Women Empowerment

A Time Of Change

The acquiescence of empowering any aspect of society can be seen as means of creating an environment in which one can make decisions and choices either individually or collectively for social transformation. Empowerment strengthens the ability by acquiring knowledge and power along with experience. It is the way of authorizing an individual and enabling him to think and take actions in more emphatic manner. In more simple terms it helps to gain control over circumstances of one’s lives and destiny. There are always certain elements in the society which are responsible for depriving basic rights in every state and nation and thus, if we enlist these elements from the society to some extent, then women would top this list. Even though everybody is aware of this fact that women are vital factor of every society, but dilemma is there in society to accept this fact. The need for empowering women was felt when growing tendency of underestimating women was increasing in the society and the position which was to be given to them was in real sense not given to them. The main reason of empowerment carries a very significant reason behind it as growing tendency of underestimating women such as to make them occupy a secondary position in society and not providing them their basic rights. Although most countries around the world have much to work on when it comes to women’s rights but unlike almost any other country in the world, UAE is an exception to the world.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is one of the best examples of a rapid and successful development story in the region, in terms of both the economical and infrastructural progress of the country and also the progress of its people. The UAE’s achievement is perhaps best typified in the evolution and growing prominence of Emirati women as partners and contributors in this remarkable nation-building process. Women, who account for 49.3 percent of the national population, according to the 2005 Census, are today at the forefront of the workforce in the UAE in both the government sector as well as a growing number in the private sector. Aided by the government’s commitment to empower women and provide them with equal opportunities, the status of women within the UAE has flourished in parallel with the country’s growth since the federation was established in 1971. It is evident across the UAE that women today constitute a vital part of the nation’s workforce and actively contribute to the country’s government and economy.

Traditionally, women have always been the backbone of family life and the social structure of the UAE and they continue to remain an integral part of maintaining the nation’s Islamic heritage and national culture. Today, with the ongoing evolution of UAE society and the dynamic modernization process that has taken place over the last 36 years, the government’s strategic vision for women is based on providing them with the necessary tools to achieve professional excellence. This strategy aims to energize and utilize women’s role in public service as well as the private sector and to ensure that all career tracks remain open to them should they choose to pursue them. In essence, the UAE understands that it is a national imperative for women to contribute to the development process. The commitment and enthusiasm from Emirati women themselves to benefit from these opportunities has complemented the government’s policies and strategy on gender empowerment. As a result, some Emirati women have gone on to become pioneers in their fields. Whether it is politics, law, economy, science, international Business development, entrepreneurship, strategic partnership, art and culture; women of UAE has build a road of achievements. “The progress achieved by women in the UAE is part of the vision of its leadership, which believes that empowering people is empowering the nation.” Her Excellency Laila Rahhall emphasizes on the same, that equipping women to be economically independent, self-reliant, having positive esteem to enable them to face any difficult situation and then they would be able to participate in development activities. Her Excellency states that, to uncover the role of empowering women and achieving gender equality in the sustainable development of world it is imperative to not baffle their contribution, rather amiably create only aisle, which would be more than sufficient for the all round development of a nation.

These words clearly tell us about the message which Ms. Elizabeth Kelly carries for the women. Her contribution towards empowering women is based on the idea that whenever difficulties arise, causes are sought in the society, and efforts are focused on improving the social institutions within which the individual functions. Empowered people always stand for something in their lives and take action which sometimes even results in great danger, and this is because they are aware that they have the right and the responsibility to act in service of what they believe and care for. Elizabeth Kelly, highlights that, today we face overwhelming social, economic and ecological crises, from wars to natural disasters to nuclear meltdowns and change in climate is progressing even faster than predicted. We are being challenged to recreate our technologies, energy systems, economies, food systems and way of life and to do it not over the next century but within the upcoming decade. To have the positive future, there is need of imagination, commitment and passion that can never be commanded but can only be unleashed in groups that belonged to equals and thus there arises the need of empowerment as well as women at those positions from where they can really make a change.

According to the World Economic Forum 2016 Global Gender Gap Report, the UAE is ranked as a leading country when it comes to gender equality in the region. In 2015, the UAE established the Gender Balance Council- a federal entity that enhances and increases women’s role in leadership positions. Other organizations such as Dubai Women Establishment (DWE) are actively promoting gender equality not only in the UAE, but within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. 

The UAE is on track to implement several policies to help achieve its target of ranking among the world’s top 25 countries in gender balance by next year. Another sliver from the fact sheet that gauges the speed of the nation’s progress is that women represent 46.6 per cent of the workforce in the UAE, compared to 2.2 per cent in 1975. Not least of gender balancing measures is that today Emirati women represent 30 per cent of the UAE’s diplomatic corps.

In representing the nation, women have made up 17.5 per cent of the UAE’s partially elected representative body, the Federal National Council (FNC), and in senior positions, five women hold ministerial positions in the Cabinet, including Najla Mohammad Al Awar, who has been holding the position of Secretary-General of Cabinet since 2006. Furthermore, three of the UAE’s ambassadors, one Consul-General and the UAE’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York are women. Dr Hessa Abdullah Al Otaiba (ambassador to Spain), Shaikha Najla Al Qasimi (ambassador to Portugal), Hafsa Al Ulama (ambassador to Monte Negro), Noura Mohammed Juma (Consul General in Milan) and Lana Nusseibeh, UAE’s Permanent Representative to the UN.

Today, Emirati women are actively and efficiently working in all sorts of roles. These include space research, renewable energy, nuclear energy for peaceful use, manufacturing and launching satellites, aviation technology and other industries. The UAE ranked first in the Arab world and among developed countries in women’s rights, according to the annual report of the Arab Women Studies Centre of the Arab Women Foundation 2017. The report commended the UAE’s leadership and its approach to women’s empowerment, noting that Emirati women have become key partners in leading sustainable development, and that they have a strong presence in Arab, regional and international feminist activities. 

Having made significant progress, the UAE does not intend to stagnate with regards to its women’s empowerment policies but rather to continue and develop along the strategies and developing partnership with the private sector, which is being encouraged to promote women, based on merit, into front-line organizational positions, the UAE intends to establish a new benchmark for gender empowerment in the region. 

Although no formal quota system exists in the UAE in either the government or public sector, the UAE leadership believes that positive discrimination towards women and active encouragement for their entry into previously male dominated fields is an essential first step towards an equal society. In order to prove themselves in their chosen careers, women must first be given the platform to achieve and in the process, not only has the traditional role of women changed over the last two generations, but UAE society as a whole has been changed in numerous and positive ways, creating a bridge between the traditional and the modern without sacrificing the heritage and culture that defines this society’s national identity.