Dr. Amal Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Speaker of the Federal National Council, FNC, said that women around the world have achieved great fundamental changes, as the world witnesses critical events that involve considerable challenges.
"During the time when the quality of life has improved to exceptional levels, due to scientific and technical progress and the development of health and transport management, we are still facing challenges that include the emergence of violent extremism and terrorism, and the deaths of innocent people due to religious differences, or even ideas and beliefs," she added.
Her statements were part of her speech at UNESCO's Soft Power Conference, under the presidency of Irina Bokova, General Director of UNESCO, with the participation of the presidents and prime ministers of many countries, and over 450 female leaders from around the world.
Dr. Al Qubaisi stressed that in the UAE, 97 percent of female high school students successfully complete their university education, and that women constitute 70 percent of university graduates, while female employees in government departments have reached 66 percent, as well as 27.5 percent of cabinet ministers and 32 percent of FNC members. She also noted that 23,000 female entrepreneurs manage investments of over AED50 billion, which equal around EUR13 billion.
She noted that since the establishment of the UAE in 1971, H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, has supported the participation of women in political life, as well as involvement in the FNC.
The FNC Speaker added that H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak has worked for several decades for women’s empowerment in the Arab world, in general, and the UAE in particular. Therefore, the UAE national women have occupied various leadership positions and contributed to identifying the strategic directions of the country in many government and community sectors, she added. The UAE official also highlighted how the UAE has advanced from women’s empowerment to empowering the community through women.
Dr. Al Qubaisi the participants will discuss and analyse the new frameworks and models of soft power related to women, as women face today's challenges. She suggested three points to be added to the conference’s recommendations, including the establishment of a new global framework based on measurable goals, with an emphasis on more efficient methods to empower women, in a bid to end global conflicts.

Source: WAM