Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, with the advent of 2015, the year of innovation and creativity, has called for enhancing the participation of women in the development process, and providing an environment and a solid base to enable them to participate actively.
He said that the Emirati woman is able to play an active role in the sustainable development, for she is surrounded by the elements of motivation and empowerment.
Sheikh Hamdan delivered the speech on the occasion of the International Women's Day, which falls on the 8th of March each year, on which the world celebrates the social, political, and economic achievements of women.
He also pointed out that there is no doubt that the government's adoption of various programmes and projects to maintain good standard of living for women and empower them in the various spheres of life, under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has had a major role until she became an example referred to in various international forums.
The United Nations' statistics indicate that the UAE is among the world's most advanced countries in the field of women's education, and the Emirati woman has fulfilled several achievements and occupied advanced positions through the State of the Union.
He pointed out that the UAE national women are ministers, directors general, a businesswomen, athletes, ambassadors, judges, fighter jet captains, police officers, soldiers, and members of the National Council, and they finally joined the national service efficiently and effectively, and with love and trust.
Since the UAE women have exerted efforts in the development progress with an unlimited support, we must not forget to mention that many of the gains made by women were the result of the great efforts made by the "Mother of the UAE", H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union (GWU), Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF) and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, who said, "The progress achieved by the Emirati woman at all levels and in all areas is a challenge and motivation for more giving and accomplishments, and this is the secret of the great quantum leaps that have been achieved and in the field of advancement of women in the UAE".
Upon the directives of Sheikh Hamdan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the General Women's Union last December, which aimed to strengthen cooperation between the two institutions for the advancement of UAE women and their empowerment in all fields, and formulate effective mechanisms to reflect this cooperation between the two sides. Such mechanisms include the cooperation and coordination with institutions of higher education to offer advice and provide qualified researchers to participate in conducting studies, research, and surveys related to the nature of work of the Union, in response to the leaders' directives, and in line with the UAE Vision 2021.
Source: WAM