Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, Honorary Patron of Sharjah Businesswomen Council (SBWC), has praised the UAE Gender Balance Council for its role in empowering women and supporting them in achieving local and international success.

Sheikha Jawaher said the UAE Gender Balance Council enhances women's contribution to the development of the UAE and that its establishment was a new step toward empowering and supporting women.

She also praised the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, for their proactive stance towards supporting UAE women and facilitating their access to higher positions, and most importantly, for ensuring stability within their families and at work, which enables women to give their best and participate in the march of development in their country.

In a statement Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi further welcomed the appointment of Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum as the President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, as an acknowledgement of Sheikha Manal's outstanding efforts and continuous work in supporting and empowering Emirati women to become community leaders and a driving force for the ongoing development in the UAE, wishing the newly appointed board members success in fulfilling their national duties.

She also paid tribute to the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the nation's founder, who also did much to support and empower women to create a generation of women capable of sharing leadership, excellence, renaissance and development with their male counterparts.

Sheikha Jawaher said, "The UAE leadership has worked devotedly, since the early years of the creation of the Union, on women's education and abilities to help them enter the job market, as well as to provide a supportive and appropriate environment for them. This was an important issue for the late Sheikh Zayed, and continued by the UAE leaders of today."

She went on to praise the vision of H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, who seeks to support and empower women in the Emirate. Sheikha Jawaher also pointed out that the laws brought in by H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan have improved the role of working women, particularly those who are married. Some of those laws include maternity leave, breastfeeding breaks and the provision of nurseries within workplaces, which all work towards removing barriers and obstacles facing women and enabling them to achieve and excel.

Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi in her statement further praised H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union (GWU), Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF) and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, for her outstanding effort and significant role in supporting UAE women, as well as for her contribution to upgrading women's position locally and globally. Sheikha Jawaher noted that Sheikha Fatima's guidance and leadership had a significant impact on the status of Emirati women in our country today.

Emirati Women had made many significant achievements in various areas during the march of the Union, as Sheikha Jawaher pointed out, "They managed to move up to top executive positions in both public and private sectors, thanks to the wise leadership's vision and support. Emirati women also proved their ability to contribute to the social and economic development locally, regionally and globally. "
Source: WAM