UAE encourages political participation: Minister

Abu Dhabi - Minister for FNC Affairs says government will seek to raise knowledge about political empowerment programmes

The UAE government seeks to spread political awareness among the society, a federal minister said on Wednesday, while releasing a report on achievements made by Federal National Council (FNC) in the past decade.
Noura Al Kaabi, Minister for Federal National Council Affairs, while addressing the media on Wednesday, said: "The Ministry of Presidential Affairs will seek to raise knowledge about the political empowerment programme of President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, among all segments of the society, especially the youth."
Al Kaabi added that Shaikh Khalifa seeks to encourage political participation by enhancing the role of the FNC.
According to the report, in the past ten years, the FNC members participated actively in the parliamentary sessions and proposed 121 laws. Also, the public representatives posed 405 questions to the ministers on various topics.
The Ministry of FNC Affairs has signed agreements to develop 118 activities in order to spread political awareness to more than 13,000 people across the country.
The ministry has established a department specialising in promoting a culture of political participation, the minister said.
The youth, she said, have received much of the ministry's attention in accordance with the leadership's directives, which considers them to be one of the most important segments of society.
The report details the role of the Ministry of FNC Affairs in coordinating between the law making body and executive branch of the government. Promotion of political participation remains a top priority for the ministry, which devised innovative channels to encourage it among the citizens for the sustainable development of the society.
"The department launched innovative initiatives and organised events to educate the public about the achievements of the FNC," she added.
In addition to that, it has organised visits by federal government employees to the FNC to allow them to learn about its role. Within the first six months of this year, 1,364 employees form more than 85 federal and local government entities-as well as from social and non-profit organisations-have taken part in these visits.
"Since its inception, the Ministry of FNC Affairs has been developing systems and procedures to coordinate between the executive and legislature," Al Kaabi added.
haseeb@khaleejtimes.com
 

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