ABU DHABI // A United Nations official has said that the UAE is setting an “excellent example” for other countries in the region for the empowerment of women.
Lakshmi Puri, the assistant secretary general of the UN and deputy executive director of UN Women, said that discrimination continued to prevent many Arab women from obtaining leadership positions.
“Across the region a wage gap remains between women and men. They continue to be disproportionately absent from the labour market and face discriminatory policies and practices,” said Ms Puri, on a visit to Abu Dhabi last week for the Arab-Chinese Women’s Forum.
“Much needs to be done to grant women’s control over land, finance and skills building and other productive resources.”
She applauded the efforts of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, and said the UAE was on the path of “continuous progress”.
“Remarkably, women occupy 65 per cent of the labour force in the federal Government,” Ms Puri said. “Most notably, during the first half of 2013, the number of women entrepreneurs in UAE went up to 20,000 women, with a growth of 100 per cent compared with 2011.
“The Government has policies in place which allow flexible working hours for women, and provide additional housing funds for women who are taking care of their families and childcare support at workplace.”
But she said representation in elected bodies in the Arab region was among the lowest globally, with women occupying only 16.1 per cent of seats in parliaments, compared with the world average of 22.1 per cent, as of February this year.
“This needs to change and special measures need to be taken to accelerate progress.
“There are now two governments in the region with more than 30 per cent representation of women in parliament – Tunisia and Algeria - and in 2013 Saudi Arabia welcomed the first women on Shura Council.
“Despite recognising important progress, women across the region still struggle to attain equal voice, participation and leadership in decision-making at all levels, including in peace and security discussions.”
akhaishgi@thenational.ae
