UAE Co-hosts 11th Glion Human Rights Dialogue To Promote Gender Equality And Women's Empowerment
The United Arab Emirates co-hosted the 11th Glion Human Rights Dialogue (Glion XI) in 2025, alongside China, Spain, Morocco, and the Universal Rights Group. Held in Glion, Switzerland, this event focused on "Beijing at 30: Mobilising the UN Human Rights System to Accelerate Progress Toward Gender Equality and the Full Enjoyment of Women’s and Girls’ Rights," marking three decades since the Beijing Declaration.
Jamal Al Musharakh, Permanent Representative of the UAE to the United Nations in Geneva, delivered keynote remarks during the opening session. He highlighted the UAE's achievements in women's empowerment and its leadership role in promoting gender equality globally. Al Musharakh stated, "investing in the rights of women and girls is investing in the future of nations."
The UAE actively participated throughout the dialogue sessions, advocating for women's and girls' empowerment. Shahad Matar, UAE Deputy Permanent Representative, joined a panel discussing ways to accelerate gender equality by better mobilising the UN system. She stressed practical progress driven by partnerships to enhance women’s and girls’ rights.
Khalifa Al Mazrouei from the UAE Permanent Mission in Geneva led discussions with Member States and UN agencies. These discussions focused on best practices for implementing gender equality recommendations nationally. The aim was to guide these talks toward clear and actionable outcomes.
The dialogue attracted a diverse group of stakeholders, including representatives from UN agencies like OHCHR, UN Women, UNFPA, and GANHRI. This broad participation highlighted the inclusive nature of Glion XI. The event served as a platform for open discussions on urgent human rights issues.
The Glion Human Rights Dialogue has become a key forum within Geneva's diplomatic community. It provides an open space for high-level dialogue under Chatham House Rule among Member States, civil society, human rights mechanisms, and other stakeholders.
Commitment to Multilateral Efforts
This year's theme reaffirmed UAE’s commitment to multilateral efforts within international human rights systems. The country continues to support initiatives empowering women and protecting their rights globally. The UAE's involvement underscores its dedication to strengthening ongoing efforts within these frameworks.
The event marked significant progress since the Beijing Declaration. It showcased how countries like the UAE are leading efforts to advance gender equality worldwide through strong representation of women in government roles.
The dialogue emphasised that practical steps are essential for achieving measurable impacts on women's and girls' lives globally. By fostering collaboration among various stakeholders, it aimed at creating actionable strategies for enhancing gender equality across nations.
With inputs from WAM
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