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2014-06-01

‏REMARKABLE PROGRESS OF UAE WOMEN

By Staff Major Yousef Juma AL Hadad, Editor-in-Chief

‏Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, Chairwoman of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, has confirmed that the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, God rest his soul, with his wise vision, was not only a strong supporter of women, but also their stoic defender against any injustice. Her Highness, who has received numerous international honors including from the United Nations, has also outlined how the General Women’s Union has worked tirelessly for the advancement of the UAE Women.

‏Your Highness accompanied the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan on many occasions - how was the Founding Father’s vision of UAE women and of their role in progress, development of the nation?

‏I was associated with the great Founding Father of the nation, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, during various stages of the establishment and building of the UAE. I witnessed the difficulties and hardships he faced and overcame through his insight, wisdom and patience. I saw his feelings, struggle, strength of will in the face of difficulties, and his dedication and sincerity in building the State of the Union.

‏He felt this was the way for the nation to progress and ensure happiness and a decent life for citizens. I was there for the days of joy and saw the happiness on his face at every achievement that helped to promote the march of the Union.

‏Sheikh Zayed was not only a strong supporter of women, but also their defender against injustice. He believed that women are half the society, that no country which wants to build itself can do so without the contribution of both halves. Women’s participation in community service and development is essential.

‏He urged women to learn and encouraged them to work in positions that are commensurate with progress for them and the nation. He encouraged and supported me without limits for the advancement of women, encouraged them to learn, and structures and organizations to be established that deal with women’s issues and rights. His ambitious aspirations have come true. Now women have become ministers, members of the Federal National Council, engineers, physicians, diplomats, lawyers, judges,prosecutors, professors, lecturers, officers, pilots in air defense, investors,businesswomen, and other positions in which they have proved their capacity and efficiency in work and creativity, side by side with their male counterparts.

‏Comprehensive cultural achievements and outstanding gains continued tobe achieved by women, and were reinforced under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who has achieved – along with his brother, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, their brothers members of the Supreme Council of rulers of the Emirates, and HH Gen. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces - ambitious strategies and programs for the empowerment of women in all fields.

‏The General Women’s Union is one of the pillars of the federal structure of the UAE since its inception on August 27, 1975, at the hands of HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, “Mother of the UAE.” What will be the benefit of lessons learned from the success of the Women’s Union to enhance the role of women in development at both regional and international levels?

‏The establishment of the Women’s Union with the unlimited support Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, constituted one of the pillars of the Federation, as well as a major turning point in the march of progress for women. This was through the enactment of regulations and laws that ensured their constitutional rights in all areas - first and foremost the right to work, education, health care, social security,ownership, business and moneymanagement, and equality in rights and duties with men and more.

‏The General Women’s Union worked since it was established for the advancement of Emirati women, so as to be an active and supportive force of the process of sustainable development in all fields, through the development of frameworks and foundations that regulate women’s action.

‏In this context, many strategies, programs,vital activities, studies and research have been carried out. Most importantly, the National Strategy for the Advancement of Women, which we launched in 2002, and is one of the biggest and most prominent achievements of the Women’s Union.The General Women’s Union assumes a prominent place in promoting the development role of women, at both the regional and international levels, since it joined the International Women’s Union, the Arab Women’s Organization, World Family Organization, the Arab Family Organization, and other women’s regional and international organizations.

‏In light of the experience of Your Highness, to what extent can greater awareness of women contribute to the progress and development of societies? Is there is a clear relationship between the progress of nations and communities on the one hand, and the status quo of women on the other hand?

‏Education is a true measure of the progress made by states to attain success and excellence in the field of investment in human capital, including women. An educated human, man or woman, is the basis of civilization and the axis of advancement and progress.

‏Therefore, we have given absolute priority to education and literacy. This was initially a big challenge as there were no schools for girls in the UAE before the establishment of the Union and until 1955. After establishment of the State of the Union, the education sector witnessed successive leaps by the establishment of girls’ schools, women’s demand for education, and the opening of hundreds of literacy centers, so we got to where we are today.

‏The number of females in the general education schools and university is high and the percentage of girls in university education is one of the highest in the world.

‏Thanks to the efforts of Your Highness, Emirati women have made great strides during a relatively short period. Now they occupy important positions in all the country’s sensitive agencies, and have influential roles in domains that were only for men. They are serving as ambassadors,ministers, judges and members of the Federal National Council, and have a significant presence in the armed forces and the police. What factors have helped achieve this and how did you overcome the difficulties that you encountered during this long process?

‏At the beginning of this long march of painstaking and diligent work we faced many difficulties and hardships. Women’s activity started in the early seventies with four ladies only, for there was no presence of any kind of women activity. With this small number we established the first women’s gathering in the UAE by founding the Abu Dhabi Women Development Association in 1973.

‏This led to the establishment of similar associations throughout the country, and those efforts culminated in the establishment of the General Women’s Union which formed a major turning point in the progress of women in the UAE It was then considered an important and pioneering precedent of women’s work in the Gulf region.

‏UAE women today occupy four cabinet seats in the Council of Ministers, which is one of the highest representative positions at the Arab level.They are also represented by eight women members in the Federal National Council in its current session from among its 40 members, which equals 22 per cent, and this is also one of the highest percentages in terms of women representation in parliamentary institutions. Besides, we have the first woman to occupy the post of Permanent Representative of the State to the United Nations, and there are four women working as ambassadors in Spain, Sweden and Montenegro, and a female Consul General in Hong Kong.

‏Women constitute an important component of the map of manpower in the public sector where they occupy 66 per cent of government jobs including 30 per cent of higher leadership positions related to decision-making, and 15 per cent of technical and academic posts. These include medicine, teaching, pharmacy and nursing, as well as involvement in the armed forces, police and Customs. The percentage of women’s participation in economic activity and the labor market has steadily increased, after the establishment of the Council of Businesswomen in the country, bringing the number of enrollees in the Chambers of Commerce and Industry to 13,000 businesswomen, running more than 20,000 establishments and companies with investments exceeding 15 billion dirhams.

‏One of the most prominent manifestations of the growth of political consciousness was women winning membership in the Federal National Council by election and their impressive participation in its works and activities.How do you see this development?

‏The participation of women in politics is the most important achievement made by Emirati women in the process of empowerment. This historic step began by an initiative which I announced at an important meeting with the leadership of the Women’s Action in the UAE on January 8, 1997, when I confirmed that there is nothing to prevent women from participating in political life. Then, in a meeting with representatives of six international organizations in Abu Dhabi specifically to meet me, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, declared his unconditional support for this initiative, stressing that “Emirati women are full partners to men in all aspects of life, and that they have the full right in political participation and decision-making.”

‏In 2005, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, announced the program of political empowerment, which began by conducting the first round of parliamentary elections for half the members of the Federal National Council, in which women participated for the first time as candidates and voters, and resulted in the election of the first woman in the country as member in the parliamentary institution, and the appointment of other eight. Therefore the percentage of women’s representation on the Council, which consisted of 40 members, reached to 22.2 per cent which was considered the highest rates of female representation in parliaments at the regional level.

‏Women participated with active and large presence in the last election in 2011 after expanding of the constituency which also resulted in the election of one woman, and the appointment of seven more who are participating effectively in the current session of the Federal National Council, in addition to the election of one member, Dr Amal Al Qubaisi, to the position of first Deputy Chairman of the Council and her highly efficient management of a number of sessions.

‏Did you think that there is a collective Arab will to improve the situation of women and children in the Arab world? Are you satisfied with things as they stand?

‏Since its establishment, the United Arab Emirates, at the national level, has proved its commitment and keenness to protect the rights of the family, women and children in articles 15 and 16 of the Permanent Constitution. It has continually issued many laws governing this, in addition to its accession to regional and international conventions and treaties concerning protecting the rights of women and children. This includes the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the International Convention on Night Work for Women, the International Convention on Minimum Age for Employment, the International Convention on the Equality of Male and Female Workers in Pay, and the International Convention for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol.

‏The UAE was quick to respond to the Universal Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Child Abuse, and has taken a number of decisions, decisive measures and preventive solutions to prevent violence against children and women. Notably there is the establishment of departments of social protection in the concerned ministries, sections for family guidance in courts, and shelters for victims of human trafficking. There is also the launch of telephone hot lines to protect children from abuse and violence, and other measures to ensure the protection and support of women and children who are victims of violence, abuse and human trafficking.

‏These efforts culminated in the ratification by Cabinet, at the end of 2012 of the Children Protection Law bill which ensures for all children, without discrimination, the right to safe life, stable environment, constant care, and protection from any risks or violations that threaten their basic rights to life, security, and expression. Within the framework of our commitment to fight the phenomenon of domestic violence, in 2010 we established the Comprehensive Center for the Protection of Family and Childhood.

‏Your Highness had, and still has, a leading role in the advancement of Arab women in many areas – this is highlighted by the contribution of Your Highness in funding the construction of the Headquarters of the Arab Women Organization in Cairo, the launch of of Sheikha Fatima Award for Distinguished Arab Women, and many other initiatives boosting the role of Arab women in so many areas. Are you satisfied with the current situation of Arab women? Do you think conditions are progressing suitably or are negatively affected by the rest of the Arab development Indicators which have declined in the last few years?

‏After achieving, in a short period, ambitious programs for the progress of Emirati women, we did not restrict our interest to issues relating to women at the local level only. We are also interested in all Arab women’s issues and have supported them in perform their roles in the service of their communities and participating in the development of their countries. Within the framework of this vision, came our contribution to the establishment of the Arab Women Organization and supporting it by building its permanent headquarters in Cairo.

‏While honoring Your Highness in 2011 on the International Women’s Day, the United Nations described you as an example for women in prudence, insight and interaction with all the developments of the era. How does Your Highness see all forms of recognition that have you received, and what are the dimensions of the global role of Your Highness in advocating women’s issues in various regions and countries?

‏What we have done has emanated from our belief that humanitarian and volunteering action is an elevated humanitarian practice that embodies a civilized behavior because it is a symbol of fraternity, collaboration and solidarity. Honoring us in this context by hundreds of regional and international organizations and communities and countries of the world is a source of pride for us and for the UAE women. It is a great incentive that increases our commitment and responsibilities.

‏ What are the future goals that you think must be achieved? What are your most prominent future aspirations for women and children locally, regionally and globally?

‏My ambitions for achievement of more gains for women in all fields are without limits. Our aspirations in the General Women’s Union which we strive to achieve are to help women to be leaders and pioneers in the various aspects of life, and activate their role and maximize their responsibilities in the political, economic, social, educational, health, media, cultural, environmental and other fields, so that Emirati women should become a real active partner, and not only a participant, in the completion of the programs and plans for sustainable development, and the achievement of progress and prosperity for the nation•

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