Seminar on challenges facing women

Dubai: The Press Club held a seminar on Thursday on the horizons and challenges facing women in the first electoral experience in the country.

There has been a growing interest in the polls by women with 65 standing for election to the national assembly. They include 14 in Abu Dhabi, 15 in Dubai, 29 in Sharjah, three in Ras Al Khaimah, two in Ajman, one in Umm Al Quwain and one in Fujairah.

The seminar focused on topical issues related to the first electoral experience for women in the UAE. Speakers included Dr Habib Al Mulla, Chairman, Dubai Financial Services Authority; Aisha Sultan, writer and Dr Ibtisam Al Ketbi, Political Science Lecturer at Emirates University.

The seminar was moderated by Faten Azzam, Managing Editor of Arwa Magazine.

The 35th anniversary of UAE is marked by elections to the Federal National Council (FNC). Fifty per cent of the FNC members will be elected through an Electoral College in every emirate. The elections would take place over three days from today; the second day is on December 18 and the third on December 20.

The proportion of male candidates is 85.75 per cent of the total number of people standing for election, while the proportion of female candidates is 14.25 per cent.