DUBAI: Women need to believe in themselves, not be afraid to ask for help, and communicate their needs, asserted speakers at a session titled ‘Women on the Frontline and their Role in Empowering Other Women and Young Girls’ on day one of the Knowledge Summit 2019 at Dubai World Trade Centre.
H.E. Hjayceelyn Quintana, Philippine Ambassador to the UAE, said that the Emirates was leading the way in women’s representation,with half of the Federal National Council was made up of women. She also said the Philippines was at the forefront of gender equality and ran public campaigns against VAW (violence against women).
“Violence against women could take many forms including trafficking or forced early marriages,” she said. “Empowering women means stopping violence against women and children. It’s very important girls grow up in a secure environment.”
The Ambassador added that it was difficult to collect data on violence towards women as the victims often feel ashamed and don’t come forward.
H.H. Sheikha Jawaher Khalifa Al Khalifa, Chairperson of the Sheikha Jawaher Al Khalifa Foundation for Youth Empowerment, asserted that her mother “always gave her the chance to make her own decision–to choose her own path.”
“Every woman has a role in empowering herself and other women – you have to look for a purpose in your life, ”H.H. Sheikha Jawaher said.
Dr Mouza Al-Shehhi, Executive Director of the UN Women Liaison Office for the GCC, said there wasa need for more women in peacekeeping, despite it being a non-traditional career path for them.“It has psychological benefits and builds up women’s confidence,” she said.
The GCC Liaison Office was set up in October 2016 under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, known as ‘Mother of the Nation’in the UAE. Its main priorities are women, peace and security, and women’s economic empowerment. The session heard that 134 Arab women from seven countries started the peace and security training programme in January 2019, all of whom successfully graduated in April 2019.
For her part, Aziza Osman, Social-Impact Entrepreneur and Consultant, said women’s empowerment was a topic “close to her heart.” She said women were often reluctant to apply for roles because they were missing a single requirement, whereas men didn’t see that as a problem.“It is a question of confidence,” she said.“More women are now joining the workforce but although they were in a lot of entry level roles, there were not so many in senior executive roles.”
“Barriers exist around women joining the workplace,” said Osman,citing childcare as an issue, and pointing totechnology as a means for helping women be more flexible and have a better home/work life balance.
“You need to choose your own path,” H.H. Sheikha Jawaher said. “The greatest obstacle you have in life is yourself. You must change and start over, don’t think that if you don’t succeed in something that you are a failure – you are not– just look for something else and you’ll find it.”
