Women's Economic Empowerment Global Summit due in Sharjah

SHARJAH: Women around the world generally only enjoy three-quarters of the legal rights that men have, according to a report released by the World Bank earlier this year. It says that though several regions have seen improvements in the last decade, a lack of equivalent rights as men constrains the ability of women around the world to get employment or start businesses.

The World Bank Group interim president, Kristalina Georgieva, has stated that around 2.7 billion women around the world are still legally barred from having the same choice of jobs as men. She stressed that if women have equal opportunities to reach their full potential the world would not only be fairer; it would be more prosperous as well. Global studies and economic indicators bear out the statement.

According to international studies, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals requires development on several fronts that include providing quality education, changing laws and regulations to provide equal opportunities in their workplace, pushing for economic policies to finance and support female entrepreneurs, and promoting equity in procurement and contracting for women-owned enterprises.

These key elements will be discussed during the Women's Economic Empowerment Global Summit (WEEGS) 2019, to be organised by the Nama Women Advancement Establishment in collaboration with UN Women. The biennial event, which will run on December 10-11 in Sharjah under the theme ' Drivers of Change', will focus on the challenges that women face at the global workplace with a focus on four pillars: gender-responsive procurement, women's participation in value chains, the Women's Empowerment Principles and women's access to finance.

The WEEGS 2019 agenda reflects the vision of Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and Chairperson of Nama, who said: "Women bring numerous qualities to their role as heads of government and industry, scoring particularly highly in dedication, communication, creativity, time management, willingness to embrace new challenges and commitment to remaining updated. These are essential virtues in the building of an economy and in ensuring a country's sustainable development."

Accordingly, the summit will address opportunities for women to participate in various economic sectors and discuss ways of building their capacities and equipping them with the necessary skills in planning and management, communication, creative thinking and leadership skills development, in order to increase their participation in the job market, especially in sectors where their presence is limited.

Data released by the International Labour Organisation in 2019, showed that women represent 38.96 per cent of the global workforce. Promoting equal economic opportunities for men and women would contribute to increasing global annual GDP by between $12 and $28 trillion by 2025.