Arab Women Organization Holds Virtual Seminar:

"Exemplary Scientific Research on Women's Issues: Award-Winning Theses and Dissertations of the AWO Prize (2025-2026)"

6/10/2026

 Cairo, June 11, 2026 – The Arab Women Organization (AWO) held a virtual seminar yesterday, Wednesday, June 10, 2026, titled: "Exemplary Scientific Research on Women's Issues: Award-Winning Theses and Dissertations of the AWO Prize (2025-2026)."

The seminar was opened by Prof. Fadia Kiwan, Director-General of the AWO, who emphasized the organization's commitment to fostering scientific research in the Arab world.

Prof. Kiwan highlighted the pivotal role of academics in producing knowledge that addresses both regional and global issues, reaffirming the Arab region's contribution to human civilization.

Prof. Kiwan revealed that the AWO Prize for the best thesis/dissertation on women's issues attracted 54 candidates from 15 Arab countries, with 47 studies qualifying (28 Master's theses and 19 Doctoral dissertations). She praised the professionalism of the jury in selecting the winning works and underscored the strategic partnership with UN Women in advancing scientific research.

The seminar aimed to showcase the knowledge contributions of the winning research and to discuss how these findings can be leveraged to support women's issues, while highlighting the AWO’s program to advance women’s studies in Arab universities. This initiative falls under the AWO’s strategy to build effective bridges between academia and policymakers to advance the status of women in Arab society.

Mr. Rodrigo Montéro, Director of the "Dare to Care" Regional Program at UN Women (Arab States Regional Office), expressed his deep appreciation for the AWO’s initiatives in promoting women's studies and feminist knowledge production in Arab universities. He paid special tribute to Prof. Fadia Kiwan, stating that her academic dedication was the driving force behind this initiative. He highlighted the strategic partnership between the two institutions, mentioning the joint survey conducted last year to establish a regional network of universities for academic teaching in women's studies. Furthermore, Mr. Montéro stressed the importance of amplifying the voices of female academics from the Global South and called for research that addresses the urban-rural gap in the region.

The seminar showcased the knowledge contributions of the winning research and discussed how these findings can be leveraged to support women's issues, while highlighting the AWO’s program to advance women’s studies in Arab universities as part of the organization's strategy to build effective bridges between academia and policymakers to advance the status of women in Arab society.

H.E. Counselor Amal Ammar, President of the National Council for Women (NCW) of Egypt and Chair of the AWO Executive Council, delivered a recorded address, expressing her delight in participating in an occasion that celebrates the value of science and knowledge—the fundamental pillars of societal progress and national advancement. She congratulated the award winners, commending their distinguished scientific contributions, which reflect the ability of Arab women researchers to effectively contribute to knowledge production and support development and policymaking efforts.

She emphasized that women's issues are an integral part of comprehensive development, noting that women's empowerment is no longer an isolated goal, but a necessity for achieving economic and social progress and maximizing the utilization of human potential. She underscored the importance of scientific research as a primary tool for understanding realities, analyzing challenges, and proposing solutions, thereby aiding decision-makers with accurate data to formulate more efficient policies that are responsive to societal needs.

Furthermore, she called for the promotion of serious, evidence-based scientific studies rooted in the realities of Arab societies, contributing practical solutions to issues facing women and families. Nationally, she pointed out that Egypt, under the leadership of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, places great importance on human development, prioritizing investment in knowledge and human capacity—which has been reflected in the unprecedented gains achieved by Egyptian women in recent years across various domains.

Counselor Ammar concluded by asserting that these scientific achievements represent a true investment in the future, noting that creative minds are capable of driving change and fostering development. She conveyed a message to the winners that this recognition marks the beginning of a broader journey of contribution, as Arab societies are in dire need of innovative ideas that build a more prosperous and equitable future.

Furthermore, H.E. Dr. Shafika Saeed Abdo, Chairperson of the National Women's Committee in the Republic of Yemen and member of the Organization's Executive Council, expressed her profound delight that a Yemeni researcher was among the award winners. She extended her deep gratitude to the Organization, led by its Director-General H.E. Prof. Dr. Fadia Kiwan, for its pioneering role in encouraging researchers to conduct scientific studies and research for the benefit of Arab nations.

Her Excellency also commended the researcher Marwa Abdulhalim Al-Habbari from Sana'a University, whose thesis titled (The Socio-Economic Empowerment of Yemeni Women with Disabilities and its Relationship to Development: A Case Study of the Capital Secretariat) won the Organization's award for the Best Master's Thesis. She expressed her sincere pride in the researcher, her academic achievement, and the significant topic she addressed in her research.

Additionally, Dr. Shafika directed a message to all researchers in the Arab region, urging them to prepare more studies and research related to women's issues, such as child marriage, socio-economic empowerment, and all matters concerning women across the Arab world.

Furthermore, the members of the award jury delivered speeches detailing their experience in evaluating the submissions and the criteria they applied. The jury members included: Prof. Dr. Marlene Najib Haydar, Dean of the Institute of Social Sciences at the Lebanese University; Prof. Dr. Muna Ahmed Al-Saadoon, Dean of the College of Medicine at Dhofar University (Sultanate of Oman); and Prof. Dr. Hamsa Qahtan Al-Jumaili, Professor of Political Science at the University of Baghdad (Republic of Iraq). They emphasized that the selection process was a matter of choosing 'the best of the best,' and highly commended the efforts of all researchers who applied for the award.