Women, youth set to play key role in FNC elections

Women and young people make up a large portion of those who will be voting in the Federal National Council (FNC) elections. Women consist of 46 per cent of the total members of the Electoral College, while 35 per cent of members are below the age of 30, the National Election Committee (NEC) said. "The strong participation of women in FNC elections reflects the UAE's commitment to treating all citizens equally, irrespective of their gender or any other differences," said Dr Anwar Mohammad Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs and Chairman of the NEC. "Women stand for half of the UAE society and can best represent issues relevant to them. The political participation of women is a necessity that will lay strong foundations for a well developed modern society in line with our culture and history," he added. Out of 129,274 Electoral College members across the UAE 69,283 are men and 59,991 are women. Members are spread across the country with 52 per cent in Abu Dhabi, 47 per cent in Dubai, 48 per cent Sharjah, 39 per cent in Ajman, 33 per cent in Umm Al Quwain, 38 per cent in Ras Al Khaimah, and 30 per cent in Fujairah. "The UAE stands first in empowering women in the Middle East and North Africa where working women represent 59 per cent of the total public sector workforce, according to a study by the United Nations," Gargash said. "More than 22 per cent of the members in the previous Federal National Council were women and the UAE Cabinet already has four women ministers," he added.