Gender equality, despite many efforts, is nowhere near as all-encompassing as it ought to be. We live in a time in which human rights are unevenly distributed. In some societies with particularly extreme disparities, girls are not allowed to go to school or even leave the home. Despite sobering global realities, however, there are also noteworthy and consistent efforts under way to support the cause of women.
To this end, a two-day Global Women's Forum is being held in Dubai this week. In the lead up to it, Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed, President of the Gender Balance Council and the Dubai Women Establishment, praised the contributions of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Mother of the Nation, in promoting women's empowerment in the UAE.
At the highest levels of governance, the UAE has been walking the walk in championing women's empowerment for years. In 2018, a formal directive was passed allocating 50 per cent of seats on the Federal National Council to women. Of the country's ministers, 29 per cent are women.
Considering that the FNC's main job is to assess draft laws and pass, amend or reject them, it is important for women to have a seat at that table and use their judgment and influence to chart a path forward for the nation. This balanced composition is relatively rare in the world – in only six countries, including the Emirates, are at least half of members women.
Women have been on boards of companies in the UAE for decades. Their proactive role in business and governance goes beyond mere tokenism. It’s undeniable that the participation of women in fields earlier dominated by men is gradually changing. Just one example is Nora Al Matrooshi, the first female Emirati astronaut. She was one of the speakers at this year’s Global Women's Forum.
With 4,000 participants and more than 250 speakers from 65 countries, the Forum heard on the first day from Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed, chairwoman of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, who spoke of the power and role of Arab women throughout history.
Emine Erdogan, Turkey's first lady, gave one of the keynote speeches, highlighting the importance of female leadership in advocating for women’s rights. Other high-profile guests over two days included Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, a Pakistani politician and daughter of the country's President Asif Ali Zardari, and Iceland's former first lady, Eliza Reid.
All the speakers at the event, most of them women, know the challenges that are yet to be overcome to achieve a gender-equal world, be it in politics, governance, the arts or technology and business. Their experiences are a sliver of a broader reality.
The wide-ranging backgrounds of women in the global workforce underline what they bring to the table – including diversity of viewpoints, perspective and vastly different experiences – not just from men but from one another. These are advantages that in any field make for better, more informed decision-making.
In any country in the world, women's participation and inclusion in all areas of the workforce is necessary for any modern society to stay on the path of progress.
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1,800m
1,400m
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 247hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 370Nm from 1,500-3,500rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 7.8L/100km
Price: from Dh94,900
On sale: now
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MATCH INFO
Real Madrid 2
Vinicius Junior (71') Mariano (90 2')
Barcelona 0
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
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COMPANY PROFILE
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The specs: 2019 Mercedes-Benz C200 Coupe
Price, base: Dh201,153
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 204hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 300Nm @ 1,600rpm
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The biog
Born: Kuwait in 1986
Family: She is the youngest of seven siblings
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Hobbies: audiobooks and fitness: she works out every day, enjoying kickboxing and basketball
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National Editorial: Suleimani has been killed, now we must de-escalate
Mina Al Oraibi: Air strike casts a long shadow over the decade ahead
Matthew Levitt: Iran retains its ability to launch terror attacks
Damien McElroy: A CEO tasked with spreading Iran's influence
Hussein Ibish: Trump's order on solid constitutional ground
Simon Waldman: Cautious Israel keeping a low profile
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• Could the UAE drive India's economy?
• News has a bright future and the UAE is at the heart of it
• Architecture is over - here's cybertecture
• The National announces Future of News journalism competition
• Round up: Experts share their visions of the world to come
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Mina Al Oraibi: Air strike casts a long shadow over the decade ahead
Jack Moore: Why the assassination is such a monumental gamble
Matthew Levitt: Iran retains its ability to launch terror attacks
Damien McElroy: A CEO tasked with spreading Iran's influence
Hussein Ibish: Trump's order on solid constitutional ground
Simon Waldman: Cautious Israel keeping a low profile
Rashmee Roshan Lall: Sound of silence in South Asia
Fanar Haddad: The Iranian response will be gradual
Plastic tipping point
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- Alistair Burt: Despite Brexit, Britain can remain a world power
- Sam Williams: Departure is influenced by its sense of place
