Women of the Middle East and North Africa working for change: Meet the women who are changing the face of politics across the Middle East and North Africa. In the last decade, they have more than doubled their numbers elected to national parliaments and continue to enter the political arena in larger numbers than ever before. Connected by a common language, culture, religion and determination to succeed, women from the region are joining forces to share their experiences, learn new skills and network for change.In September 2005, the Kuwait Economic Society Women’s committee and Kuwait Women’s Social and Cultural Society brought together more than 75 women leaders from Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mauritania, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, West Bank/Gaza and Yemen. For four days, these elected members of parliament, cabinet members, political party leaders, civil society activists and journalists shared experiences, built skills to run successful political campaigns and sought to strengthen the regional network of women who will succeed in politics. The gathering took place against the backdrop of upcoming elections throughout the region, including Iraq, Jordan, Algeria, Bahrain, Yemen, the West Bank/Gaza and Kuwait, where women had won the right to vote and stand for office only a few months before. With interviews provided by women involved in the gathering and from across the region, Voices Rising recounts in their own words their motivation, inspiration and vision for the future.