Sheikha Fatima work towards women's empowerment in the country is exemplary: Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi

Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs has paid rich tributes to H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union (GWU), Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF) and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood for her pioneering efforts towards women's empowerment in the country.

She said that the UAE is the happiest Arab nation and its women are among the most empowered in the region, which is a clear testimony to the success of the mission Her Highness took up at the time of UAE’s establishment.

In an opinion piece published today in the Gulf News, Al Kaabi said that the ‘Mother of the Nation’ Festival, held in Abu Dhabi over the past few days to pay tribute to H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak is truly historic for several reasons.

"First of all, an entire nation united in gratitude for the immense contributions made by a living person is rare in the annals of nation states. Second, the person thus honoured being a symbol and paragon of munificence and empowered womanhood is in itself unprecedented. Third, the contributions made by the honouree are not a matter of vague abstractions, but of tangible and measurable achievements for which her country continues to receive rich praise across the world," she wrote.

Al Kaabi continued, "Last, but not the least, the historically rare epithet ‘mother of the nation’ for Sheikha Fatima is reflective of a national mindset that not only values the multiple functions and meanings associated with femininity and motherhood, but also captures the essence of a country in which the empowerment of women is not a hollow slogan but a verifiable fact that permeates every sphere of public life. The uniqueness of the UAE’s illustrious track record in women’s empowerment must be reiterated here: the country was able to usher its tremendously talented womenfolk into all spheres of public life without jettisoning its glorious traditions and time-tested heritage."

The Minister added that Sheikha Fatima has dedicated herself to the noble task of nurturing both the women and children of the UAE for their larger roles. "The establishment of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood in 2003 under her astute leadership was a visionary step in the direction of focusing attention on identifying and nurturing the competencies and capabilities of UAE women.

"Later, such societies were established in other emirates too; all of them worked in unison to coordinate their efforts and goals. Headed by Sheikha Fatima, the General Women’s Union of the UAE was established on August 27th, 1975," she explained.

Al Kaabi went on to remind that eight women, including a 22-year-old minister for youth affairs, hold ministerial positions in the UAE Cabinet. "On a personal note, I must add here that but for the efforts of Sheikha Fatima in empowering women in all walks of life, I, or for that matter my other female colleagues in the cabinet, would not have been where we are today," she confessed.

"Women constitute 20 per cent of the UAE’s Federal National Council. The Speaker of the Federal National Council is a woman. Three of the UAE’s ambassadors, one consul general and the UAE’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York are all women. Four women have been appointed judges, two as public prosecutors and 17 as assistant public prosecutors and marriage officials. Women constitute 66 per cent of the public sector workforce, with 30 per cent in senior and decision-making positions. 95 per cent of female high-school graduates pursue further education at tertiary-level institutions. Women constitute almost two-thirds of students attending government universities and over half at private tertiary-level institutions. 46 per cent of the country’s graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) are women," the Minister said.

Source:WAM