Director-General of the Geneva Centre for Human Rights Advancement and Global Dialogue, Dr. Hanif Al Qasim, has stressed that Emirati and Arab women, without any external pressure, are now capable of creating a new reality that is more conducive to their cultural and social peculiarities.

Al Qasim was speaking during a panel discussion on "Advancing the status of women in the Arab World."

He cited rising education rate, women's access to jobs, increased efforts by governments as well as civil society organisations' awareness of the issues as factors behind improvement in women's empowerment.

The world, he added, expects women to play more effective roles as part of the Sustainable Development Goals, adopted by the United Nations in 2015 to end poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and tackle climate change by 2030.

He also noted that the discussion, organised by the Geneva Centre and UNESCO Liaison office, was held as part of the centre's interest in monitoring and presenting women's issues in a specialised and balanced manner.

Al Qasim also noted that the meeting was held as part of the centre's strategic partnerships with governments, international agencies and civil society organisations.

Ambassador Obaid Salem Al Zaabi, the UAE Permanent Representative to United Nations and Other International Organisations in Geneva, diplomats and UN experts attended the panel discussion.

Source:WAM