Abu Dhabi: Her Highness Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the UAE General Women’s Union (GWU), Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF) and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, has been awarded the Medal of Arab Parliament of First Class in recognition of her efforts and contributions to empowerment of Emirati and Arab women.
The Mother of the Nation is awarded with this prestigious accolade in appreciation of her outstanding efforts and commitment to women’s empowerment, and incorporating women as active agents and partners in community development, as well as her commitment to social and humanitarian issues, including childhood care and family welfare, in the UAE, Arab world and the entire globe.
The honouring ceremony was attended by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler’s Representative in the Western Region, Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, as well as a number of female ministers, women’s leaders, members of the Federal National Council, prominent figures and heads of social and humanitarian organisations dedicated to women and children in the UAE.
Ahmad Al Jarwan, Speaker of the Arab Parliament, said: “It was not possible to complete the Arab Parliament’s vision for women and the importance of their role in society without inspiration by “The Mother of the Nation”, who strongly emerges as a role model for women in the Arab region and the world due to her merits in giving, excellence, humanitarian action and advocacy for their rights.”
He added that this important approach that engages women in the nation’s development and progress was pioneered by Shaikha Fatima. “The Medal of the Arab Parliament comes in recognition of Her Highnesses’ efforts to empowerment of Emirati and Arab women as well as her significant role in adopting and integrating women’s issues as an important actor and partner in the development of society, and her commitment to humanitarian work locally, regionally and internationally,” Al Jarwan said.
He lauded her directives to support the families of the Arab soldiers killed in Yemen while defending and backing the legitimate government. “The Arab, regional and international appreciation enjoyed by Shaikha Fatima is in recognition for her humanitarian and charitable work in all areas and her leading role in supporting women in the UAE, the Arab region and the world at large,” Al Jarwan said.
