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DUBAI / WAM
Governments around the world need to urgently remedy the issues of access to finance, education and legal system for women, according to Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Opening the keynote panel discussion at the Global Women’s Forum Dubai 2016 on Tuesday, the IMF chief said, “Rules need to be changed. Three things that require urgent attention are better education, access to finance and the legal system.â€
The panel discussion was moderated by Olivier Fleurot, Senior Vice-President and Member of P12- Publicis Groupe, France.
“Help women in policy point of view,†Lagarde said, citing statistics that among 143 countries surveyed, 90 percent do not have a legal system to support women.
She commended the UAE’s Father of the Nation, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and his wife, HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, for doing an incredibly good job to empower women.
Her advice to women in business and profession is, “Stand for yourselves, do not be submissive, be a champion of others. You should take the view that everyone can succeed.â€
Lagarde drew examples of various women for their spirit of resilience and empowerment and suffering, such as Michelle Bachelet, President of the Republic of Chile, who has come back to power, Angela Merkel, who has been in power for 10 years in Germany, Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar, and Queen Rania Abdullah of
Jordan.
The Global Women’s Forum Dubai 2016 is taking place at the Madinat Jumeirah under the patronage of Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and led by HH Sheikha Manal bint
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, President of Dubai Women Establishment and wife of HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, UAE.
The Forum is organised by Dubai Women Establishment in cooperation with the Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society.