Reem Alsalem, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, said that gender balance and equality between men and women are top priorities for the UAE during her official visit on Thursday.
“This steadfast and clear approach enjoys the full support of the country’s leadership, government, citizens, and residents,” she said in a media briefing in Abu Dhabi.
Alsalem emphasized that the UAE’s programs and policies are designed to empower women and promote active their participation across all industries.
Read: Mouza Al Suwaidi named secretary-general of UAE Gender Balance Council
She said the UAE has accomplished significant milestones in this area, creating a solid foundation for continued progress in women’s empowerment, and reinforcing their role in society, and ensuring the support and protection of women and girls from any form of violence.
Alsalem highlighted that this visit was her sixth to various countries to assess their policies on protecting women and girls. She noted that her official visit to the UAE stood out as one of the most well-organized and cooperative, with all her meeting requests being promptly accommodated and the program carried out with exceptional flexibility and efficiency.
Alsalem pointed out the significant progress the UAE has made in fulfilling its international commitments to protect and promote women’s rights and expressed her deep gratitude to the UAE government for inviting her to undertake this official visit, emphasizing that it was one of the best visits she has conducted since assuming her role as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls.
Read: How achieving gender equality could add $21 trillion to global GDP
She noted that the UAE has shown remarkable progress in advancing women’s rights and supporting their participation across all sectors, including politics and the economy.
UAE’s gender equality commitment
The United Nations ranked the UAE 7th globally and 1st regionally in the Gender Equality Index for 2024. Moreover, the UAE received a score of 82.5 out of 100 from the World Bank in 2023 for ensuring women’s rights, reflecting the country’s strong commitment to this cause.
The UAE guarantees equality for all before the law and upholds social justice and equal opportunities. Over the years, the Emirates has launched numerous initiatives and projects to promote gender balance, empower women, strengthen family values, and address violations against women and girls.
Aslsalem also pointed out the presence of a positive legal framework for children’s rights in the UAE, including the Federal Law on Child Rights Law (Wadeema) which provides protection for all children from abuse, neglect, exploitation, and mistreatment.
She added that the UAE has worked to enhance women’s political empowerment, notably by increasing women’s representation in the Federal National Council to 50 percent and establishing the UAE Gender Balance Council.
Empowering women
The UN official also acknowledged the significant role played by institutions such as the General Women’s Union and the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood in supporting and empowering women and girls and raising their awareness. She praised various programs and activities aimed at supporting girls who are victims of violence.
Alsalem also applauded the UAE’s continued efforts in supporting United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security, highlighting the launch of the Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Women Peace and Security Initiative in 2019 as part of the UAE’s role in advancing the global Women, Peace, and Security agenda.
In July 2021, she was appointed by the UN Human Rights Council as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls for a three-year term. Her tenure officially began on August 1, 2021.
