On March 8, 2011, we celebrate the many advancements women’s rights have made in the world by partaking in International Women’s Day festivities, but we remain cognizant of the many obstacles that women face particularly in the Arab world, the broader Middle East, and North Africa.

But in order to foster fundamental freedoms and human rights, we need our media to focus their attention on the plight of Middle Eastern women so that our policy makers can make informed decisions that promote their personal freedoms and professional opportunities.