Dubai hosts UN talks on women’s economic empowerment

Mona Al Marri, vice president of the UAE Gender Balance Council, said the UAE has approximately 23,000 businesswomen running investments estimated at Dh50 billion.

Mona Al Marri, the UAE Gender Balance Council's vice president, said the UAE has about 23,000 businesswomen running investments worth Dh50 billion. Wam

DUBAI // The economic challenges facing women today and the means of solving them were discussed by a United Nations-led forum in Dubai on Monday.

Discussions ranged from promotion of positive role models, ensuring legal protection and raising awareness of women’s rights.

Sheikh Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of State for Tolerance, said the UAE was committed to empowering women and encouraging them to take part in the economy.

“The [National Strategy for Empowerment of Emirati Women 2015-2021] aims to provide a general framework for all federal and local government, private sector, as well as civil society organisations, to set work plans and programmes so as to provide a decent living for women and make them creative in all sustainable and developmental fields,” she said.

The UAE Gender Balance Council hosted the event for the first time in the Middle East and North Africa.

Mona Al Marri, the council’s vice president, said the UAE has about 23,000 businesswomen running investments worth Dh50 billion.

Luis Guillermo Solis, president of Costa Rica and co-chairman of the panel, said women’s economic empowerment is a matter that commands attention worldwide and he added that despite reforms the subject has not been properly addressed.

He said that governments must be a part of this effort to bring sustainability to the future.

Simona Scarpaleggia, chief executive of Ikea Switzerland and co-chairwoman of the panel, said the economic empowerment of women is a fundamental requirement in society.

“I want to thank for the commitment and hard work, and let me share the appreciate for the UAE Gender Balance Council and the country for the great progress,” she said.

Women in the UAE make up 66 per cent of the public sector workforce, of which 30 per cent are in leadership roles.​

Issues raised at yesterday’s event – the UN Secretary General’s High-Level Panel on Women’s Economic Empowerment – will form a report to be released next month.