Lubna stresses next step for UN's 'every child every woman' strategy

New York - The UAE Minister highlights UAE's humanitarian activities at United Nations Sustainable Development Summit 2015 in New York.

Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of International Cooperation and Development (MICAD), Head of the UAE Committee for the Coordination of Humanitarian Foreign Aid, highlighted the UAE's humanitarian activities and held talks about 'Every Woman Every Child' strategy during the ongoing United Nations Sustainable Development Summit 2015 in New York.
The three-day summit, which will conclude today, is expected to outline sustainable development goals for the next 15 years for the well-being of people all over the world.
Lubna said that the UAE has played a leading international role in supporting various groups in need of health care and humanitarian support, especially women and children, contributing to save the lives of many who live in inhumane conditions.
She noted that this role is consistent with the UAE's commitment to achieving the targets of the humanitarian initiatives launched by the UN within the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and in line with the guidance and vision of the wise leadership of the UAE.
Lubna participated in a session titled "Children and the Sustainable Development Goals: Giving Every Child a Chance," which was attended by prominent leaders, including Queen Silvia of Sweden; Graca Machel, widow of former South African president Nelson Mandela; and Irina Bokova, Director-General of Unesco.
The meeting highlighted various new initiatives addressing the protection of children from all forms of violence, including trafficking, sexual abuse and exploitation, and drug abuse, by influencing political decision-making and increasing investments aimed at providing viable solutions internationally.
Lubna also met Princess Sarah Zeid of Jordan, wife of Prince Zeid bin Raad Al Hussein, the current UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and discussed the next steps for the implementation of the United Nations 'Every Woman Every Child' strategy.
Abu Dhabi Declaration
The meeting also discussed the possibility of increasing cooperation between the UAE and the UN following the "Abu Dhabi Declaration," whose recommendations were raised to the UN in February, calling for the adoption of special initiatives pertaining to reproductive health and the health of mothers, infants, children, and adolescents, considering them as groups that require priority humanitarian action and intervention.
Lubna also met with Ertharin Cousin, Executive Director of the UN World Food Programme; Judith Karl, Executive Secretary of the UN Capital Development Fund; and Grete Faremo, Under-Secretary-General of the UN and Executive Director of the UN Office for Project Services.
She also participated in a key session entitled "Transforming Economies: Empowering Women and Girls" attended by international leaders, most notably Justine Greening, British Secretary of State for International Development, Dr Phumzile Mlambo, Executive Director of UN Women - United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women.
The session, organised jointly by the United Nations and Britain, focused on the theme of women empowerment, and the possibility of achieving it in line with the "post-2015" targets and general framework of the sustainable development summit. - Wam