Sharjah: Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, will deliver the keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the second edition of the ‘Investing in the Future’ (IIFMENA) Conference in Sharjah.

The conference, to be held in Sharjah on October 19-20, is being organised by the Big Heart Foundation, a Sharjah-based humanitarian organisation, in collaboration with the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, also known as UN Women.

The conference will focus on economic and social‎development of women and young girls, with a special highlight on the rights of young girls. It will bring together government officials, representatives of international organisations and non-governmental organisations, advocates of gender equality, academics, media personalities and experts to review the key issues that contribute to full empowerment of women for a safe and stable society.

“Our participation in this conference stems from our commitment to fuel women empowerment and our belief in the integral role that women play in economic development and the advancement of society. The progress of any society is dependent upon the degree of cultural and social development of its women and their active participation in building communities,” said Shaikh Abdullah.

He added that a society that believes in the influential role of women and works to fully engage them in all spheres of life is one that has reached an advanced level of human consciousness. This is something that invariably has positive results on its economic and cultural progress, its stability and its security.

Shaikh Abdullah’s participation in IIFMENA, which is held under the theme ‘Building the Resilience of Women and Girls in the Arab Region’ this edition, will enrich the conference due to the great personal attention he has paid to the support and empowerment of women.

The conference will feature a number of key speakers and academic experts in the field of gender politics who will review and discuss the progress achieved by women in the Mena region. The ultimate aim of the event is to create a sustainable approach to development through the formulation of a roadmap towards an integrated package of humanitarian programmes that maintain the capacities of women and girls.

It is being held under the patronage of His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and his wife, Shaikha Jawaher Bint Mohammad Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Big Heart Foundation, UNHCR Eminent Advocate for Refugee Children and Chairperson of NAMA Women Advancement Establishment.