2009-06-24 13:25:28
WAM ABU DHABI, June 24th, 2009: UAE women have made remarkable achievements employing technology in service of the community, thanks to the efforts and generous support of H.H Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak President of the UAE Women's General Union (WGU) The GWU was among the first UAE institutions to use the latest tehnology to empower women, further advance their status and enable them take part in the process of building the nation.
Under the patronage of Sheikha Fatima, GWU, in November 2006, launched Women in Technology programme which serves as a perfect example of a public private partnership program designed to empower women through e-literacy.
Women in Technology is a regional public-private partnership program funded by the U.S. Department of State's Middle East Partnership Initiative --or MEPI--and works in partnership with the General Women's Union and its several partners throughout the Emirates.
Considered as one of the most successful women's training programs in the region, Women in Technology for the Middle East and North Africa seeks to empower women and youth, create educational opportunities, and foster economic reform through helping women acquire skills in business planning and entrepreneurship and learn a wide-range of computer programs through Microsoft's Unlimited Potential training.
Sheikha Fatima has extended strong support to Women in Technology participants to help them polish their communication, leadership and business writing skills. The participants join a network through which they connect, engage in community service activities and share resources to help them to advance in their careers or enter the job market.
On remarks last April in Abu Dhabi, U.S Ambassaor Richard G. Olson, Jr. saluted Sheikha Fatima her patronage and unwavering support for this program, and her dedication to empowering women throughout the UAE, as well as Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi for his support for women's issues. Olson also commended the tremendous work and accomplishments of the Women in Technology Program in the United Arab Emirates. The efforts of the General Women's Union, the Institute of International Education, an American not for profit institution, and Microsoft were also also highlighted by Ambassador Olsen.
The United Arab Emirates, he said, continues to show its dedication to improving the lives of its people. Over the past 37 years, the Emirates' investment in improving education and effectively eliminating illiteracy, improving and providing health care to its citizens, and adapting to rapid change while also maintaining its traditions and cultural values, should be commended.
Sheikha Fatima spared no efforts to supoport the use of technology as a tool to enhance women's lives, ans this represents just one example of the cross-cultural work the Emirates is doing to show its commitment to being a responsible global citizen and creating a better future for its people.
GWU is actively supporting MEPI, a unique inititaive in that it focuses on partnerships to build bridges between the United States and the Middle East through creative projects working to expand political participation, strengthen civil society and the rule of law, empower women and youth, create educational opportunities, and foster economic reform.
MEPI projects reach out directly to Non Governmental Organizations, the private sector, academic institutions, and other local groups, as well as governments, in providing direct support to the people of the region in addressing locally identified priorities and opportunities.
The Women in Technology project in the UAE is a perfect example of a public private partnership program designed to empower women - in this case, through "e-literacy." Women acquire skills in Business Planning and Entrepreneurship and learn a wide-range of computer programs through Microsoft's Unlimited Potential training. Women in Technology participants also polish their communication, leadership and business writing skills. The participants join a network through which they connect, engage in community service activities and share resources to help them to advance in their careers or enter the job market.
The program also provides tools and intensive instruction and coaching to local partner organizations, such as the Western Region Development Council here in the UAE. This enables them to operate their training centers on a long-term basis. The program provides support for a cost-recovery business model and reduces partners' dependence on external sources of funding.
This is very powerful. And it ensures that partner organizations have the knowledge and tools to expand their reach and ability to serve women in their communities long into the future, in other words, sustainability.
The Women in Technology program has been implemented in collaboration with fifty (50) local partner organizations across nine countries in the Middle East and North Africa. To date, the program has trained more than 6,000 women in the region. The program is managed by the Institute of International Education, a not-for-profit organization based in the United States. The Institute has been developing and administering high quality international education, training and leadership programs worldwide since 1919.
In the private sector, Microsoft Corporation has been a generous supporter and partner of Women in Technology throughout the region. Microsoft has provided more than $1 million in cash, equipment and in-kind contributions to the program since 2005. In 2008, Microsoft recognized Women in Technology with the "Outstanding Partnership Award" for its innovative partnership model between local and international organizations and the private sector.
Microsoft continues to serve as a model in its commitment to empower women by providing knowledge and skills through its high-quality, globally-recognized training. In addition to donating curricula packages to all fifty partner organizations in the region, Microsoft has funded the preparation of nearly 250 trainers to deliver its Unlimited Potential curriculum. Microsoft Unlimited Potential is a global initiative designed to narrow the technology skills gap and aid global workforce development. Without Microsoft's ongoing partnership and support to Women in Technology throughout the Middle East and North Africa, this program would not be possible.
GWU is a lead local partner of MEPI since the program was launched in the UAE in 2006. It has been a pioneer in women's development in the UAE under the leadership of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak.
The General Women's Union's commitment to the partnership has allowed Women in Technology to gain recognition and reach women well beyond Abu Dhabi. Due to this strong foundation, Women in Technology was able last year to enter into a formal partnership with the Western Region Development Council, which has provided the extensive financial and logistical support needed to open new training centers for women in the Western Region.
WAM/MMYS
Showing posts with label general women's union. Show all posts
Showing posts with label general women's union. Show all posts
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Friday, June 5, 2009
UAE: UAE is determined to continue in the path of women revivalism
2009-06-04 20:52:33
WAM Geneva, Jun 04th, 2009 (WAM): The United Arab Emirates reiterated today before the world community, its determination to continue the march in the path of women revivalism.
Addressing the annual full-day discussion of the Human Rights Council on women's human rights today, the permanent representative of the UAE at the United Nations Office in Geneva Obeid Salem Al Za'abi said that since the formation of the UAE under the presidency of late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the leadership of the country was fully aware of the fact the woman is an equal partner in the process of national development.
The leadership of the country, inspired by its faith in gender equality, adopted a strategy of empowering women in cultural, social and economic fields, Al Za'abi said.
In an intervention made during the discussion, Al Za'abi portrayed how UAE worked to achieve the gender equality in rights and duties through guaranteeing women their right to ownership, employment, social security, economic and financial management, education, healthcare, earning, as well as many other rights.
In our country, the strong presence of women in the leadership roles and positions of decision making is not a new trend, but is a continuation of the march led by Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak though her ardent work for the renaissance of the women, said Al Za'abi.
He briefly shed light on various institutions in the UAE established with an objective of empowering women to play the equal role in the nation building. Al Za'abi drew a few examples such as the General Women's Union (GWU), which was founded by HH Sheikh Fatima and the Family Development Foundation (FDF).
Women in UAE holds four seats in the federal cabinet and fills nine seats in a total of 40 seats in the Federal National Council, the country's supreme legislative body. This in addition to a large number of key posts women hold in various ministries and local governments. More over, women represent 59 percent of the total work force in the UAE and enjoy equal opportunity in the economic life, Al Za'abi pointed out.
He also asserted the country's commitment to continue this march under the leadership of President HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
The Human Rights Council's discussion on women's human rights was entitled equality before the law: concrete steps to further women's equality. The discussion focused on non-discrimination in the law, with a view to identifying concrete steps to further women's equality. The first part addressed institutional perspectives on equality before the law and the second part presented a wider perspective from academia and civil society.
Opening the discussion, Navi Pillay, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, said international human rights treaties prohibited discrimination on the basis of sex and included guarantees to ensure that women and men enjoyed their civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights on a basis of equality.
Despite this perception, global and national realities indicated that there was a wide gulf between international legal obligations and their implementation. Not only did inequality in the legal, civil, economic, political and social arenas violate international obligations, but it also compounded discrimination against women.
When race, religion, ethnicity, poverty, disability, social status, and other forms of discrimination were factored in, then the picture was one of even greater disparity. Moreover, inequality created a climate where violence against women and girls was considered acceptable.
Speaking in the first part of the discussion were Chile, India, Nigeria, Paraguay for MERCOSUR, Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, Norway, Czech Republic for the European Union, Bahrain, Azerbaijan, Switzerland, Philippines for ASEAN, Slovenia, Ukraine, Luxembourg, Russian Federation, Lithuania, Iceland, Turkey, Yemen, Kazakhstan, Serbia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Algeria, China, Indonesia, Germany, Bosnia and Herzegovina and South Africa.
Also speaking were the Equality and Human Rights Commission of Great Britain and the National Human Rights Commission of Malaysia, national human rights institutions. Non-governmental organizations speaking were the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, Equality Now, Amnesty International and Women's International Democratic Federation.
The following non-governmental organizations also took the floor: Center for Women's Global Leadership, Worldwide Organization for Women, International Federation of Human Rights and Interfaith International.
International human rights treaties prohibited discrimination on the basis of sex and included guarantees to ensure that women and men enjoyed their civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights on a basis of equality.
WAM/AB
WAM Geneva, Jun 04th, 2009 (WAM): The United Arab Emirates reiterated today before the world community, its determination to continue the march in the path of women revivalism.
Addressing the annual full-day discussion of the Human Rights Council on women's human rights today, the permanent representative of the UAE at the United Nations Office in Geneva Obeid Salem Al Za'abi said that since the formation of the UAE under the presidency of late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the leadership of the country was fully aware of the fact the woman is an equal partner in the process of national development.
The leadership of the country, inspired by its faith in gender equality, adopted a strategy of empowering women in cultural, social and economic fields, Al Za'abi said.
In an intervention made during the discussion, Al Za'abi portrayed how UAE worked to achieve the gender equality in rights and duties through guaranteeing women their right to ownership, employment, social security, economic and financial management, education, healthcare, earning, as well as many other rights.
In our country, the strong presence of women in the leadership roles and positions of decision making is not a new trend, but is a continuation of the march led by Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak though her ardent work for the renaissance of the women, said Al Za'abi.
He briefly shed light on various institutions in the UAE established with an objective of empowering women to play the equal role in the nation building. Al Za'abi drew a few examples such as the General Women's Union (GWU), which was founded by HH Sheikh Fatima and the Family Development Foundation (FDF).
Women in UAE holds four seats in the federal cabinet and fills nine seats in a total of 40 seats in the Federal National Council, the country's supreme legislative body. This in addition to a large number of key posts women hold in various ministries and local governments. More over, women represent 59 percent of the total work force in the UAE and enjoy equal opportunity in the economic life, Al Za'abi pointed out.
He also asserted the country's commitment to continue this march under the leadership of President HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
The Human Rights Council's discussion on women's human rights was entitled equality before the law: concrete steps to further women's equality. The discussion focused on non-discrimination in the law, with a view to identifying concrete steps to further women's equality. The first part addressed institutional perspectives on equality before the law and the second part presented a wider perspective from academia and civil society.
Opening the discussion, Navi Pillay, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, said international human rights treaties prohibited discrimination on the basis of sex and included guarantees to ensure that women and men enjoyed their civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights on a basis of equality.
Despite this perception, global and national realities indicated that there was a wide gulf between international legal obligations and their implementation. Not only did inequality in the legal, civil, economic, political and social arenas violate international obligations, but it also compounded discrimination against women.
When race, religion, ethnicity, poverty, disability, social status, and other forms of discrimination were factored in, then the picture was one of even greater disparity. Moreover, inequality created a climate where violence against women and girls was considered acceptable.
Speaking in the first part of the discussion were Chile, India, Nigeria, Paraguay for MERCOSUR, Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, Norway, Czech Republic for the European Union, Bahrain, Azerbaijan, Switzerland, Philippines for ASEAN, Slovenia, Ukraine, Luxembourg, Russian Federation, Lithuania, Iceland, Turkey, Yemen, Kazakhstan, Serbia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Algeria, China, Indonesia, Germany, Bosnia and Herzegovina and South Africa.
Also speaking were the Equality and Human Rights Commission of Great Britain and the National Human Rights Commission of Malaysia, national human rights institutions. Non-governmental organizations speaking were the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, Equality Now, Amnesty International and Women's International Democratic Federation.
The following non-governmental organizations also took the floor: Center for Women's Global Leadership, Worldwide Organization for Women, International Federation of Human Rights and Interfaith International.
International human rights treaties prohibited discrimination on the basis of sex and included guarantees to ensure that women and men enjoyed their civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights on a basis of equality.
WAM/AB
Sunday, April 26, 2009
UAE: Al-Khaleej Studies Center Panel on Women's Organizations
In April 2009, Al-Khaleej Studies Center organized a panel on the reality of women organizations in the UAE and ways to increase their effectiveness and outreach to all society sectors especially youth, to channel their interests towards volunteerism and more civic activism. The panel was chaired by our own Dr. Fatema Al Sayegh and included opinions of several UAE women leaders and activists. Participants in the panel included:
Ahlam Al Lamki, GWU
Amal Belhoul, Psychologist, ‘Watani’ program. (Watani means my country)
Amira Tariam, Editor of Kul Al Usra magazine
Halima Shikshik, RAK Women Organization
Moza Al Taghi, RAK Women Organization
Dr. Hessa Lootah, Professor, UAE University
Sarah bin Karam, Head of Sharjah Women Organziation
Salma Al Junaibi, GWU
Afra Al Mansouri, Head of Family Development Foundation, Shahama
Fatima Al Qubeisi, Family Development Foundation, Al Wathba
Sheikha Majd Saud Al Qassimi, Deputy Director of Sharjah Women Union
The session concluded with the following recommendations:
- Allocate a political seat that represents women organizations that would rotate every 2 or 4 years
- The importance of spreading a culture of social work and increase contact with youth
- Focus on studies and statistics that identify flaws in the work of the organizations as well as proper mechanisms to address these flaws.
- Strengthen relationships between different organizations and create a real partnership between civil society and non-profit organizations
- One women union that would be the umbrella of all women organizations in the country
- More media attention to the role and activities of women organizations
Ahlam Al Lamki, GWU
Amal Belhoul, Psychologist, ‘Watani’ program. (Watani means my country)
Amira Tariam, Editor of Kul Al Usra magazine
Halima Shikshik, RAK Women Organization
Moza Al Taghi, RAK Women Organization
Dr. Hessa Lootah, Professor, UAE University
Sarah bin Karam, Head of Sharjah Women Organziation
Salma Al Junaibi, GWU
Afra Al Mansouri, Head of Family Development Foundation, Shahama
Fatima Al Qubeisi, Family Development Foundation, Al Wathba
Sheikha Majd Saud Al Qassimi, Deputy Director of Sharjah Women Union
The session concluded with the following recommendations:
- Allocate a political seat that represents women organizations that would rotate every 2 or 4 years
- The importance of spreading a culture of social work and increase contact with youth
- Focus on studies and statistics that identify flaws in the work of the organizations as well as proper mechanisms to address these flaws.
- Strengthen relationships between different organizations and create a real partnership between civil society and non-profit organizations
- One women union that would be the umbrella of all women organizations in the country
- More media attention to the role and activities of women organizations
Sunday, March 16, 2008
UAE: Women empowerment in UAE unique: GWU official
The experience of women empowerment in the UAE is unique considering the number of women nationals who have made significant achievements in different fields in a record time, said a senior official.
“The UAE women have managed to make their presence felt in various fields in a record time,” said Noura Khalifa Al Suwaidi, Director-General of the UAE General Women’s Union (GWU). “We are proud to have four women ministers and nine women members in the Federal National Council. Emirati women have managed to earn several rights in a short span,” said Al Suwaidi in a statement to Khaleej Times recently.
She hailed Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairperson of the GWU, for her continuous efforts and support to ensure emancipation of women nationals. “One of the many tangible and significant efforts of Shaikha Fatima was the national strategy on development of women, which she launched a few years back to enhance the role of women in economic, social, media, education, labour, culture as well as political fields,” said Al Suwaidi.
She underlined that being the head of the GWU, Shaikha Fatima had set clear targets for the union - to serve women’s issues in accordance with the Islamic values and authentic Arab traditions.
“The GWU has been working hard for the past 32 years to guarantee emancipation of Emirati women in social, economic, cultural and political fields,” reiterated Al Suwaidi.
-- Khaleej Times
“The UAE women have managed to make their presence felt in various fields in a record time,” said Noura Khalifa Al Suwaidi, Director-General of the UAE General Women’s Union (GWU). “We are proud to have four women ministers and nine women members in the Federal National Council. Emirati women have managed to earn several rights in a short span,” said Al Suwaidi in a statement to Khaleej Times recently.
She hailed Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairperson of the GWU, for her continuous efforts and support to ensure emancipation of women nationals. “One of the many tangible and significant efforts of Shaikha Fatima was the national strategy on development of women, which she launched a few years back to enhance the role of women in economic, social, media, education, labour, culture as well as political fields,” said Al Suwaidi.
She underlined that being the head of the GWU, Shaikha Fatima had set clear targets for the union - to serve women’s issues in accordance with the Islamic values and authentic Arab traditions.
“The GWU has been working hard for the past 32 years to guarantee emancipation of Emirati women in social, economic, cultural and political fields,” reiterated Al Suwaidi.
-- Khaleej Times
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