UAE stresses that women's empowerment is a critical component of the nation’s development

NEW YORK, 17th March, 2016 (WAM) -- The United Arab Emirates has reiterated the importance of the empowerment of women as a critical component of the nation’s development model, and as a necessary condition for achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs, delivered these remarks at the 60th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, CSW, at the United Nations. During the Commission’s annual two-week session, representatives of UN Member States, civil society organisations and UN entities gather at UN headquarters in New York to discuss emerging issues that affect gender equality and the empowerment of women. During the session, Minister Noura Al Kaabi underlined the role that the UAE leadership has played in empowering women, saying, "Nationally, the leadership of the UAE recognises the key role of women as partners in state-building and in achieving inclusive and sustainable development. It is through the consistent and meaningful empowerment of women in a range of priority and decision-making roles that the UAE expects to achieve real progress in our commitment to implement the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action at the domestic level." Al Kaabi went on to praise the key role of the General Women’s Union in empowering women and enhancing women’s participation in the national development process. She continued, "The General Women's Union plays an important role in building women’s and girls’ capacities in various fields. H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union (GWU), Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF) and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, leads national efforts aimed at empowering women, strengthening their position in society, and ensuring their effective contribution to the UAE’s development process. These efforts have significantly contributed to increasing women's access to leadership positions, and to furthering the overall development of our society." Minister Al Kaabi emphasised the importance of monitoring and implementation of the sustainable development goals as "critical to maintaining and furthering gender equality and women’s empowerment. Therefore, our government announced last month that the UAE World Government Summit will serve as an annual platform to gathers leaders of governments, prominent academics, policy-makers, and practitioners, as well as private sector representatives from over 125 countries, to review the implementation of the Sustainable Development Agenda. We see this as an important opportunity to share best practices in monitoring, reporting, and financing mechanisms related to the Goals, including Goal 5 on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls." In a parallel ministerial roundtable, Al Kaabi shared best practices from the UAE on how to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment within national institutions. "We must ensure that decision-making includes women-leaders and that policy action and budgeting reflect gender considerations that benefit all women and girls." She went on to share the UAE’s national story of empowering women, including the steps the UAE has taken towards achieving gender parity. "Our government has also institutionalised women’s participation in our legislature and judiciary with the understanding that this a prerequisite to creating functional and just societies." The Minister drew attention to UAE entities, plans, and policies charged with advancing women, such as laws mandating women’s participation on government boards and the Gender Balance Council, which was formed by the Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. She underscored the importance of the National Strategy for the Advancement of Women, which was established under the auspices of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, thirteen years ago. Minister Al Kaabi reiterated that achieving gender equality is fundamental to the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals. "The UAE will continue to uphold the empowerment of women as both a critical component of our nation’s development model, and as a necessary condition for achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development." – Emirates News Agency, WAM - http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395292948614.html