Arab First Ladies speak up for women

Abu Dhabi: First Ladies of the Arab world on Tuesday closed ranks in calling for greater awareness and efforts to help protect women's rights.

They were speaking at the second Arab Women's Conference, which began on Tuesday in the capital.

The three-day high-profile gathering is being hosted by the UAE at the Emirates Palace Hotel under the theme "Women and Human Security: An Arab and International Perspective".

The conference is being held under the patronage of Her Highness Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, chairperson of the UAE General Women's Union and President of the Arab Women's Organisation.

In her inaugural speech, Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, chairperson of the UAE Women's Federation, said: "The UAE takes great interest in the issue of human security and looks forward to the ideas and discussions that lie ahead on the relationship between human security and women.

"Human security is one of the newest concepts used with regard to the principles of freedom, security and development. It is an evolving concept that focuses on transforming those principles into commitments and applicable mechanisms," Shaikha Fatima, also chairperson of the UAE General Women's Union (GWU) and sup-reme chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF), told the opening session of the second Conference of the Arab Women's Organisation.

Necessary ingredients

"In this respect, human security encompasses topics like human rights, good governance, the potential for getting access to education and health care and a clean environment, the eradication of poverty and the guaranteeing of equal opportunities to individuals so that they may realise their potential."

Shaikha Sabika Bint Ebrahim Al Khalifa, First Lady of Bahrain, said: "The topic of the conference is very important and means that the organisation has reached a high level of dealing with human society to find a framework for maintaining human security."

Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan said: "In 2000 the general secretary of the UN described human security as "to be free of fear and free of need" fear of attack, killed, murdered, disease and natural disasters. Unfortunately most of the Arab world is either under occupation or what follows it and there is no freedom of fear and need is a chain

"Arab women used to be the last to eat, learn and chose especially when the facilities are rare...since the year we are working to give women their civil, political, economical, social, cultural rights and most important education and awareness. We are looking to see the new generation aware of the rights and duties through the effective tool of education."

Development challenges

Laila Bint Ali, First Lady of Tunisia, said: "Despite the considerable progress Arab women have achieved in various fields, the fact remains that Arab societies are still confronted with development challenges. In many Arab countries, illiteracy rates are high, reaching over 40 per cent for women."

Asma Al Assad, First Lady of Syria, said: "Since the beginning of the 20th century, women in the Arab world have been steadily defining their role and contribution in our societies. Their efforts have intensified in recent times, but the objective has always reminded the same - a progressive society, where citizens, have access to equal opportunities and live without discrimination. The objective is not to carve out a new or different role for women, rather to ensure that their contribution is recognised and optimised. For our societies in the Arab world, this must result in a commitment to our nation's security, stability and prosperity."

Wedad Abu Baker, First Lady of Sudan, said: "We are in deep need to understand clearly the concept of human security in the Arab world in order to get targets and plans that get us closer to the international community."

Most needy

Ameena Abbas, First Lady of Palestine, said: "Empowering Arab women and providing them a secure life is an important thing to develop our societies; without giving women fair life and all their rights by securing their lives and families or by having an equal opportunity as men in education and building up their independent personality, our societies will stay the same."

Suzan Mubarak, First Lady of Egypt, said: "Securing women is an important part of the concept because she is the most affected by violence and human trafficking and she suffers most in wars and refugee camps, as also in peace times she suffers ignorance and poverty and she is the most needy for development."

Latifa Al Fahad Al Salim Al Sabah, head of Women's Affairs Committee, said: "As wars and conflict spread in the world, sadly, women, children and elderly are the first victims. And time has come to gather the efforts to that and to make human enjoy peace everywhere, we are gathering today to put a clear identification for the concept of human security."

Achievers: Leading ladies

Four women in UAE Cabinet

There are now four women in the Cabinet compared to two previously, the largest number in the Arab world.

Nine out of 40 Federal National Council seats are taken by women, or 22 per cent, which is among the highest anywhere in the world's legislative bodies.

President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in his capacity as Ruler of Abu Dhabi, has also appointed Kholoud Jua'an Al Dhahiri as the first-ever female judge in the UAE.

Shaikha Najla Al Qasimi and Dr. Hussa Al Otaiba were recently named as the first two Emirati female ambassadors in the UAE's history, being appointed to Sweden and Spain respectively.

UAE women now account for 66 per cent of the governmental workforce and hold 30 per cent of senior jobs at the decision-making level. They also account for 15 per cent of the teaching staff at the UAE University.

Women account for 60 per cent of the workforce in medical care, education, nursing and pharmacies. They have also joined the Armed Forces, police and customs.

Following the establishment of the Businesswomen's Council, they have also begun to make their mark in business. The Council now has 12,000 members managing 11,000 investments estimated at Dh12.5 billion.

Women now account for 37.5 per cent of the workforce in the banking sector, which is one of the pillars of the UAE economy.

- Staff report