Sheikha Manal noted that the UAE Gender Balance Council has succeeded over the past five years in turning its objectives into tangible achievements, reports Asian Lite Newsdesk
A Gender Balance Strategy will be launched in the UAE over the coming few days, said Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council and wife of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.
She added that it’s inspired by the nation’s strategy for the next 50 years as directed by President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and announced by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, to enhance the country’s global competitiveness in various fields.
Sheikha Manal noted that the UAE Gender Balance Council has succeeded over the past five years in turning its objectives into tangible achievements in line with the vision and directives of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to make the UAE one of the world’s top 25 countries on the UNDP Human Development Report 2021 Gender Inequality Index.
Established in 2015, the UAE Gender Balance Council is a federal entity responsible for developing and implementing the gender balance agenda in the United Arab Emirates. Its objectives are to reduce the gender gap across all government sectors, enhance the UAE’s ranking in global competitiveness reports on gender equality and achieve gender balance in decision-making positions, as well as promote the UAE’s status as a benchmark for gender balance legislation. It also launches pioneering initiatives and projects to enhance gender balance throughout the country and contribute to achieving the Council’s vision of positioning the UAE as a world model for gender balance.
Sheikha Fatima’s efforts
On the occasion of the International Women’s Day (IWD), Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, hailed the efforts of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, Chairwoman of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, who supports women wherever they are.
He also expressed his pride and appreciation for Sheikha Fatima’s vision and pioneering initiatives to eliminate all social and economic obstacles hindering women’s progress, both domestic and international, and her keenness to assist the development and empowerment of women to occupy leading positions within the community.
Celebrating International Women’s Day is an ideal opportunity to explore women’s efforts and sacrifices and the achievements accomplished by the country’s leadership related to women’s empowerment, Sheikh Nahyan added.
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He stressed that Emirati women are living in their golden era, and noted that the country’s women’s empowerment journey began under the historic leadership of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
The leadership is continuing to support women, who are now effectively contributing to the process of comprehensive national development, he further added.
He highlighted his wishes for Emirati women to continue their successful journey and contribute to the country’s progress, under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.