Women leaders 'committed to a cause'

Dubai: The country's history and traditions suggest that leaders are not only astute communicators, but are also careful listeners, said the UAE's Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research on Monday.

"Leaders are self-motivating and are committed to a cause that is larger than themselves. Leaders are dynamic and visionary, but are also compassionate and caring when dealing with those for whom they are responsible," Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and President of Zayed University, said on Monday while addressing the inaugural session of the third 'Women as Global Leaders' Conference.

Hundreds of delegates from 60 countries from different sectors including education, government and nongovernmental organisations attended the three-day Conference, which is being organised by Zayed University (ZU), at Madinat Jumeirah.

Shaikh Nahyan said leaders recognise and seek opportunities to initiate change and are able to mobilise resources to bring about change. "Most importantly, leaders are able to convince others to share their vision of the future," he stressed.

The conference themed, Learning Leadership, is being held under the patronage of Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, President of Family Development Foundation, President of General Women's Union and President of Arab Women Organisation.

"Shaikha Fatima is completely dedicated to the significance of leadership, and is committed to promoting the understanding of women as leaders: in the UAE, the region, and the world," stressed Shaikh Nahyan.

The UAE has an effective leadership at all levels of society. "Leadership that respects traditions, while the country continues to advance... leadership that values the talents and contributions of everyone and is committed to promoting peace and understanding for a better world future," he said.

"I am intrigued to note that while your conference is focused on women as leaders, you are also exploring what we know about the differences between how men and women learn to be leaders ... But I think we would all agree that in every facet of our work - in government, education, and business - men and women will always work together. And regardless of how men and women learn to become leaders, we must learn to value the leadership skills that each person brings to a situation," Shaikh Nahyan added.

Family unity

Meanwhile, the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson who spoke during the morning session stressed on family unity. Sarah, who is also a philanthropist, said a woman should communicate, compromise and be compassionate 'just like I do with my two daughters'.

She said energy and spirit of leadership are essential for a woman to be a leader. "Without school education there is no future and weapons are definitely not the future," Sarah added.

Renowned American actress and humanitarian activist Jane Fonda highlighted a number of challenges that women are still facing nowadays. "Women leaders have to become the change they seek, incubate it in our bodies ... the qualities that a woman leader should acquire are empathy, compassion, courage and passion..."

Outlook: Lebanese laws

A truly democratic society is not viable without women, and it can never advance without the participation of its women, the Lebanese Social Affairs' Minister told Gulf News on Monday.

Nayla Moawad who is also a member of Lebanon's parliament, stressed the importance of highlighting the role of women worldwide.

"We passed various laws in our parliament to advance the rights of the Lebanese woman. If there wasn't a group of democratic, open-minded men who realised that a society cannot advance without women supporting us, we would not have progressed. However, women should claim their rights and know exactly how to construct their own roles in society," Nayla added.

For her part, Haifa Al Kaylani, Chair of the Arab International Womens' Forum, said that women must assume their roles as equal citizens in society. "We have to lobby and to work within the institutional framework. We must be able to use all our resources, be it media, our networks, the private sector and as members of the society in order to bring about the change."

She added, "There is definitely a forward movement in the world and it is irreversible. We need to acknowledge that good things are happening without being complacent. . . governments are listening and they want to see women represented in local positions."