UAE Gender Balance Council re-formed

abu dhabi — The UAE Cabinet adopted a resolution to reform the UAE Gender Balance Council headed by Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

The council was formed in 2015 to promote the role of Emirati women in all areas of work.

It also launched the UAE Gender Balance Index, and the winners of its three categories, which are “the best person supporting gender balance,” “the best federal authority supporting gender balance” and “the best gender balance initiative,” were honoured by the His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

The council launched the index in cooperation with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) as the first of its kind in the world.

The council also participated in the annual meeting of the UAE Government, when it launched three national initiatives, which are creating a social gender databank, proposing a series of gender balance legislation, and promoting a network of female board members.

The UAE Cabinet recently approved a law on wages and gender equality, to confirm the rights of women as partners of men in achieving the country’s overall development.

Since its establishment, the Council has launched specialist local and international initiatives to promote cooperation and partnerships with relevant authorities, to achieve the goal of the UAE Vision 2021 to increase the participation of women in the community. —