Abu Dhabi: In line with the directives of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the Cabinet approved a decision to establish the UAE Gender Balance Council, to enhance the role of UAE women in all fields of work and contribute to backing the UAE’s status locally and internationally.
The establishment of the council aims to reduce the gap between the sexes at work in all sectors of the state, to achieve gender balance in decision-making, and strengthen the position of the UAE in Global Competitiveness reports in the area of gender gaps in the workplace, in addition to considering the UAE a reference for gender balance at work
It is chaired by Shaikha Manal Bint Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, president of the Dubai Women’s Establishment (DWE), while the Council’s membership includes Noora Al Suwaidi, Director of General Women Union, Reem Al Falasi, Secretary-General of Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, Mona Al Merri, Executive Director of DWE, Abdullah Nasser Lootah, Secretary-General of Emirates Competitiveness Council, along with representatives from the ministries of Presidential Affairs, Cabinet Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Economy, Social Affairs, Labour and Federal Authority for Government Human Resources.
The formation of the Council comes within the framework of the efforts of the UAE government to strengthen its position both domestically and internationally, and to strengthen the role of women in all walks of life, being essential partners in the making of the future to achieve sustainable development in line with the nation’s directives.
The Council will carry out several functions, including review of legislation, policies and programmes to achieve gender balance in the workplace, and to recommend activating international resolutions and agreements pertaining to gender balance in the workplace in order to avoid discrimination against women.