ABU DHABI // With the right support and training, women will go on to greater achievements for the country, experts said at a discussion.
As part of the Emirati Women’s Day celebrations, a panel of successful Emirati women met at the General Women’s Union to speak about their accomplishments and how other women could follow them.
Dr Fatima Al Shamsi, a deputy vice chancellor at Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, said women’s achievements had been as a result of increased education, making women a pillar in the country’s strategy and planning.
She believed, however, that more work was needed “because the numbers of achievements are still low in comparison with global numbers”.
She acknowledged that there were obstacles to overcome, especially for working mothers.
She said that the right working environment for mothers was still not provided by all companies and that there were often no nearby or in-house nurseries for their children.
“Education institutes must link the requirements of the knowledge-based economy and companies must provide proper training and jobs that match the requirement,” she said. “The youth should also be trained on technology and how to have leadership skills.
“The notion of women’s empowerment must be explained to men. The role of women in the workplace must be understood by them because most leading positions in companies are held by males.”
Maj Latifa Al Zaidi, an Armed Forces pilot and engineer, said she had witnessed the development of women’s roles in the military in the past 25 years.
“It all started in Khawla bint Al Azwar School in 1990, where at the time women were trained to help in the Gulf War,” she said.
“We now have roles in medicine, missions, rehabilitation, aid and aviation. These advances were down to well-planned strategies by the country’s leaders. In 25 years, we have developed greatly and we are all ready to fight for our nation’s land, sea and sky.”
First Lt Asma Al Mulla, a platoon leader and trainer of female recruits, said National Service had been very popular among women, and two batches had already graduated.
“The aim of military training is to develop the sense of cooperation and security and to have the girls know of military values and skills,” she said. “The training gives girls skills in life as well as in military use.
“My message to parents is to instil the values of love and loyalty in their children amid the unstable circumstances in the region to preserve the gains and to continue developing as a nation.”
Maj Amna Al Bloushi, president of the Women’s Police Association, said women played a vital role in the police force.
“Having women in the workforce is necessary for areas in which women can be productive and creative, such as the Social Support Centre and the community police,” she said.
Maj Al Bloushi said, thanks to the encouragement of the country’s leaders, there were 13,000 female Emiratis working for the police.
Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, dedicated the first Emirati Women’s Day to the mothers of the nation’s servicemen who have died in the line of duty.
“We also dedicate it to the women in military service who left the life of comfort and luxury to protect their country and to see its flag flying high,” she said, in a speech read on her behalf by Reem Al Falasi, secretary-general of the motherhood council.
Sheikha Fatima urged Emirati women to maintain the achievements they have made and to work harder towards more progress and empowerment.
“I also urge Emirati women to actively participate in the upcoming Federal National Council elections, in order to play an effective role in the next legislative chapter,” she said.
aalkhoori@thenational.ae
