Women empowerment key to growth

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Women empowerment key to growth

Published: Mon 29 Aug 2016, 7:30 PM

Last updated: Mon 29 Aug 2016, 9:44 PM

UAE women now constitute 66 per cent of the public sector's workforce, 30 per cent of which are in senior posts, said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa).
Al Tayer was speaking at the second Emirati Women's Forum, which highlighted and honoured the role of Emirati women in various sectors across the UAE. The forum was attended by Drp Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, as well as a number of government and female leaders in the UAE. A large number of Dewa's female staff from both government and private organisations also attended the forum.
"Emirati women have become major contributors to sustainable development, and occupy the highest positions in the sovereign, executive, and legislative authorities, as well as their social local and international activities. We have immense pride in the UAE's international position for treating women with respect, and reducing gender imbalance in the Middle East and North Africa," said Al Tayer.
He also highlighted the fact that the UAE has announced its determination to host a coordinating office for the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) with the support of Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak. Al Tayer also gave the example of Dr Amal Al Qubaisi, who has made history by becoming the first woman in the Arab world to be elected as speaker of a national council. "Women account for 27.5 per cent of the cabinet," he noted. "Eight new ministers, five of them women, have joined the Federal Government and the cabinet for the first time. The Cabinet of the Future consists of eight female ministers - this is one of the highest percentages of women minister's representing an executive authority in the world."
In addition, Al Tayer also noted that Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, appointed Sarah Amiri, the Emirates Mars Mission Science Team Leader, as the chairperson of the UAE Council of Scientists; and that Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak recently launched the National Strategy for the Empowerment of Emirati Women in the UAE from 2015-2021, to develop the framework to empower women. "Our experience in the empowerment of women is a source of pride to everyone. Now more than ever, we can witness women playing major roles in space research, and in development sectors focused on innovation and creativity, renewable and clean energy, peacefully-used nuclear energy, the manufacture and launch of satellites. We also are seeing women play major roles in the aviation industry, technology, and many others," Al Tayer said.
On his part, Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi said: "I would like to emphasise that protecting the environment and achieving the sustainable development goals is both an individual as well as a collective responsibility. Individuals who are aware of their roles and responsibilities, regardless of their gender, are more capable in contributing to protecting the environment. However, the role of women equals that of men in many environmental issues. This includes sustainable use of natural resources. This is an important topic today both locally and globally as it affects the economic, social, and environmental issues. Women in any position, are directly responsible for instilling the concept of sustainability in society." - rohma@khaleejtimes.com
 

By Staff Report

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