Abu Dhabi: Dr Amal Al Qubaisi, First Deputy Speaker of the Federal National Council (FNC), affirmed that all the achievements and gains of Emirati women, as well as their rise to decision-making positions, were made possible by the all-encompassing vision of the UAE leadership and the unwavering support extended by Her Highness Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairperson of the General Women’s Union (GWU), Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF) and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, who represents a model for UAE women to follow.
Women in the UAE take up 66 per cent of the public sector’s jobs and over 30 per cent of leadership positions, and account for 17.5 per cent of the Federal National Council (FNC) members, Al Qubaisi said adding that there are three UAE women ambassadors and four women minsters, Al Qubaisi said in her speech before the 2013 Annual Summit of the Women in Parliaments Global Forum which took place between November 27-29 at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, under the theme “The Spirit of Women in Parliaments: Advancing Society”.
Women in the UAE account for 72 per cent of students at higher education institutions while female literacy rate went up top 98 per cent, she noted.
Investments by UAE business women are expected to reach Dh50 billion in the next two years, Al Qubaisi also noted.
Noting that leadership today relies on qualification and skills, as recent studies explained that the differences between male and female leaders aren’t great, she also called for providing opportunities for women to engage in leadership, and for combating stereotypes and gender bias against women in leadership.
