United Nations Country Team, UNCT, in the UAE commemorates UN Day

Abu Dhabi, 18th November, 2015 (WAM) – The United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in the UAE, composed of 11 different agencies, commemorated the UN Day for this year by highlighting the strong partnership and achievements between the UAE and the UN in a reception held yesterday. The reception held at the Novetel al Bustan Hotel in Abu Dhabi was attended by high level guests from the UAE government, ambassadors, media personnel and UN partners. During the reception, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in the UAE, Mr. Frode Mauring said in his speech, ‘There have been many milestones along the way, and numerous achievements for the UN. Highest of which is the continued collaboration and contribution of great nations like the United Arab Emirates, which makes our efforts possible which created it for us opportunities to better serve the world". Meanwhile, in his address at the reception, Haza’a Al Qahtani, Undersecretary of the Ministry of International Cooperation and Development, spoke on behalf of Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of International Cooperation and Development. He said: ‘The UN and the UAE have successfully worked together over the years, including providing support to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees as well as with UNICEF to help battle malnutrition among Syrian children affected by the ongoing crisis. I look forward to gradually increasing our involvement with the United Nations in a predictable and impactful manner over the coming years. " Speaking of the recent adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) ‘Today, we have inspiring new plans to guide us – such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a promise to end poverty and to promote shared prosperity on a healthy planet to which UAE is a significant partner, ’ said Mr. Mauring. More of our work with the UAE government will be highlighted in a common UN website for all UN agencies operating in the UAE. The website will be launched by beginning of next year, he added. This was equally highlighted by Mr. Al Qahtani, saying: The UAE supports all 17 goals and is a champion for many, including ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education, achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment, and ensuring access to affordable, reliable and sustainable energy for all. The UAE’s commitment to the SDGs can be seen across the world, including at solar power plants in the Pacific Islands, at hospitals in Pakistan and schools across the world, including Somalia and Philippine " This year’s UN Day, which is held on the 24th of October, is a celebration of the 70th anniversary of the entry into force of the U.N. Charter in 1945 and is celebrated as U.N. Day. On the occasion of UN Day with the theme ‘Strong UN. Better World’, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon released a message on UN Day. In which he noted that the UN Charter was written "deliberately, in the voice, not of governments, but of 'we the peoples,'" adding that it was a Charter for everyone, particularly the poor, the vulnerable and the marginalised. He called on the General Assembly to "unite our strength" and serve "we the peoples," as the 193-member body adopted by consensus a resolution declaring a recommitment to the aims and principles of the UN Charter. UAE joined the UN 9th of December 1971, a mere week after the union’s inception. Since then, the UAE’s role in the UN has grown in importance and significance. From a developing nation to a developed provider of immense logistical, financial and increasingly substantive contributor to the Global UN efforts. The reception was concluded with a speech from Ms. Hind Al Owais, the first Emirati woman working with the UN at its headquarter in New York, delivered her speech through a video message. Ms. Al Owais is appointed as a senior UN advisor with UN Women. This is yet another example on how the UAE is making women a pillar in the country’s ‘Strategic Plan to Develop Diversity’. On 7 September 2015, she became the first Emirati woman appointed as a Senior Advisor working in the office of the Deputy Executive Director, Lakshmi Puri, Assistant Secretary-General for Intergovernmental Support and Strategic Partnerships, at the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. Ms. Al Owais said: ‘On this occasion, I am particularly proud to be part of the strong and growing partnership between the United Arab Emirates and the United Nations as we work together to address the greatest challenges of humanity and as the first UAE national to join the UN family, I am proud to have been able to become a staff member of UN Women. Joining the UN has been part of a strategic recognition of the need to maintain and continually increase diverse voices, effectively ensuring that various regional perspectives and views are taken into consideration in the policy development.’ She added that ‘As we mark UN day today, we are also marking a historic year in the UN’s history, in particular for gender equality and women’s empowerment, which became centrally reflected in the 2030 agenda for sustainable development. We recognise the UAE’s role in supporting the objectives of UN Women throughout all processes this year.’ During her video message at the reception, she announced: ‘We are also looking forward to next year and the establishment of the UN Women Liaison Office in UAE to further boost our capacity, to work closely with the General Women’s Union to deliver practical results, not only for the UAE, but for the region as a whole’. The United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in the UAE is celebrating UN Week this year by holding a reception highlighting the strong partnership it has with the UAE, particularly through the Ministry of International Cooperation and Development. Then there is the week-long lectures in different universities in the UAE aiming to increase awareness of the UN and the active role the UAE is playing. The lectures will provide awareness to students about the work of the UN in the UAE, which according to Mr. Mauring is not fully known to the public in the UAE. For this, the UNCT will soon launch a website whereby all their work, achievements, work, and publications will be displayed for public, he announced during the reception. – Emirates News Agency, WAM -http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395288135743.html