In 2107, the General Women’s Union has continued its efforts to advance the stature of Emirati women, by intensifying its programmes to help them reach their goals and achieve their total empowerment in all areas of local developmental.

Noura Al Suwaidi, Director-General of the General Women’s Union, said that the wise directives of 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, on the necessity of caring for and supporting women are behind their multiple successes and achievements on all levels.

She stressed that the General Women’s Union, on the directives of Sheikha Fatima, has organised many programmes during the current year and in previous years, and has executed many of them successfully to achieve their purpose. She also pointed out that women’s co-operation and their increasing participation in these programmes had the great effect in the successes achieved by the Union, the main driver of the women’s movement in the country.

She added that celebrating Emirati Women’s Day on 28th August, under the theme, "Women are Partners in Giving," which was launched by Sheikha Fatima "The Mother of the UAE," will be exceptional, due to the successes achieved by women in all areas. Giving is the main purpose of the celebration, as success in work is giving itself, she further added.

Al Suwaidi explained that Emirati women, as mentioned by H.H. Sheikha Fatima, have a love for giving rooted within them, as they are the mothers full of giving while caring for their children and staying awake at night to provide them with comfort. They are also the wives who are dedicated to performing their family responsibilities. They are also working women who are generous with giving and success while performing their work in the development sectors of the country, she added.

She further stressed that the indicators of the success of Emirati women are supported by official statistics. Women now occupy over 66 percent of government jobs and make up over 70 percent of university and school students, and they are also soldiers, engineers, doctors and diplomats. They have also reached the highest stature that Allah Almighty has honoured them with, to become the mothers of martyrs, who defended and sacrificed their lives for their nation, she further added.

Since last year’s celebration of the Emirati Women’s Day in 2016, which was held under the theme, "Women and Innovation," the General Women’s Union has begun to promote its journey by organising advanced programmes to continue the success of Emirati women. H.H. Sheikha Fatima then instructed it to launch a new theme to celebrate this year event, titled, "Women are Partners in Giving."

This new theme is considered a strong reflection of the role and abilities of women, to participate in many initiatives in the country and offer giving to all those in need, as well as their participation in all segments of the community involving both men and women, to achieve the success of the Year of Giving that was launched by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Al Suwaidi further said that the Year of Giving initiative highlights the nature of Emiratis, which has evolved with time since the launch of the Federation, carrying the most important humanitarian values of giving, volunteering and tolerance.

She also stressed that Emirati Women’s Day is a crowning of the initiatives launched by the wise leadership to serve the people and the community, and keep pace with the level of constant advancement and social progress, and to advance the journey of the giving that established the UAE’s love in the hearts of its children.

She stated that the announcement of Sheikha Fatima, to dedicate a day to celebrate women in the UAE on 28th August every year, highlights her desire to unify the efforts of women and implement a working partnership that reflects their work for the country. The General Women’s Union has also become a strategic partner of the UAE government, and a supporter of all public policies that serve women, she added.

Al Suwaidi called for the participation of all relevant organisations, departments and authorities in the UAE to make this initiative succeed, by supporting Emirati women in the field of giving.

"As "The Mother of the UAE" has said, the concept of Emirati giving has always been deeply rooted in the souls of Emirati women and men, and our fathers and grandfathers drew the guidelines for building the Emirates of Giving, and to manage its affairs and lead its organisations, through its giving children, men, women, young men and young women. The legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan has placed the value of giving as a major principle, which has launched the UAE’s message and extended its generous hands to all parts of the world," Al Suwaidi stated.

"Sheikha Fatima stated that the nation has given the Emirati women everything she had wished for and has empowered her to go forth and work. Therefore, she has a great responsibility to pay back the nation and participate in its ongoing progress, and to ensure the success of the wise leadership’s initiative while strengthening the framework of community closeness and solidarity, under a road map of limitless giving from a country that was established on the principles of giving, as well as advancing its importance to the people and establishing the values of co-operation and tolerance," she said in conclusion.

Source: Wam