UAE | General
Fatima receives international honour
Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, the President's Wife and Chairwoman of UAE General Women's Union, has received the international Athens Award in appreciation for her role in supporting the Zayed University, a support which enabled this institution to enhance women education in the country.
- WAM
- Published: 00:00 March 8, 2003
Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, the President's Wife and Chairwoman of UAE General Women's Union, has received the international Athens Award in appreciation for her role in supporting the Zayed University, a support which enabled this institution to enhance women education in the country.
This was announced here yesterday by Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research during a meeting here with founders of the Athens Award.
The award was founded in the United States in 1982 and is awarded annually to women who have contributed immensely in the development and empowerment of women. Sheikha Fatima is the 11th recipient of the award in the world and the first eminent personality from the Middle East to receive the award, said Sheikh Nahyan.
He added that Sheikha Fatima will be presented the award during the first graduation ceremony of Zayed University tomorrow.
Sheikh Nahyan extended his appreciation to the founders of the award who are currently visiting the UAE, saying that Sheikha Fatima would continue to extend unlimited support to UAE women, whether in their pursuit of knowledge or employment opportunities.
The Zayed University is the only institution in the Arab world that has successfully implemented a partnership programme with the U.S.-based Athens Foundation.
About 70 students from the university are currently enrolled in the excellence programme which is also undertaken by students from the U.S., Canada and Russia.
Sheikha Fatima held here yesterday a dinner banquet in honour of the Wives of Their Highnesses, Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates, who attended the graduation ceremony of the 22nd batch of the UAE University and 12th batch of the Higher Colleges of Technology graduates.
The occasion was also attended by Sheikhas, wives of UAE federal ministers and other senior officials, in addition to spouses of foreign diplomats in the UAE.
Yesterday, Sheikha Fatima stressed the importance of coordination and exchange of expertise between national and international women's organisations.
"Such coordination will assist in the advancement of women and will encourage them to get engaged fully in various national activities," Sheikha Fatima told a delegation of wives of permanent representatives to the UN, who met with her here yesterday.
The 11-woman delegation, currently on a visit to the UAE at the invitation of Sheikha Fatima, consists of wives of envoys of Britain, Syria, Singapore, Oman, Mexico, Mauritius, Kuwait, Ireland, Guinea, Cameroon and Bahrain.
Sheikha Fatima expressed gratitude to the UN for its efforts to achieve sustainable development, social security and stability in the world.
The delegation, for its part, voiced delight for visiting the UAE and hailed the development witnessed by the country and achievements attained by women in various domains, thanks to the support of President His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
Early yesterday, the delegation visited Sir Bani Yas reserve, which represents an integral environmental system with a diverse wildlife. The reserve houses various specimens of flora and fauna.
The wives of the heads of their countries' mission to the UN paid tribute to Sheikh Zayed for his efforts to conserve the environment and described Sir Bani Yas Island's reserve of 250 km in size as "an environmental miracle."
The island is one of the largest reserves in the region and was developed at the directives of Sheikh Zayed. It is habitat for rare species of birds and wild animals including the llama, african ostriches, ducks and giraffes and other endangered animals as well as millions of trees.
As the part of the programme organised by the GWU for the delegation, the eminent ladies attended the graduation ceremony of the biggest batch ever of Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) graduates which was held on Wednesday.
They also visited a number of educational and women institutions which stand out as hallmarks of the educational achievements made by the UAE.
A familiarisation tour was organised for the delegation in the capital to acquaint themselves with the conspicuous landmarks in Abu Dhabi and also in Dubai, where they visited the Burj Al Arab.
Earlier, in a statement on the International Day for Solidarity with Women which falls today, Sheikha Fatima voiced her concern over "flagrant violations of women's rights" particularly at times of disaster and crisis.
"Women's suffering is a result of wars and conflicts that has given rise to a tragic state of affairs with women being the most prone to it," Sheikha Fatima said.
She called for the need for regional and international efforts in support of women, lauding UAE's moves in this regard especially through the set up, at the directives of the UAE's President, of a fund to assist women refugees.
"We look forward to the day when women will bid farewell, once and for all, to poverty, diseases and illiteracy," she noted.
Sheikha Fatima further commended the role by UAE's women in humanitarian and charity fields, saying they were among the first to extend a helping hand to the victims in Palestine, Afghanistan and Kosovo.
"The attention and care President His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan gives to women in the UAE has enabled them to attain great accomplishments, making them more distinguished and influential at local, regional and international arenas," she maintained.
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