NEW YORK: The UAE has reiterated its support for UN Women and the critical role the entity plays in leading global efforts in advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women.

In her capacity as president of the UN Women Executive Board for 2017, Lana Nusseibeh, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the UAE to the United Nations in New York, underlined the UAE’s position in her opening remarks during the board’s annual session, which convened from June 27 to 28. As president of the board, Nusseibeh was the key facilitator of the discussions.

In her speech, she said the partnership between the UAE and UN Women has resulted in the launch of a UN Women Liaison Office in Abu Dhabi under the patronage of Her Highness Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, noting that the Liaison Office will serve as the first of its kind in the region, and will undoubtedly strengthen UN Women’s work in accelerating efforts to deliver for women and girls everywhere.

Ambassador Nusseibeh also highlighted the UN’s High-Level Panel on Women’s Economic Empowerment, on which Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of State for Tolerance, served as a key member. The panel released a ground-breaking report in March 2017 which provided concrete recommendations to accelerate progress towards women’s full and equal participation. Ambassador Nusseibeh lauded the report, underlining that women’s economic empowerment is critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Nusseibeh went on to say that the UAE believes in UN Women’s ability to promote and further gender equality and women’s empowerment in the world, “As the president of the Executive Board, I can assure you of my commitment to strengthening coordination, transparency, and collaboration of UN Women’s programmes and initiatives,” she said.

The Undersecretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, thanked Nusseibeh for her dedication and engagement as president of the Executive Board and for her enthusiastic support for UN Women and the promotion of gender equality. She further praised the UAE for making UN Women its top funding priority within the UN system, underscoring its commitment to the empowerment of women around the world.

During the session, the Executive Board discussed the draft Strategic Plan for 2018-2021, which will be adopted during the board’s Second Regular Session in September 2017. The annual session also addressed UN Women’s operational efforts in Somalia, as the country undergoes state and peace building processes, in addition to UN Women’s evaluation of its strategic partnerships for gender equality and the empowerment of women.

The session concluded with the successful adoption of three decisions related to the implementation of the Strategic Plan 2014-2017, as well as the Evaluation Function of UN Women, and the Internal Audit and Investigation Activities in 2016.