Dubai: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced the forming of the UAE Gender Balance Council, a federal entity chaired by the President of Dubai Women Establishment, Shaikha Manal Bint Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Wife of Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.
Shaikh Mohammad made this announcement while visiting the ‘Toward Gender Balance in Governments’ plenary session on day two of the summit. He expressed his pride in the UAE hosting this inductive dialogue on one of the most important issues concerning women and contributing to granting her equal rights as an equal partner.
The new body aims to boost UAE’s efforts to evolve and enhance women’s role as key partners in building the future of the nation.
Expressing her profound appreciation for his unlimited support, Shaikha Manal said that Shaikh Mohammad has always been a strong defender of women’s rights, believed in her capabilities and viewed her as original element in UAE’s formula for development.
The success of Emirati women, said Shaikha Manal, is the result of Shaikh Zayed’s nurturing of the UAE and the fruit of the efforts of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Shaikh Mohammad.
Equity between genders, she said, is a key element for societies’ success and prosperity and a prerequisite to achieve happiness, security and stability of its members. “The impact of a significant female presence in leadership roles has wide-ranging benefits on the economy, on governance, and on society at large. The UAE has always worked to dismantle barriers that create tension between the genders. We have a great opportunity to uncover new paths that we may walk on together.”
Shaikha Manal also lauded the endless efforts of Her Highness Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of General Women’s Union, Supreme President of Family Development Foundation and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood. She worked alongside Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and helped him shoulder the heavy responsibilities of building our nation, she said.
The session also discussed the balance between home and work, the overwhelming social and cultural patterns and the legislations related to achieving gender balance.