2013 Annual Summit of the 'Women in Parliaments Global Forum' Dr. Amal Al Qubaisi, First Deputy Speaker of the Federal National Council (FNC), affirmed that all the achievements and gains of Emirati women, as well as their ascension to decision-making positions, were made possible by the all-encompassing vision of the UAE leadership, and the incessant support extended by H.H Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairperson of the General Women's Union (GWU), Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF) and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, who represents a model for all UAE to follow.
Women in the UAE take up 66 per cent of the public sector's jobs and over 30 per cent of leadership positions, and account for 17.5 per cent of the Federal National Council (FNC) members, Al Qubaisi told the summit adding that there are three UAE women ambassadors and four women minsters, Al Qubaisi said in her speech before the 2013 Annual Summit of the 'Women in Parliaments Global Forum' which took place between 27th-29th November 2013 at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, under the theme 'The Spirit of Women in Parliaments: Advancing Society.' Women in the UAE account for 72 per cent of students at higher education institutions while female literacy rate went up top 98 per cent, she noted Investments by UAE business women are expected to reach AED 50 billion in the next two years, Al Qubaisi further noted.
Noting that leadership today relies on qualification and skills as recent studies explained that the differences between men leaders and women leaders are not that big as long as they have the same qualifications and skills, she also called for providing opportunities for women to engage in leadership, and for combating stereotypes and gender bias against women in leadership.
This aim, according to Al Qubaisi, could be achieved when countries adopt policies to eliminate the gender gap and to establish equality between men and women through legislative and legal reforms that are backed by leaderships of relevant countries.
She also urged for eliminating negative traditions and cultural stereotypes about women through media and educational awareness programmes in order to present the true image of women as contributors and leaders.
Al Qubaisi proposed that countries pursue clearly-defined and effective media policies to promote equality between men and women in terms of development as well as the ascension of women to power.
The effort, according to Al Qubaisi, would also include the adoption of legislative policies by political parties and parliaments in order to guarantee women's effective political participation and contribution to the process of development in their respective countries.
The WIP Annual Summit is the first time that all female parliamentarians in the world are invited to gather in a unique conference. Participants from more than 100 participated in WIP Annual Summit which provided an unprecedented occasion to discuss the issues on the Global Agenda from the perspective of female political leaders.
Source: WAM