Sheikha Fatima: Khalifa is continuing Zayed's march in supporting women's empowerment

Abu Dhabi (WAM): H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, GWU, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, has said that President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan is continuing the march of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan in supporting the empowerment of the U.A.E.'s women. In an interview given to Nation Shield Journal, Her Highness confirmed that the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, with his wise vision, was not only a strong supporter of women, but also their stoic defender against any injustice. He stressed that women comprise half of society, and that no country wanting to develop can do without one half. The following is Sheikha Fatima interview in full: Q. "Your Highness accompanied the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan on many occasions - how was the Founding Father's vision of U.A.E. women and of their role in progress, development of the nation?" A. "I was associated with the great Founding Father of the nation, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, during various stages of the establishment and building of the U.A.E.. I witnessed the difficulties and hardships he faced and overcame through his insight, wisdom and patience. I saw his feelings, struggle, strength of will in the face of difficulties, and his dedication and sincerity in building the State of the Union. He felt this was the way for the nation to progress and ensure happiness and a decent life for citizens. I was there for the days of joy and saw the happiness on his face at every achievement that helped to promote the march of the Union. Sheikh Zayed was not only a strong supporter of women, but also their defender against injustice. He believed that women are half the society, that no country which wants to build itself can do so without the contribution of both halves. Women's participation in community service and development is essential. He urged women to learn and encouraged them to work in positions that are commensurate with progress for them and the nation. He encouraged and supported me without limits for the advancement of women, encouraged them to learn, and structures and organisations to be established that deal with women's issues and rights. His ambitious aspirations have come true. Now women have become ministers, members of the Federal National Council, engineers, physicians, diplomats, lawyers, judges, prosecutors, professors, lecturers, officers, pilots in air defence, investors, businesswomen, and other positions in which they have proved their capacity and efficiency in work and creativity, side by side with their male counterparts. Comprehensive cultural achievements and outstanding gains continued to be achieved by women, and were reinforced under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who has achieved - along with his brother, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, U.A.E. Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, their brothers Members of the Supreme Council of Rulers of the Emirates, and H.H. Gen. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the U.A.E. Armed Forces - ambitious strategies and programmes for the empowerment of women in all fields." Q. "The General Women's Union is one of the pillars of the federal structure of the U.A.E. since its inception on August 27th, 1975. What will be the benefit of lessons learned from the success of the Women's Union to enhance the role of women in development at both regional and international levels?" A. "The establishment of the Women's Union with the unlimited support of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, constituted one of the pillars of the Federation, as well as a major turning point in the march of progress for women. This was through the enactment of regulations and laws that ensured their constitutional rights in all areas - first and foremost the right to work, education, health-care, social security, ownership, business and money-management, and equality in rights and duties with men and more. The General Women's Union worked since it was established for the advancement of Emirati women, so as to be an active and supportive force of the process of sustainable development in all fields, through the development of frameworks and foundations that regulate women's action. In this context, many strategies, programmes, vital activities, studies and research have been carried out. Most importantly, the National Strategy for the Advancement of Women, which we launched in 2002, and is one of the biggest and most prominent achievements of the Women's Union. The General Women's Union assumes a prominent place in promoting the development role of women, at both the regional and international levels, since it joined the International Women's Union, the Arab Women's Organisation, World Family Organisation, the Arab Family Organisation, and other women's regional and international organisations." Q. "In light of the experience of Your Highness, to what extent can greater awareness of women contribute to the progress and development of societies? Is there is a clear relationship between the progress of nations and communities on the one hand, and the status quo of women on the other?" A. "Education is a true measure of the progress made by states to attain success and excellence in the field of investment in human capital, including women. An educated human, man or woman, is the basis of civilisation and the axis of advancement and progress. Therefore, we have given absolute priority to education and literacy. This was initially a big challenge as there were no schools for girls in the U.A.E. before the establishment of the Union and until 1955. After establishment of the State of the Union, the education sector witnessed successive leaps by the establishment of girls' schools, women's demand for education, and the opening of hundreds of literacy centres, so we got to where we are today. The number of females in the general education schools and universities is high and the percentage of girls in university education is one of the highest in the world." Q. "Thanks to the efforts of Your Highness, Emirati women have made great strides during a relatively short period. Now they occupy important positions in all the country's sensitive agencies, and have influential roles in domains that were once only for men. They are serving as ambassadors, ministers, judges and members of the Federal National Council, and have a significant presence in the armed forces and the police. What factors have helped achieve this and how did you overcome the difficulties that you encountered during this long process?" A. "At the beginning of this long march of painstaking and diligent work, we faced many difficulties and hardships. Women's activities began in the early seventies with only four ladies. With this small number we established the first women's gathering in the U.A.E. by founding the Abu Dhabi Women Development Association in 1973. This led to the establishment of similar associations throughout the country, and those efforts culminated in the establishment of the General Women's Union which formed a major turning point in the progress of women in the U.A.E.. It was then considered an important and pioneering precedent of women's work in the Gulf region. U.A.E. women today occupy four cabinet seats in the Council of Ministers, which is one of the highest representative positions in the Arab region. They are also represented by eight women members in the Federal National Council in its current session from among its 40 members, which equals 22 percent, and this is also one of the highest percentages in terms of women's representation in parliamentary institutions. We also have the first woman to occupy the post of Permanent Representative of the State to the United Nations, and there are three women working as ambassadors in Spain, Sweden and Montenegro, and also a female Consul-General in Hong Kong. Women constitute an important component of the map of manpower in the public sector, where they occupy 66 percent of government jobs including 30 percent of higher leadership positions related to decision-making, and 15 percent of technical and academic posts. These include medicine, teaching, pharmaceutics and nursing, as well as involvement in the armed forces, police and customs. The percentage of women's participation in economic activity and the labour market has steadily increased since the establishment of the Council of Businesswomen in the country, bringing the number of enrolees in the Chambers of Commerce and Industry to 13,000 businesswomen, running more than 20,000 establishments and companies with investments exceeding Dh15 billion." Q. "One of the most prominent manifestations of the growth of political consciousness was women winning membership in the Federal National Council by election and their impressive participation in its works and activities. How do you see this development?" A. "The participation of women in politics is the most important achievement made by Emirati women in the process of empowerment. This historic step began by an initiative which I announced at an important meeting with the leadership of the Women's Action in the U.A.E. on January 8th, 1997, when I confirmed that there is nothing to prevent women from participating in political life. Then, in a meeting with representatives of six international organisations in Abu Dhabi, specifically to meet me, the late Sheikh Zayed declared his unconditional support for the initiative, stressing that, "Emirati women are full partners to men in all aspects of life, and that they have the full right in political participation and decision-making." In 2005, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, announced the programme of political empowerment, which began by conducting the first round of parliamentary elections for half the members of the Federal National Council, in which women participated for the first time as candidates and voters, which resulted in the election of the first woman in the country as a member in the parliamentary institution, and the later appointment of a further eight. Therefore the percentage of women's representation on the Council, which consisted of 40 members, reached 22.2 percent which was considered the highest rates of female representation in parliaments at the regional level. Women participated with an active and large presence in the last election in 2011 after the expansion of the constituency which also resulted in the election of one woman, and the appointment of seven more who are participating effectively in the current session of the Federal National Council. Furthermore, there was the additional election of one member, Dr. Amal Al Qubaisi, to the position of first Deputy Chairman of the Council, leading to her highly efficient management of a number of sessions." Q. "Did you think that there is a collective Arab will to improve the situation of women and children in the Arab world? Are you satisfied with things as they stand?" A. "Since its establishment, the United Arab Emirates, at the national level, has proved its commitment and keenness to protect the rights of the family, women and children in articles 15 and 16 of the Permanent Constitution. It has continually issued many laws governing this, in addition to its accession to regional and international conventions and treaties concerning protecting the rights of women and children. These include the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the International Convention on Night Work for Women, the International Convention on Minimum Age for Employment, the International Convention on the Equality of Male and Female Workers in Pay, and the International Convention for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol. The U.A.E. was quick to respond to the Universal Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Child Abuse, and has taken a number of decisions, decisive measures and preventive solutions to prevent violence against children and women. Notably, there is the establishment of departments of social protection in the concerned ministries, sections for family guidance in courts, and shelters for victims of human trafficking. There is also the launch of telephone hot-lines to protect children from abuse and violence, and other measures to ensure the protection and support of women and children who are victims of violence, abuse and human trafficking. These efforts culminated in the ratification by the Cabinet, at the end of 2012, of the Children's Protection Law bill, which ensures for all children the right to a safe life, a stable environment, constant care and protection from any risks or violations that threaten their basic rights to life, security, and expression without discrimination. Within the framework of our commitment to fight the phenomenon of domestic violence, in 2010 we established the Comprehensive Centre for the Protection of Family and Childhood." Q. "Your Highness had, and still has, a leading role in the advancement of Arab women in many areas - this is highlighted by the contribution of Your Highness in funding the construction of the Headquarters of the Arab Women Organisation in Cairo, the launch of the Sheikha Fatima Award for Distinguished Arab Women, and many other initiatives boosting the role of Arab women in so many areas. Are you satisfied with the current situation of Arab women? Do you think conditions are progressing suitably or are negatively affected by the rest of the Arab development indicators which have declined in the last few years?" A. "After achieving, in a short period, ambitious programmes for the progress of Emirati women, we did not restrict our interest to issues relating to women at the local level only. We are also interested in all Arab women's issues and have supported them in performing their roles in the service of their communities and participating in the development of their countries. Within the framework of this vision, came our contribution to the establishment of the Arab Women Organisation and supporting it by building its permanent headquarters in Cairo." Q. "While honouring Your Highness in 2011 on International Women's Day, the United Nations described you as an example for women in prudence, insight and interaction with all the developments of the era. How does Your Highness see all forms of recognition that have you received, and what are the dimensions of the global role of Your Highness in advocating women's issues in various regions and countries?" A. "What we have done has emanated from our belief that humanitarian and volunteering action is an elevated humanitarian practice that embodies a civilised behaviour because it is a symbol of fraternity, collaboration and solidarity. Our being honoured in this context by hundreds of regional and international organisations, communities and countries of the world, is a source of pride for us and for U.A.E. women. It is a great incentive that increases our commitment and responsibilities." Q. "What are the future goals that you think must be achieved? What are your most prominent future aspirations for women and children locally, regionally and globally?" A. "My ambitions for achievement of more gains for women in all fields are without limits. Our aspirations in the General Women's Union which we strive to achieve are to help women to be leaders and pioneers in the various aspects of life, to promote their role and maximise their responsibilities in the political, economic, social, educational, health, media, cultural, environmental and other fields. In this way, Emirati women should become a real active partner, and not just a participant, in the completion of the programmes and plans for sustainable development, and the achievement of progress and prosperity for the nation." Q. "Your Highness, what memories do you treasure about the Nation Shield Journal, especially because you, along with the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, are one of those who have sponsored this journal since its inception in August 1971?" A. "I have memories of the Nation Shield Journal since it was launched in August 1971, as a prominent media beacon that was followed up and supported by the founding leader, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. It played a vital role in the process of establishing and building the Union and embedding its idea and goals in the hearts of the people of the U.A.E. as well as motivating them to work to develop and make progress for the nation. I remember, in particular, the Nation Shield Journal's support of the General Women's Union, since its inception in 1975. It has always highlighted our activities, programmes and strategies for the advancement of women, and encouraged U.A.E. girls, enthusing them to join the military and participate ably in various ranks." – Emirates News Agency, WAM – Read more: