Both men and women have vital roles to play in life: Sheikha Fatima

Abu Dhabi / WAM

HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union (GWU), President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF), said that gender balance is imperative for achieving security and peace in the world, noting that the strategies of empowering women in the UAE stem from the acknowledgement that “both men and women have important roles to play in all areas of life.”
In a statement released ahead of the “Gender Dimensions of International Peace and Security: Keys to Prosperity and Peace” conference, which will be held in Abu Dhabi on December 18, Sheikha Fatima said that the UAE leadership, since the nation’s inception, recognised the important role women hold across all fields and provided the means to enable and empower them.
“Gender balance has been achieved in all areas based on the wise leadership’s belief that the daughter of the UAE is a partner to its sons, in the process of developing the nation,” she said.
She further went on to commend the themes of the upcoming summit, which was organised by the GWU in co-operation with Women in International Security, the UN Women’s Office and TRENDS Research and Advisory, which will seek to achieve several goals. This includes raising awareness of the link between gender and peace and security in both policy and practice, providing a better understanding of the gender dimensions of peace and security to a broad audience, showcasing the UAE’s good practice to the Women Peace and Security, WPS, agenda, and serving as a platform to launch a series of future activities aimed at advancing the women, peace and security agenda.
Sheikha Fatima said that the conference will “review ways to unleash the potential of women as an important partner in the building of societies and their contribution to reducing conflicts and crises in war zones.”
She added that the event will also demonstrate the UAE’s experience in developing the concepts of leadership and empowerment of women, review the successes of Emirati women in various fields, and highlight the role of the UAE in promoting the role of women in public life.
Dr. Ahmed Al Hamli, President of TRENDS Research & Advisory, said that the event aims to raise awareness about gender balance, peace and security in both political life and practical implementation, and provide a better understanding of the dimensions of gender balance in international peace and security for a wide audience, as well as raise visibility of the UAE’s efforts in promoting the role of women in peacekeeping.
He added that the summit will see the launch a series of initiatives and activities, and the participation of a group of Emirati, Arab and foreign politicians and academics.
Speakers at the conference include Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister for Tolerance, Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, UAE’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and the President of UN Women, and Mara Marinaki, Ambassador and Principal Advisor on Gender at the European Union External Action.

FNC Speaker congratulates ‘Mother of the Nation’
Abu Dhabi / WAM

Dr Amal Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Speaker of Federal National Council (FNC), has extended her congratulations to HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak for receiving the ‘Family Advocate Award’ by the World Family Organisation, during the official launch of the sessions of the World Family Summit in Geneva.
Dr Al Qubaisi said that this award is a recognition of the noble human values and principles that Sheikha Fatima calls for, and is keen to disseminate, especially those related to the importance of family cohesion as a foundation for the unity of societies.
She added that this high-level international appreciation of the “Mother of the Nation” reflects the world’s awareness of her efforts in strengthening family ties through a series of large-scale initiatives and programmes that began since the founding of the Union by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Sheikha Fatima’s efforts and initiatives have been felt beyond the borders of the UAE and the region, and reached the entire world, she added.
“These efforts are a source of pride for all Emiratis because they reflect the noble morals of our culture and our nation, which was founded on a system based on humanitarian values and principles that make up an integral part of its identity,” Dr. Al Qubaisi said.