That means 700,000 new jobs every year in Egypt alone. And these jobs shouldn...

That means 700,000 new jobs every year in Egypt alone. And these jobs shouldn't just be for men. Lets be honest, its not just the men of the region who want a job and a voice. The unemployment rate for Egyptian women is more than three times that for men. And its not only the economy, they are denied the chance to play a fuller role in society, politics and culture too. But look at the crowds in Freedom Square and we see its the women too finding their voices showing clearly that they want to play a part in building their future. So in this historic period, when the voice of this region is finally being heard there is now a unique opportunity for women to fulfil their ambitions too. This is not just in their interests as women. Its in the interests of their countries as a whole. Lets be clear, you cant build strong economies, open societies and inclusive political systems if you lock out women. So the Arab Spring will not succeed if the opportunities that are opening up are denied to half the population.