Abu Dhabi, October 18 (WAM) - Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, called for the launch of a solidarity campaign for gender equality, with the participation of GCC officials, university presidents, academics, and private sector entrepreneurs, so as to urge the community to make way for women to assume their natural roles in the work field, and take part in the nation’s development and prosperity.
In a speech delivered at the opening ceremony of the UN Women–UAE Liaison Office for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) at the General Women's Union Headquarters in Abu Dhabi this evening, in the presence of Her Excellency Dr. Amal Abdullah Al Qubaisi, President of the Federal National Council (FNC), and the United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, as well as a number of UAE senior officials, Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak stated: “We hope that this event will establish a new era of cooperation between the United Nations and the GCC countries in all women’s empowerment areas.” In a statement delivered on the behalf of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak by Her Excellency Reem Abdullah Al Falasi, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, she explained that the strategic focus of the new Liaison Office will be to develop partnerships, through the provision of advices on strengthening the position of women in the region, as well as supporting the governments of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and enhancing cooperation to ensure that a gender perspective is taken into account during the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Following is the full speech of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak: Esteemed Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women, Your Excellencies, May the peace, mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you... I would like to, first, thank you all for attending the opening ceremony of the UN Women–UAE Liaison Office for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in Abu Dhabi, which reflects your great interest in this outstanding step that will increase our cooperation with the UN in areas that would benefit women in various fields.
The United Arab Emirates considers, with all interest, the establishment of the new Liaison Office, and looks forward to the evolution of its relations with the United Nations, with respect to women’s empowerment, progress and leadership. We believe that civilized communication between peoples constitutes the way to build a peaceful world, which believes in positive dialogue, tolerance and universal humanitarian values, as well as facilitates the transfer of best practices and experiences, and helps the individuals achieve their ambitions and become more capable of understanding themselves, building their capacities, and achieving their aspirations and ambitions.
Honorable audience, The relations between the United Arab Emirates and the United Nations are witnessing a major development in general, and particularly, in the women’s empowerment area, which is due to the two parties’ useful experiences gained accordingly. In this context, we look forward to sharing the accumulated expertise of UAE women, which will reflect its impact on the status of women in the region. We have pledged before the fifty-eighth session of the CSW, UN, which was held on March 15, 2014, to continue exerting our efforts to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment in its multi-national development plans. In this respect, the UAE’s General Women’s Union (GWU) has facilitated the opening of the Liaison Office, in order for Emirati women to benefit from the UN’s issues of focus, and to support useful trends in several areas.
This was preceded by a workshop, held at the GWU Headquarters, during which the opening steps of the Liaison Office, delegation of authorities among employees and identification of objectives to be achieved for the benefit of women, were all presented. The strategic focus of the new Liaison Office will be to develop partnerships, through the provision of advices on strengthening the position of women in the region, as well as supporting the governments of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and enhancing cooperation to ensure that a gender perspective is taken into account during the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Ladies and gentlemen, We would like to stress the key role that the UN, and its concerned bodies, play in order to ensure the mainstreaming of gender equality and women empowerment practices at the international and national levels. More than once, we have reiterated the UAE’s support provided to the United Nations, with a view to consider gender equality and women’s rights and empowerment-related issues as an independent objective, which must be integrated into all of the UN’s new development aspects and objectives.
We would also like to call, after the opening of this Liaison Office, to launch a solidarity campaign for gender equality, with the participation of GCC officials, university presidents, academics, and private sector entrepreneurs, so as to urge the community to make way for women to assume their natural roles in the work field, and take part in the nation’s development and prosperity.
We also hope for the event to establish a new era of cooperation between the United Nations and the GCC countries in all women’s empowerment areas. In conclusion, I would like to thank you all for your participation in the opening ceremony of the UN Women–UAE Liaison Office for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in Abu Dhabi, which will serve as a bridge for communication with women in the GCC countries, marking a new phase of cooperation that will, undoubtedly, benefit all parties, especially Gulf women. May the peace, mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you... For her part, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women, expressed her deep appreciation towards Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak for all her support provided to women in all areas and fields.
In a speech delivered at the opening of the UN Women–UAE Liaison Office for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in Abu Dhabi, she said: “The United Nations is counting heavily on supporting women and ensuring their participation in all fields, both within the UAE and in the region.” “We look forward to building strong partnerships within the region.
We greatly appreciate the support of the UAE for this, and the increased capacity to work closely with the Gulf Cooperation Council countries,” she added. “This will be essential in making women’s empowerment a top priority in the region, while paying close attention to women graduating from universities, securing a meaningful future life for them, and ensuring their involvement in their homeland’s development and prosperity,” she affirmed. Afterwards, the audience watched a film about the General Women's Union, and the keenness and interest of the UAE wise leadership in women, under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, as well as in all available opportunities for their advancement and provision of rights, and the great role played by Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak in supporting the activities of UAE women carried out in all fields.
Sheikha Fatima, accompanied by the International Official, cut the traditional ribbon, marking the opening of the UN Women–UAE Liaison Office for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) at the GWU Headquarters in Abu Dhabi. The Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of UN Women presented a shield of appreciation to Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, in appreciation and gratitude for all her efforts exerted in supporting and enabling women to achieve their hopes and aspirations to participate in the development and prosperity of their homeland.
The opening ceremony was attended by Her Highness Sheikha Shamsa bint Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, wife of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in the Western Region, as well as Her Highness Sheikha Al Yazia bint Saif bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, wife of His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, along with Her Highness Sheikha Mariam bint Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Sheikha Sheikha bint Sorour bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Sheikha Fatima bint Sorour bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, and a number of sheikhas, women ministers, members of the Federal National Council, leaders, women’s associations, judges, prosecutors and businesswomen.
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