Global Women’s Forum 2024: A Platform For Empowering Women And Promoting Gender Balance

H.H. Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council and Dubai Women Establishment, welcomed dignitaries to the Global Women’s Forum – Dubai 2024. The event, under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, aims to foster global collaboration for women's empowerment. Over 4,000 participants, including first ladies and global leaders, are expected.

The two-day forum will commence on November 26 at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai. It seeks to deliver actionable solutions for gender balance worldwide. H.H. Sheikha Manal extended a warm welcome to distinguished guests like Emine Erdoğan from Turkey and Aseefa Bhutto Zardari from Pakistan. She expressed hope that the forum would inspire effective global solutions to advance women's roles.

H.H. Sheikha Manal highlighted the UAE's influential role in advancing women's empowerment under the leadership of H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and directives of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The UAE is globally recognised for its efforts, ranking first regionally and seventh globally in the UNDP’s Gender Equality Index 2024.

These achievements result from strategic partnerships between the UAE Gender Balance Council, government bodies, semi-governmental entities, and private sectors over years. The UAE is dedicated to enabling women to balance social and professional roles through supportive legislation and policies.

The Forum will explore themes such as ‘Future Economies, Future Societies’, ‘Collective Engagements, Collective Actions’, and ‘Impactful Technologies, Impactful Innovations’. With over 250 speakers from 65 countries participating in 130 discussions and workshops, it will address challenges like gender gaps and digital inequality.

Her Highness stressed the urgency of finding practical solutions to empower women worldwide and ensure their rightful place as active contributors to sustainable development. The Forum aims to establish meaningful partnerships for advancing gender balance globally.

Inspirational Stories and Shared Responsibility

The event will also showcase inspiring stories of women who have excelled in shaping a just future. These narratives highlight women's vital role as partners in creating a balanced world. H.H. Sheikha Manal emphasised shared responsibility in addressing challenges limiting women's roles in societies.

She acknowledged contributions by Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak whose initiatives set benchmarks in empowering women. The National Policy for Empowering Women (2023–2031) reflects Her Highness’s vision for inclusive participation enhancing quality of life.

H.H. Sheikha Manal hopes the Forum will inspire effective global solutions for advancing women's roles worldwide while establishing meaningful partnerships for gender balance empowerment globally.

With inputs from WAM