On the eve of International Women’s Day, Mother of the Nation Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak has hailed the contribution of Emirati women to UAE society and highlighted their many accomplishments.
Sheikha Fatima, Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, used an address on the day of the campaign – with its message “be bold for change” – encouraged women to fulfil their ambitions.
“The late Sheikh Zayed made every possible effort to support the talents of Emirati women and to develop social conditions which encourage women’s advancement to fully participate in public life,” Sheikha Fatima said.
Sixty-six per cent of public sector employees in the UAE are women, she said, adding that these women have reached the highest positions including membership and the presidency of the Federal National Council, participation in global diplomacy and advancing roles in medicine, engineering, arts and sciences.
The Mother of the Nation also said that Emirati women account for 70 per cent of students in government tertiary-level institutions.
“The Emirates is one of the few countries in the world where the literacy rate of women is higher than that of men,” she said.
Sheikh Fatima also encouraged women to continue working to fulfil their ambitions in the public and private sector, emphasising that “women are able to achieve significant success in all fields”.
She called for concerted efforts to improve humanitarian conditions and protection for women, and confirmed the UAE’s commitment to support the empowerment of women on both the regional and global levels.
“I look forward to the day when we can celebrate International Women’s Day when all forms of discrimination and violence against women have been eliminated,” she said.
The Mother of the Nation Festival 2017 will run from March 26 April 4 on Abu Dhabi Corniche. It will attract visitors from all walks of life and introduce them to the contributions to society of Emirati women.
mmannan@thenational.ae
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4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
IF YOU GO
The flights: FlyDubai offers direct flights to Catania Airport from Dubai International Terminal 2 daily with return fares starting from Dh1,895.
The details: Access to the 2,900-metre elevation point at Mount Etna by cable car and 4x4 transport vehicle cost around €57.50 (Dh248) per adult. Entry into Teatro Greco costs €10 (Dh43). For more go to www.visitsicily.info
Where to stay: Hilton Giardini Naxos offers beachfront access and accessible to Taormina and Mount Etna. Rooms start from around €130 (Dh561) per night, including taxes.
Step by step
2070km to run
38 days
273,600 calories consumed
28kg of fruit
40kg of vegetables
45 pairs of running shoes
1 yoga matt
1 oxygen chamber
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The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.
The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.
“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.
“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”
Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.
Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.
“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.
'Gehraiyaan'
Director:Shakun Batra
Stars:Deepika Padukone, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Ananya Panday, Dhairya Karwa
Rating: 4/5