UN Women hail UAE’s adoption of women-centric legislations, promoting gender equality and women empowerment



On the occasion of International Women’s Day, UN Women lauded United Arab Emirates’s effort to incorporate more women-centric legislations in the recent years to make way for gender equality and empowerment of women. In a statement issued by the UN agency to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), UN Women said, "The UAE has made significant strides towards equality and leads the MENA region in women’s empowerment, particularly given the recent legislations that offered women more rights and better protection.”

"UN Women is proud of its longstanding relationship with the UAE Government, the General Women’s Union led by H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak [Chairwoman of the General Women's Union (GWU), President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF)] and her remarkable vision for women’s advancement across all sectors," Dr. Mouza Al Shehhi, Director, UN Women Liaison Office for the GCC, said in the statement.

She added, "On International Women’s Day, we commend this partnership as we jointly seek to push the gender equality agenda forward.”

Much to the UAE’s credit, the nation adopted about 11 new laws and amendments since 2019 to ensure better protection, over all empowerment and more rights to its women citizens. Some of these included, amping up representation of women in the country’s national council, extending maternity leave by a week, granting parental leave to private sector employees, guaranteeing equal wages for equal work or work of equal value and increasing severity of punishment in case of ‘honour crimes’.

UAE holds long association with the UN Women, which works with government agencies and civil society groups to bring in laws, policies, and programmes aimed at providing better life to women folk. The Arab nation has been closely working with UN Women for years and has been on its Executive Board between 2013 and 2018. UAE also held the presidency of the Executive Council of UN Women in 2017.

Hailing UAE’s work in the field of women empowerment, Andrea Matteo Fontana, the Ambassador of the EU to the UAE, told WAM, "The United Arab Emirates is at the forefront of women’s empowerment in the Arab world.” He emphasised that achieving gender equality was one of the EU’s key objectives. He added that the bloc has planned on using the upcoming Dubai Expo 2020, to work on the issue in collaboration with the UAE and other international partners.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

GAAC Holding: Restoring Afghanistan's Aviation Sector with Urgent Investments

Image
Afghanistan' s aviation sector has faced numerous challenges in recent years, with severe damage to airports and the suspension of international flights. However, GAAC Holding, a UAE -based company, has emerged as a key player in restoring the functionality and safety of Afghanistan's airports. Through significant investments and dedicated efforts, GAAC Holding aims to revive the country's aviation sector and pave the way for its development. Revitalizing Airport Infrastructure: GAAC Holding's urgent investment of USD 641,000 has played a crucial role in rebuilding Afghanistan's airports. The funds were utilized for various purposes, including repairing runway lights, installing generators, procuring x-ray machines, metal detectors, and explosive trace detectors. Additionally, temporary terminal buildings were set up, and essential supplies such as food and water were provided for airport staff. The company also invested in necessary ground support equipment like tr
Read more

12-year-old piano prodigy who plays Beethoven

Image
  Ahmed can play pieces by Beethoven, Mozart and Bach, and composes his own music. His mother, Eiman Al Aleel that in 2012 doctors said Ahmed, who was then a year and eight months old, had autism. “We took him to many  after he stopped talking or making eye contact,” said Ms Aleeli.  “I am blessed with a loving husband. He is a dedicated father and family man who is taking care of all the needs of our other three children since I am giving 90 per cent of my time to Ahmed,” she said. Enrolling Ahmed in kindergarten and then in school was a big challenge. “One kindergarten told me accepting Ahmed in their facility would tarnish their reputation,” Ms Aleeli said.
Read more

The UAE's Significant Strides and Commitment to Progress in Human Rights Over the Years

Image
  The United Arab Emirates ( UAE ) has made significant progress in a variety of areas, including human rights. The UAE's recent high-level panel discussion on human rights in Geneva demonstrates the country's determination to improve its human rights record.  The panel discussion, organized by thirteen international human rights organizations with UN advisory capacity, focused on the UAE's Shadow Report for the 43rd Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review (UPR). The report provides an overview of the country's progress in meeting its human rights obligations, highlighting accomplishments and addressing challenges.  Human rights experts and specialists from various government sectors, national human rights institutions, and international organizations attended the session. The panel also included media professionals and academics, ensuring a well-rounded discussion. The UAE's human rights report was discussed at the Office
Read more