UAE Hosts Discussion On Boosting Women’s Participation In Public Policy

The UAE Permanent Committee for Human Rights (PCHR) recently hosted a fireside chat to mark International Day of Women in Diplomacy. The event, held in collaboration with the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy (AGDA) and supported by the British Institute of International and Comparative Law (BIICL), focused on women's participation in public policy. Government officials and diplomats from the UAE and Europe discussed how to facilitate gender-inclusive policies and leadership.

Hind Al Owais, Director of the PCHR, opened the event by highlighting the progress made in widening access to decision-making processes. She celebrated women’s contributions to diplomacy, global peace, and international development. Al Owais also praised H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak for her vision and efforts in empowering women through the General Women's Union.

The event featured prominent female leaders such as Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation; Shamma bint Suhail Faris Al Mazrui, Minister of Community Development; Razan Al Mubarak, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28; and Lana Nusseibeh, Assistant Minister for Political Affairs at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. These women have played pioneering roles in policy development and diplomacy.

Afra Al Hameli, Director of Strategic Communications at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasised that women's participation in public policy is integral to the UAE's national development. "A commitment to women's participation in public policy is part of the DNA of the UAE," she said. "Emirati women have achieved remarkable milestones thanks to our leadership's guiding vision."

Dr. Sara Chehab, Senior Research Fellow at AGDA, moderated the discussion. She stressed that education is crucial for women's empowerment and their ability to contribute to diplomatic efforts globally. "Education is the cornerstone of women’s empowerment," Dr. Chehab noted. "We must provide all support and resources available to open doors."

Antoine Delcourt, Ambassador of Belgium to the UAE, highlighted the importance of educational and professional development programmes for women. "We must lay the foundations for widening women’s participation by rolling out educational and professional development programmes that empower women to enter public service," he said.

Roudha Alshehhi, Head of European Affairs Section at the UAE Federal National Council, underscored that gender equality is deeply rooted in Emirati culture. She pointed out that women hold 50 percent of seats in the Federal National Council due to a directive by the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

International Legislation

Speakers agreed on the powerful role international and national legislation plays in ensuring equal opportunities for women in public policy. They discussed frameworks like CEDAW and the Beijing Platform for Action as essential tools for addressing gender disparities.

The fireside chat forms part of an ongoing series hosted by PCHR and AGDA aimed at exchanging best practices in human rights implementation. These events build on the UAE’s tradition of working with international partners to promote universal human rights.

Al Owais stressed that political will alone isn't enough; supportive policies, legal protections, and institutional mechanisms are also necessary. With these frameworks in place, she noted that the UAE has been able to support women holding prominent positions in public life.

Afra Al Hameli added that Emirati women's achievements are reflected in high regional and global rankings on indices measuring women's empowerment. This highlights the UAE's proactive stance on promoting gender parity.

Roudha Alshehhi commented on how events like this drive forward women's participation in public policy: "Great strides have been made – here and around the world – but there is always more work to be done."

Yesterday’s event was a testament to ongoing efforts towards gender equality in diplomacy and public policy within both national and international contexts.

With inputs from WAM