tagore, Bengali Poet

THis is the first one Richard, so there wasn't one at the Sheraton. I'm not sure which one you are thinking of. This is going to be part of an ongoing initiative.

Heartless it isn't going to be televised. I can gurantee you it's not. Parts of it may be filmed for news stories later, but the conference itself won't be televised, wish it was, but maybe next year.

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So are you saying its sponsored by BBC and CNBC but its not going to be televised?? I've heard about this already, and it is going to be televised.

Its good that they are having these discussions (I hope they actually commit to the outcomes though) and I would probably go if it wasn't so ridiculously expensive.

Last year it was held at The Sheraton and you could go to individual sessions for free. No one cared. I thought it was really good but what do I know? I am just some dumb American redneck. You should ask for some really well thought out heavy weight comment from an intellectual giant like Mir88 or Cutesrk.

Patriotism cannot be our final spiritual shelter; my refuge is humanity. Tagore, Bengali Poet

It's not a television show, what gave you that idea. And they are going to discuss how to get women to have more power here, hence the issues facing women in the Gulf part. :P

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What a rip-off. This is a television show, they are going to make their money from the television stations anyway, and they want people to pay that amount for the privelege of just getting bums on seats?

What a crock. Also I can't believe they want to discuss making women "feel" empowered. Not to discuss letting women HAVE more power here.

There is a big difference.

For more info visit www.spiritofempowerment-arabia.com

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