UAE Demonstrates Leadership In Women's Economic Inclusion At Global Women's Forum

The UAE is a leading example in the Middle East for gender equality, with women's economic participation exceeding the regional average. At the Global Women's Forum, Charlotte Goemans from the OECD discussed efforts to empower women economically in MENA, highlighting its benefits for both human rights and economic growth. "Despite higher education levels among women in the region, their labour force participation remains low, with women entrepreneurs representing only 2% of the sector," Goemans said.

Reforms led by the UAE Gender Balance Council have been crucial in enhancing gender equality. These changes removed employment barriers and introduced policies promoting gender balance. For instance, they abolished gender-based discrimination at work, ensured equal pay for equal value, and introduced parental leave. This initiative is pioneering in the region, according to Estelle Loiseau from the OECD Development Centre.

Other countries in the region have also initiated reforms to improve women's access to capital and workplace protections. A recent project across eight MENA nations aims to tackle structural financial barriers like unequal property access and gender biases within financial systems. The OECD’s Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) highlights ongoing gender-based discrimination issues, especially in family laws.

Innovative digital solutions are emerging in Egypt to help rural women access finance and build credit histories. These initiatives demonstrate potential for significant impact on a larger scale. Angy El Yamany from Egypt's National Council for Women noted that these reforms have increased women's labour force participation beyond 30% in Egypt.

El Yamany also mentioned that Egypt has made notable progress in reducing educational gender gaps, which is vital for women's economic inclusion. Addressing why the OECD supports women's empowerment in MENA, Goemans stated: "We are supporting OECD countries on this thematic. It's not only the right thing to do from a human rights perspective; it's also the smart theme from an economic point of view, because economies that have more women participating in the labour force are more competitive and more sustainable."

The focus on empowering women economically is driven by both ethical and practical reasons. Economies with higher female workforce participation tend to be more competitive and sustainable. This underscores why initiatives like those led by the UAE Gender Balance Council are essential for regional progress.

With inputs from WAM