Children and women in strife are priority

Sheikha Fatima’s speech to UN reaffirms UAE commitment to helping those most at risk in trouble spots around the world

ABU DHABI // The well-being of women and children in vulnerable areas across the globe is a priority for the UAE, Sheikha Fatima told a UN conference held in the capital yesterday.

Sheikha Fatima, the Mother of the Nation, told experts at the Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health event that the UAE has gone the extra mile in raising awareness about the dangers faced by women and children. “We are proud to have been long associated with key international organisations, in particular the UN, to achieve our common objectives and to bring into attention the ordeals of women, children and adolescents everywhere, regardless of their colour, religion or background,” she said.

Sheikha Fatima is Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood.

Her speech was read on her behalf by Reem Al Falasi, secretary general of Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood.

“Our state has become a model to be emulated in granting these vital segments in the community their complete rights to enable them to achieve development and progress in their lives,” Sheikha Fatima said.

By doing so, the UAE has occupied a prominent ranking in international reports measuring the state of affairs of women, children and adolescents, continued Sheikha Fatima. The UAE’s Supreme Council for Women and Children hosted a meeting in Abu Dhabi in February last year to draw up the Abu Dhabi Declaration, a plan to address the well-being and health of mothers, newborns, adolescents and children.

Yesterday’s event brought together experts from a range of sectors to explore ways to support effective implementation strategies, and foster research and private-sector engagement.

The aim of the meeting is to agree to priorities for the first five years, to be adopted at the World Health Assembly in Geneva next month.

It comes at a time when women and children face unprecedented threats in different parts of the world, including deprivation of simple basic human rights, said Sheikha Fatima.

They are victims of wars, discrimination, poverty, famine and other life-threatening risks.

“Last year we looked at mothers and children in vulnerable places and how we can provide support,” Ms Al Falasi said later. “We created the Abu Dhabi Declaration and we are continuing this. We are aiming to be aligned with the UN’s strategies when it comes to mothers and children and the main focus is to provide to those in vulnerable places.”

Princess Sarah of Jordan, chairwoman of the Every Woman Every Child movement, said agencies and countries needed to get practical about improving the lives of women and children.

“We have to come up with as series of recommendations about how we as a community are going to do better for more – how we can best reach those who need us most,” she said.

“More people are on the move in flight from conflict, poverty and oppression. Seventy- five per cent are estimated to be women and children.

“There is greater xenophobia where there should be greater compassion. There are more bombs where there should be more aid, more suffering where there should be more relief.” Every Woman Every Child is a global movement that mobilises international and national action by governments, the private sector and societies to address the major health challenges facing women and children around the world.

It was launched by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon during the UN Millennium Development Goals Summit in September 2010.

There is greater xenophobia where there should be greater compassion. There are more bombs where there should be more aid, more suffering where there should be more relief

Princess Sarah of Jordan chairwoman of the Every Woman Every Child movement