UAE Gender Balance Council Active at UN Women’s Commission Session
New York, The Gulf Observer: The UAE Gender Balance Council made significant contributions to discussions during the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York. Their participation included key meetings such as the UN Security Council session and a joint session on women’s empowerment in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, highlighting the nation’s commitment to global gender equality efforts.
Under the directives of H.H. Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, the council actively engaged in various sessions to strengthen global partnerships. These efforts align with the broader agenda of accelerating the achievement of the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 5, dedicated to empowering all women and girls.
Mona Al Marri, Vice President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, participated in a UN Security Council Arria-Formula meeting focused on enhancing cooperation between the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Women, Peace, and Security Framework. Al Marri underscored the UAE’s commitment to leveraging international frameworks to safeguard women’s rights and enhance their participation in all sectors.
Al Marri highlighted the UAE’s contributions to international efforts, including its chairmanship of the Security Council Informal Experts Group on Women, Peace, and Security (IEG). The UAE successfully integrated elements of the Convention into country-specific discussions, emphasizing the importance of aligning these frameworks with the Sustainable Development Goals.
The council also participated in a high-level session on women’s empowerment in the GCC region, jointly organized by the GCC and the UAE. Al Marri emphasized the UAE’s significant advancements in gender balance, attributing much of the progress to the visionary leadership and supportive policies championed by H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak.
During the session, Al Marri highlighted the council’s achievements since its establishment in 2015, focusing on initiatives to promote gender balance across various sectors. These initiatives include policies to prevent gender-based violence, strategies for gender balance in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and a gender-responsive federal budget.
Al Marri also met with Sima Sami Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women, to explore cooperation in enhancing gender balance and overcoming challenges in advancing women’s empowerment.
The UAE’s active engagement in these discussions reaffirms its commitment to promoting gender equality globally and underscores its dedication to achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Through collaboration and dialogue, the UAE continues to drive progress towards a more inclusive and equitable world for all.
