Minister stresses enhancement of economic rights of women

Dubai: "The enhancement of economic rights for women is essential to give them independent opportunity in society," said Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of Economy, quoting the World Bank on how econ-mic development for women is vital for women to achieve genuine empowerment.

"Business and entrepre-neurship empower women," said Shaikha Lubna, who pointed out that many women like to run their own businesses, since they find it difficult to perform well in a conservative workplace, while also on occasion having to leave the work force to raise a family. "Recently the number of women returning to work after their families had grown up, or managed continuing working through the process, have substantially increased" she noted.

She was talking at the opening session of the Arab International Women's Forum (AIWF) on "Powering the future", yesterday held at the Dubai International Financial Centre, DIFC.

Emphasis

The gathering of women in business emphasised the social importance of women having their independent economic life.

The drive to increase the number of women in the region's workforce is essential to achieve social justice and equality of opportunity, but it also is an economic imperative.

The Arab region needs to create around 100 million jobs by 2020, and with a total population in the region standing at around 300 million, the participation of women in the economy to achieve the economic targets is vital, said Haifa Al Kaylani, chairperson of the AIWF.

Achievements

Despite the massive challenges that women face in the workplace in the Arabian Gulf, a lot has been achieved since the 2002 UN Development Report which focused on the poor situation women faced in the Arab world, said Dr Omar Bin Sulai-man, governor of DIFC, the sole male speaker in the opening session.

"We need to change the international image of the Arab world to reflect what is actually happening," said Bin Sulaiman.

"We have failed to publicise worldwide the success of Arab women in shattering the glass ceilings," noting that UAE women fill two cabinet positions, nine FNC members, and 10 per cent of the country's diplomatic service, adding that in the civil service 30 per cent of decision makers were women.

While these examples came from the public sector, Bin Sulaiman noted that in the business arena the same development is underway, and "Arab women are starting to outperform women around the world".