UAE | Government
UN agency to support female candidates in FNC elections
Female candidates in the upcoming Federal National Council (FNC) elections will receive the support and advice of the United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) human development and gender programme.
- By Rania Habib, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:00 November 4, 2006
- Image Credit:
Abu Dhabi: Female candidates in the upcoming Federal National Council (FNC) elections will receive the support and advice of the United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) human development and gender programme.
"Our role is to support the candidates technically and advise them," said Ruba Yousuf Al Hassan, UNDP programme analyst, on the sidelines of a series of seminars aimed at training and introducing Electoral College members to the election process, regulations and by-laws.
Out of 6,689 members of the electoral college, about 1,100 are women. Dr Anwar Gargash, State Minister for FNC Affairs, has guaranteed that women would be included in the parliament by way of appointment by the government.
"Both the UNDP and the International Parliamentary Union (IPU) are impressed and encouraged by the fact that women will be taking part in the elections," said Ruba.
"While it's great that women will be included in the FNC no matter what, I would love for women to actually be elected. It would mean a lot for the work on gender development, and it would show trust and belief in women's capabilities."
Ruba said while women have been active in private spheres, they are more rarely involved publicly.
"The only way women can stand at equal level with men is to network, to cooperate and to learn from each other. Other countries, some in the region, have done this before us, so we can learn lessons from them."
"Her Highness Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairperson of the UAE General Women's Union, has given her full support to women in the upcoming elections, and her support has emotionally triggered women to take part," she said.
"Government and leadership support is critical, and we are so glad that Shaikha Fatima is behind this."
According to Ruba, the IPU's goal is to see a 50-50 gender membership in parliament in all countries. Currently, 1 in 6 parliament members are women (international average.)
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