Landmark UAE plan on empowerment of women

Rasha Abubaker and Rola Alghoul, WAM

Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, on Tuesday launched the UAE National Action Plan for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.

The landmark launch is the first for a GCC country and signifies the UAE’s commitment to advancing the role of women, peace and security.

The percentage of foreign aid allocated to the empowerment and protection of women and girls increased during 2021. The UAE believes that this goal, achieving gender equality and empowering and protecting women and girls, is consistent with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Dr. Mouza Al Shehhi, Director of the UN Women Liaison Office for the GCC, commented, “UN Women welcomes the UAE government’s commitment to the women, peace, and security agenda. With this important launch of the UAE National Plan, the efforts of all government agencies and stakeholders are centralised and streamlined according to a specific methodology and agreed frameworks.

“This stimulates strong outcomes that support the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women and Peace and security, which urged all member states to implement National Action Plans (NAPs) to accelerate the efforts of all countries in empowering women in peace and security.

“Today, we are pleased that the UAE has joined the ranks of countries that launch national plans to support this important agenda. The UAE National Action Plan will enhance the role of the UAE as a pioneering country in the field of peace and security, especially through capacity building. This launch is a culmination of the UAE’s commitments towards women’s political and economic empowerment, especially during the COVID-19 response and beyond.”

The UN Women values the solid and ongoing collaboration with the government of the UAE, which resulted in many successful projects and initiatives, perhaps the most prominent of which is the Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Women, Peace and Security Initiative, she said. “It is a pioneering training programme that builds capacities to advance this important agenda, directly supports the objectives of the UAE National Plan, and increasing efficiency in responding to the needs of women, not only in the UAE, but also around the world.

Officials from the National entities involved in the launch of the UAE National Action Plan for the implementation of UNSCR Resolution 1325 said the that plan brings new momentum for advancing the agenda of women, peace, and security at the regional and global levels, reflecting the UAE’s commitment to achieve equality in peace and security.

With this launch, the UAE joins 84 nations which all launched national plans in support of the women, peace and security agenda which is gaining worldwide recognition as a global priority.

Commenting on the launch, Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, remarked, “As the first Gulf country to develop a National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security, the UAE has reaffirmed the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, peace negotiations, peace-building, peacekeeping, humanitarian response and in post-conflict reconstruction.”

“The successful development of the National Action Plan reflects the belief of the UAE leadership in the concepts of justice and equality and fundamental respect for human rights. In strengthening internationally recognised standards for peacemaking and conflict resolution under the NAP, the UAE aims to contribute to global discourse and action on women’s participation in government and society,” she noted.

In turn, Matar Salem Al Dhaheri, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, said that the UAE’s plan affirms the country’s support for the empowerment of women in all sectors, and the effective contribution and consolidation of their role in maintaining security and peace.

The UAE National plan will contribute to preparing women in the local military field, but also in many international initiatives in various areas of policymaking, which guarantee women’s rights in conflict and war zones, and their participation in the drafting of laws and peace negotiations that guarantee their rights and that of their families.

Judge Dr. Saeed Ali Bahbouh Al Naqbi, Acting Undersecretary of the Ministry of Justice, said that the ministry is actively participating in supporting and empowering women in the peace and security sectors, pointing out that women in the UAE are effectively half of society, as they work side by side with men in all areas of life without exception. He added that the founders of the UAE fully believed in these values that are safeguarded by the constitution, which upholds the principle of equality between women and men.

Mona Ghanem Al Marri, Vice President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, said that the gender balance successes achieved by the UAE globally are built on constructive collaboration between all ministries and government agencies at a state level, led by the vision of its wise leadership and its directives for the UAE to be at the forefront in all fields with a positive and effective contribution to international efforts.

The plan, which is coordinated by the General Women’s Union, is testament to this collaboration, she noted, adding that the UAE Gender Balance Council is keen to contribute effectively to these integrated national efforts to fulfil the UAE’s commitments globally, through new initiatives in addition to fruitful partnerships, locally and internationally.

Mohammed Saeed Al Niyadi, Director-General of the General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Endowments, said that the UAE plan will contribute to advancing the agenda for women, peace, and security at the regional and global levels, noting that the authority supports all efforts, initiatives and directives that call for the adoption of national policies and programs that integrate women’s needs in various fields.

Major Dr. Amal Sabah Qambar, Chair of the Specialised Coordination Committee of the Women’s Police, said that the Ministry is working within an integrated governmental work system to ensure that women occupy a special importance in the areas of achieving security, stability, peace, and police work at all levels, through strengthening legislation and adopting supportive initiatives. Among them is the active participation in the formulation and implementation of the national strategy for the empowerment of women in security and peace, which was launched by the General Women’s Union.

14 national entities including federal, local and civil society institutions participated in the preparation of the UAE National Action Plan, including the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Health and Community Protection, the Ministry of Culture and Youth, the Ministry of Education, the General Women’s Union, the Islamic Affairs and Endowments Authority, The National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority, the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, the Federal National Council, and the UAE Gender Balance Council, with technical support from the UN Women Liaison Office for the GCC.