Sheikha Manal establishes committee to review maternity law in UAE

Dubai / WAM

HH Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, President of the Dubai Women Establishment (DWE) and wife of H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, has directed the establishment of a committee to review the maternity law to provide women with a supportive work environment, in line with best international practices, and to activate the ‘Gender Balance Index’ across various sectors.
The move was in response to directions from HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, Supreme Chairwoman
of the Family Development
Foundation and President of
the Supreme Council for
Motherhood and Childhood.
HH Sheikha Manal said the activation of the ‘Gender Balance Index’ reflects the UAE leadership’s vision to enhance the role of women across all sectors of society and ensure their effective participation in the country’s economic development. H.H also highlighted that the UAE Gender Balance Council will be establishing a committee to review the Maternity Law and create a better work
environment for women.
“We are working to activate the ‘Gender Balance Index’ across various sectors to enhance the role of women, and promote gender equality through encouraging female participation. In the next phase, the UAE Gender Balance Council will take the necessary steps to ensure that men and women have equal opportunities to participate in the sustainable development of the UAE and to achieve the country’s vision in terms of gender balance on local, regional and global level,” Sheikha Manal said.
Mona Ghanem Al Marri, Vice President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, stressed the importance of implementing a comprehensive strategy to bridge the gap between the two genders, based on a number of elements that enhance women’s participation in political and leadership positions, along with their role as decision makers, whilst promoting women’s participation and contribution to the economy.