Manal Bint Mohammed: The federal government has achieved positive results on the gender balance index; winners to be announced shortly
Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, and wife of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE and Minister of Presidential Affairs commended the exceptional efforts of the Council team and members, which have led to key regional and international achievements. Some of these included the development of the world’s first Gender Balance Guide for the workplace, which will be officially launched tomorrow (Tuesday, September 19th, 2017). The Guide will serve as a comprehensive resource that will help public and private entities in the UAE enhance gender balance in the workplace. The Gender Balance Guide is expected to play an instrumental role in enhancing the UAE’s ranking in global competitiveness reports.
Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum commended the positive results achieved in the federal government, which reflect the leadership’s commitment to gender issues, ensuring equal opportunities and creating a conducive work environment for both women and men. Her Highness added that the winners will be announced and honoured immediately after the approval of the results by the Cabinet. Sheikha Manal expressed her gratitude to all government agencies who participated in the Index. She also stressed the importance of programs and initiatives that support gender balance in the workplace, which is a key priority and an integral part of the National Agenda and the UAE Vision 2021.
Chaired by Council Vice President HE Mona Ghanem Al Marri, the third meeting started with HE Al Marri conveying the greetings and thanks of Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to the Council’s members and team for their outstanding efforts. In her message, Her Highness reiterated the Council’s commitment to continue its efforts through cooperation with local and international stakeholders. In line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the Council is making concerted efforts to strengthen the UAE’s position and improve its international ranking in the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) ‘Gender Inequality Index’ by 2021.
The UAE Gender Balance Council members reviewed the preparations for the Guide’s official launch. The Guide was developed in cooperation with the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and in partnership with various government agencies. The initiative is in line with the directives of Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to work closely and exchange best practices and ideas with prominent international organizations with unique expertise in gender balance.
The meeting discussed several topics related to the planned projects and initiatives aimed at positioning the UAE as a global model in gender balance and a regional benchmark in terms of legislations. Over the last year, the UAE has received global praise for its significant advances in the field.
Gender Balance Index
A team from the Prime Minister’s Office presented the final Gender Balance Index results for federal government organisations, which were assessed using the approved gender balance measurement framework. The framework is based on three key pillars - decision-making, education and experience and work environment. The ratings provide a robust mechanism for measuring federal entities’ gender balance performance and conducting opinion polls.
The meeting was attended by HE Abdulla Nasser Lootah, Director-General of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA); HE Noura Al Suwaidi, Director-General of the General Women's Union; HE Dr. Abdulrahman Al Awar, Director-General of the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources; HE Reem Al Falasi, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood; HE Sana Suhail, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Community Development; HE Dr. Omar Abdul Rahman Al Nuaimi, Assistant Undersecretary for Communications and International Relations at the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation; HE Nasser Al Hamli, Undersecretary for Emiratisation Affairs at the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation; HE Abdulla Al Saleh, Undersecretary for Foreign Trade & Industry at the Ministry of Economy, Dr Abdul Rahim al Awadi, the assistant foreign minister for legal affairs; HE Huda Al Hashimi, Assistant Director-General for Strategy and Innovation at the Prime Minister’s Office; and HE Shamsa Saleh, Secretary-General of the UAE Gender Balance Council.
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