Sharjah: The efforts of the UAE in empowering women are exemplary, said Shaikha Jawaher Bint Mohammad Al Qasimi, wife of His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and Chairperson of NAMA Women Advancement Establishment (NAMA), on the occasion of International Women’s Day.
Women’s contributions in social, economic, educational and cultural fields have become a catalyst for the nation’s development at both regional and international levels, she said.
Shaikha Jawaher noted that Emirati women have always been respected and appreciated based on the values of Islamic laws and traditions of the Arab world, which have made them assume greater responsibilities at home, work and society. Emirati women constitute about half of the total labour force in the UAE, two-thirds of whom hold positions in the government sector, she said.
“The UAE’s pioneering experience is an incentive for women around the world to continue their efforts, enhance their contributions and develop their participation in various sectors to help shape the future of their communities and countries. Doing so will ensure they have access to the resources that will help them prove themselves and become effective contributors in professional, personal and societal fronts.”
The International Women’s Day should not just be a festive occasion limited to offering speeches, theoretical support and praise for women’s achievements, but should be seized as an opportunity to renew global support for them by opening new avenues of empowerment, Shaikha Jawaher said. This will help them harness their talents and abilities in diverse fields in new and innovative ways. It should be a day to effectively recognise that equality of opportunity is not an option anymore — it’s an objective that must be fulfilled in the UAE, the larger Arab world and internationally to ensure the continuity of civilisational progress.
She called on women in the UAE and other countries around the world to keep persevering and exert more efforts than ever before to establish their unique presence and leadership in local, regional and international institutions. A woman’s success permeates through nations, uplifting all levels of society, she added.
