H.H. Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed said UAE’s cooperative approach welcomes G20 collaboration, aiming to develop implementable strategies for global gender balance…reports Asian Lite News
Enhancing gender balance is a long-standing priority for the UAE and women play a vital role in achieving prosperity and stability and contribute effectively to sustainable economic growth, the UAE stated at the G20 Ministerial Conference on Women’s Empowerment held in India.
H.H. Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council and wife of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, affirmed the UAE’s commitment to involving the international community in its successful journey in gender balance – which has seen remarkable progress due to the wise leadership’s unwavering support and dedication.
She indicated that recent legislative advancements, embraced since UAE’s inception, enhance global competitiveness. UAE’s cooperative approach welcomes G20 collaboration, aiming to develop implementable strategies for global gender balance.
The conference was held in Gujarat, India, from 2nd to 4th August, under the theme “Women-led Inclusive Development as Cusp of Inter-Generational Transformation”. The UAE also participated in the meetings of the G20 Empower on the first of this month.
Meanwhile,H.H. Sheikha Manal praised the efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in highlighting the UAE’s achievements in the field of gender balance in international forums and the active contribution of the Ministry to strengthening the global partnerships of the Council through its diplomatic mission in various countries of the world and international organisations.
She also praised the efforts of the G20 Empowerment Committee, which contributed to creating strong relations between member countries and commitments to new solutions and complex challenges.
“As we approach the organisation of the twenty-eighth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 28), which the UAE will host from November 30th to December 12th, 2023, the country attaches utmost importance to bringing women into the heart of the global decision-making process,” Sheikha Manal said.
She emphasised that this is a pivotal moment that represents an opportunity to achieve rapid and transformative progress around the world, including climate action and the empowerment of women for sustainable development.
She stressed, “We look forward to accelerating the empowerment of women and increasing their role in climate action by building on the strength of culture and empowerment that were discussed in the Ministerial Conference on Women’s Empowerment in G20.”
UAE’s gender balance progress
The Council’s delegation, headed by Hanan Mansour Ahli, member of the UAE Gender Balance Council, Director-General of the Competitiveness Sector at the Federal Competitiveness & Statistics Authority, and the participation of Ayat Al Salmi, Senior Project Manager in the UAE GBC, shared the UAE’s gender balance strategy and discussed with representatives of several participating countries and organisations opportunities to promote collaborations at the level of the countries of the group.
Ahli delivered the UAE’s speech at the Ministerial Conference on Empowerment, during which she emphasised that advancing gender balance is a long-term priority for the UAE and that women play a vital role in achieving prosperity and stability and actively contribute to sustainable economic growth, adding that the UAE believes that supporting working women and female entrepreneurs sustainably requires enhancing societal awareness on the importance of the role of women, as well as building a strong political and legislative structure to mainstream gender balance in all sectors.
Economy, Culture and Gender Balance
In a main discussion panel that explored the dynamic relationship between the economy, culture, and women’s empowerment, Ahli emphasised the vital role of gender-disaggregated data in the UAE’s ambitious Gender Balance Strategy for 2026. The UAE has implemented a ground-breaking Gender Responsive Budgeting pilot program which utilises gender and population data to identify opportunities to reallocate financing and establish new initiatives aimed at supporting, equipping, and funding women entrepreneurs.
The UAE is taking bold steps towards building a more equitable society, where women have equal opportunities to thrive and contribute to the nation’s progress. Through data-driven policies and targeted support for women entrepreneurs, the nation aims to pave the way for a brighter and more gender-balanced future.
Ahli highlighted the UAE’s firm belief in the indispensable connection between a strong economy and a vibrant culture for women’s advancement. Recognising the pivotal role of gender-balanced economies, she stressed the imperative of fair inclusion for women in all economic spheres, with special emphasis on supporting female entrepreneurs.
She highlighted the UAE’s unwavering commitment to cultivating the right cultural mindset, fostering community awareness, and creating a legal and political framework that provides unwavering support to women.
The UAE aims to unlock the full potential of women by building an environment that empowers women and encourages their participation and ignites true innovation. By championing a strong economy and embracing an inclusive culture, the UAE proves that empowering women is not only a key to progress but also a catalyst for transformative change.
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