National Culture Forum, which was organized today (November 28th 2013) by the Ministry of State for Federal National Council Affairs in collaboration with Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department in Dubai and Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government in Dubai, discussed the success of the women’s empowerment programme in the UAE and the crucial role of women in the nation’s progressive march.
Addressing the Forum organized under the theme ‘Rights and Duties of Women during the Union March of the UAE’, H.E. Dr. Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Minister of State for FNC Affairs, said: “The wise leadership of the UAE has consistently supported women and empowered them to achieve self-confidence and excellence. Today our women have reached leadership positions and are equipped to participate in all fields of activity. In addition to the social and cultural areas, women have been encouraged to be active participants in the economic sphere, to become successful businesswomen and efficient managers.”
H.E. Dr. Gargash pointed out that today Emirati women are working alongside Emirati men in several areas of nation building process, including political engagement, which showed the success of the empowerment programme launched by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
“The door is open for women to enter the political field and bear responsibilities and participate effectively in the process of political development in the state,” H.E. Dr. Gargash said.
H.E. Dr. Gargash also noted that the Emirati women have managed to contribute effectively to the overall development process of the country through their active participation as members of the Federal National Council. Women FNC members have successfully contributed to debates and discussions on the most important issues concerning the citizens in their community, H.E. added.
Emirati women have occupied several positions of leadership; there are among them ministers, members of parliament, ambassadors, undersecretaries and judges. Women occupy more than 65% of the UAE government jobs and more than 30% of the senior leadership positions. Furthermore, a quarter of the workers in the diplomatic services and nearly 20% of workers in the Federal Government and 17.5% of the members of the FNC are composed of women.
In terms of parliamentary work, Emirati women have played significant roles in the FNC elections. During the 2006 FNC Elections, out of 465 candidates who contested, 65 were women, and the council included 9 women. In the last FNC Elections in 2011, this number increased significantly to 83 women among 450 candidates with seven women in the council.
Women have also managed to gain representation in Arab parliamentary unions and have active participation in friendship committees around the world, reflecting the growth and development of parliamentary movement in the UAE and the active role of women in the overall development of the country.
The Forum activities organized at Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government in Dubai had the participation of H.E. Dr. Sheikha Hind Bint Abdul Aziz Al Qasimi, Expert at the Secretariat of the Council of Arab Economic Unity in Economic and Financial Affairs for the Gulf region in the League of Arab States, and H.E. Dr. Saeed Al Ghafli – Assistant Undersecretary at the Ministry of State for Federal National Council Affairs , Zayed Al Shamsi – Chairman of the Emirates Association for Lawyers and Legal Experts , Dr. Saif Al Jabri – Director of the Research Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department in Dubai, and Dr. Amal Belhoul – Social Consultant “Watani Al Emarat” Foundation.