UAE Gender Balance Council Showcases National Initiatives At G20 Women’s Empowerment Working Group Meeting In South Africa

The UAE, through the UAE Gender Balance Council, took part in the G20 Women’s Empowerment Working Group's second technical meeting in South Africa on 8–9 May. The delegation included Mouza Mohammed Al Ghuwais Al Suwaidi and Maitha Al Hashimi, who highlighted national initiatives for gender balance and women's empowerment.

During the meeting, Mouza Al Suwaidi emphasised the UAE's dedication to increasing women's leadership roles across various sectors. National policies and leadership support have significantly boosted women's representation in decision-making positions. Women now hold 50% of Federal National Council seats and about one-third of cabinet positions.

Mouza Al Suwaidi also stressed the UAE's commitment to financial inclusion, highlighting constitutional guarantees and Central Bank policies that ensure women have equal access to financial services. "The UAE remains committed to advancing women's financial autonomy and participation in economic life," she stated.

In 2018, the Equal Pay for Equal Work Law was implemented, further paving the way for women to assume top leadership roles. Women's presence has grown in judiciary, diplomatic corps, and senior executive roles in both public and private sectors.

The UAE has expanded its care economy through comprehensive laws like maternity leave, parental leave, remote work options, and on-site nurseries in government workplaces. In 2024, the Ministry of Family Affairs was launched to bolster family stability as a societal cornerstone.

Mona Ghanem Al Marri highlighted the UAE’s contributions to G20 discussions and alignment with women’s empowerment priorities. She noted that empowering women is a national goal achieved through legislation, institutional support, capacity-building programmes, and ambitious targets.

Addressing Gender-Based Violence

The UAE employs a multi-layered approach to tackle gender-based violence with robust legislation ensuring women's safety. These efforts are part of broader strategies aimed at promoting gender equality across various sectors.

Mouza Al Suwaidi concluded by valuing the G20 platform for sharing knowledge and shaping global dialogue toward gender equality. "We value the platform the G20 provides to share knowledge, shape global dialogue, and drive collective action toward gender equality," she said.

International Collaborations

On the sidelines of the meeting, Mouza Al Suwaidi engaged with high-level officials from various countries to explore partnerships in gender balance policy. Discussions were held with officials from South Africa, Saudi Arabia, India, Indonesia, Singapore, and We-Fi.

Guided by H.H. Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, the Council remains committed to sharing achievements and adopting global best practices. "We are proud to share our success stories...while drawing on insights from global partners," she expressed.

With inputs from WAM