Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngucka, UN Women executive director, speaks on Thursday in Sharjah. Satish Kumar / The National
Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngucka, UN Women executive director, speaks on Thursday in Sharjah. Satish Kumar / The National

Men urged to sign up for UN’s gender equality agenda



SHARJAH // Men are being encouraged to speak up for the equality of women in the workplace, in schools, universities and at home, and to join the United Nations HeForShe campaign.

"We have reached one million men who have formally registered but we need one billion men, so come on UAE, I need you to sign up, go to the website, www.heforshe.org, and become a registered HeForShe activist," said Phumzile Mlambo-Ngucka, the executive director of UN Women, on the final day of the Big Heart Foundation-organised Investing in the Future conference in Sharjah on Thursday.

“Once we have a public launch here, we hope more people, ordinary men, individuals who are leaders, will join. This is about making a personal commitment to change your own life.

“In every country, you need more men and boys as gender activists. The more men and boys think about this issue and do something about it, you decrease the number of men opposed to gender equality. In some cases, it’s unconscious bias - they don’t even know it’s wrong. We need to start a conversation.”

Hollywood and Bollywood actors, heads of corporations and students in Iraq have signed up.

Actress Emma Watson, who starred in the Harry Potter films, launched the campaign two years ago at UN headquarters in New York, asking men to take a stand for gender equality.

Heads of companies affirming support are expected to give a strong undertaking of real change and not just verbal assurances.

“If you lead an institution we expect your leadership to be such that you influence the institution and make sure the policies and the way the institution functions supports gender equality. We expect you to make that commitment and then tell us what actions you are going to take,” said Ms Mlambo-Ngucka.

During the introduction to the initiative, when a young Emirati student asked Ms Mlambo-Ngucka about the common challenges women in the region face, the questioner and the audience were asked to express their thoughts.

After initial hesitation, hands shot up with students eager to talk about challenges they faced in school and at home.

One student said her family described as dangerous her dream of being an international politician or political analyst. An engineering student said women’s projects did not get funding, and another young girl spoke of the dominance of men in society.

“It’s a good idea because if we start talking about this at home, then maybe our brothers will also want to study hard like us and support our dreams,” said Alina, a student who asked for girls to be encouraged to study maths, science and engineering.

Several girls and their teachers named women role models in the UAE Government and private sector and spoke of supportive government announcements on women’s education and participation in public life.

The campaign also addresses violence against women, child marriage, representation of women in politics and “honour” killings.

“Real change can only happen with real dialogue in society,” said Misha Ansari, a University of Sharjah international relations student.

“We need to start thinking and talking about issues concerning women - and men do, too.”

Asking the girls and men to speak up about their ideas, Ms Mlambo-Ngucka said: “We must not accept that girls are weak. We must change the narrative that women need help. Women need opportunity, we are not a charity case. Families can start this discussion very early, so brothers can stand by their sisters.”

rtalwar@thenational.ae

Name: Peter Dicce

Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics

Favourite sport: soccer

Favourite team: Bayern Munich

Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer

Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates 

 

Where to apply

Applicants should send their completed applications - CV, covering letter, sample(s) of your work, letter of recommendation - to Nick March, Assistant Editor in Chief at The National and UAE programme administrator for the Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism, by 5pm on April 30, 2020

Please send applications to nmarch@thenational.ae and please mark the subject line as “Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism (UAE programme application)”.

The local advisory board will consider all applications and will interview a short list of candidates in Abu Dhabi in June 2020. Successful candidates will be informed before July 30, 2020. 

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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
The Details

Article 15
Produced by: Carnival Cinemas, Zee Studios
Directed by: Anubhav Sinha
Starring: Ayushmann Khurrana, Kumud Mishra, Manoj Pahwa, Sayani Gupta, Zeeshan Ayyub
Our rating: 4/5 

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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Airev
Started: September 2023
Founder: Muhammad Khalid
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: Generative AI
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
 
Match info

Who: India v Afghanistan
What: One-off Test match, Bengaluru
When: June 14 to 18
TV: OSN Sports Cricket HD, 8am starts
Online: OSN Play (subscribers only)

Miguel Cotto world titles:

WBO Light Welterweight champion - 2004-06
WBA Welterweight champion – 2006-08
WBO Welterweight champion – Feb 2009-Nov 2009
WBA Light Middleweight champion – 2010-12
WBC Middleweight champion – 2014-15
WBO Light Middleweight champion – Aug 2017-Dec 2017

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
Changing visa rules

For decades the UAE has granted two and three year visas to foreign workers, tied to their current employer. Now that's changing.

Last year, the UAE cabinet also approved providing 10-year visas to foreigners with investments in the UAE of at least Dh10 million, if non-real estate assets account for at least 60 per cent of the total. Investors can bring their spouses and children into the country.

It also approved five-year residency to owners of UAE real estate worth at least 5 million dirhams.

The government also said that leading academics, medical doctors, scientists, engineers and star students would be eligible for similar long-term visas, without the need for financial investments in the country.

The first batch - 20 finalists for the Mohammed bin Rashid Medal for Scientific Distinction.- were awarded in January and more are expected to follow.

Moon Music

Artist: Coldplay

Label: Parlophone/Atlantic

Number of tracks: 10

Rating: 3/5

The Bio

Favourite holiday destination: Either Kazakhstan or Montenegro. I’ve been involved in events in both countries and they are just stunning.

Favourite book: I am a huge of Robin Cook’s medical thrillers, which I suppose is quite apt right now. My mother introduced me to them back home in New Zealand.

Favourite film or television programme: Forrest Gump is my favourite film, that’s never been up for debate. I love watching repeats of Mash as well.

Inspiration: My late father moulded me into the man I am today. I would also say disappointment and sadness are great motivators. There are times when events have brought me to my knees but it has also made me determined not to let them get the better of me.

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

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