UAE stresses keenness on women rights, gender equality
Date
9/28/2016 1:02:42 AM
(MENAFN- Emirates News Agency (WAM))
GENEVA, 27th September, 2016 (WAM) – The UAE has confirmed that it pays special attention to women's rights, particularly the issues of gender equality that have seen remarkable progress since the establishment of "The UAE Gender Balance Council."
This was mentioned in the UAE's speech during the annual meeting to discuss certain issues related to women's rights as part of the 33rd session of the UN Human Rights Council, being held in Geneva that concludes on 30th September.
Obaid Salem Al Za'abi, UAE Permanent Representative to United Nations and Other International Organisations in Geneva delivered the speech. He welcomed the panel discussion on the Human Rights Council Resolution No. 6/30 in which the Council reaffirmed its commitment to include women's human rights and gender perspective in its work and mechanisms.
"The panel discussion complements the previous ones and represents a major shift in our view of the gender equality issue. This approach will affect the lives of women and girls across the world," he said.
The panel discussion also complements the provisions of various international human rights agreements related to women's rights, especially 'the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women' (CEDAW). Its first article prevents any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of gender, Al Za'abi noted.
He said that the women's rights domain has expanded as a result of the international commitments made by the countries and presented at the international and local levels in the form of measures to end discrimination against women in all its forms through integrating gender equality principles in the legal system and annulling all discriminating legislations as well as establishing the appropriate institutions and bodies to ensure women protection.
Al Za'abi reiterated the UAE's experience in the area of women's empowerment, and stressed that the UAE takes special interest in the women rights, particularly on the issue of gender equality.
The UAE Gender Balance Council would contribute to enhancing the position of women in various national and developmental work domains, which keep pace with the UAE Vision 2021, aimed at positioning the country among the 25 best countries globally, he concluded.
WAM/Hazem/Majok