Fifth Annual Women in Leadership Forum under way
Emirati women have received special privileges and continuous care and have played a central role in the traditional UAE society and are now playing a bigger role in the modern society, the Minister of Social Affairs said. Mariam Bint Mohammad Khalfan Al Roumi gave the opening speech at the Fifth Annual Women in Leadership Forum Middle East and Africa, being held from May 29-30.
Fifth Annual Women in Leadership Forum under way
Emirati women have received special privileges and continuous care and have played a central role in the traditional UAE society and are now playing a bigger role in the modern society, the Minister of Social Affairs said.
Mariam Bint Mohammad Khalfan Al Roumi gave the opening speech at the Fifth Annual Women in Leadership Forum Middle East and Africa, being held from May 29-30.
The two-day forum is hosting over 200 of the region’s most powerful businesswomen and leaders to share, learn, network and forge new business relationships.
The first day saw the distribution of the Women Leadership forum’s awards.
In her speech, Mariam said that the legislative structure of the “starting with the constitution and all the rules and regulations that form it involves supporting and empowering women and protecting their rights. It also deepens the principles of equality and engagement”.
She noted that 65 per cent of women in the UAE are part of the public sector’s work and that half of those women are in senior positions. She also added that companies managed by women usually carry out their social responsibilities without being asked, she added.
Recent women empowerment initiatives in the UAE confirmed that empowering women in the workplace and implementing diversity and inclusion are more than a social responsibility, they are a necessity for economic growth.
Dr Nemat Shafiq, deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund, who also gave a speech at the forum, said that women in the MENA region in general are not fulfilling their full economic potential.
She added that it was important to create policies to help fulfil their economic potential. She explained that statistics show that companies in Fortune 500 that employ more women are more profitable than other Fortune 500 companies by between 18-69 per cent.
Nemat explained that education is very high in Mena, and in some countries there are more women than men in higher education. However, she said, only 21 per cent of women enter the labour force in the Mena region, as apposed to 50 per cent in other regions of the world.
Mariam Bint Mohammad Khalfan Al Roumi gave the opening speech at the Fifth Annual Women in Leadership Forum Middle East and Africa, being held from May 29-30.
The two-day forum is hosting over 200 of the region’s most powerful businesswomen and leaders to share, learn, network and forge new business relationships.
The first day saw the distribution of the Women Leadership forum’s awards.
In her speech, Mariam said that the legislative structure of the “starting with the constitution and all the rules and regulations that form it involves supporting and empowering women and protecting their rights. It also deepens the principles of equality and engagement”.
She noted that 65 per cent of women in the UAE are part of the public sector’s work and that half of those women are in senior positions. She also added that companies managed by women usually carry out their social responsibilities without being asked, she added.
Recent women empowerment initiatives in the UAE confirmed that empowering women in the workplace and implementing diversity and inclusion are more than a social responsibility, they are a necessity for economic growth.
Dr Nemat Shafiq, deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund, who also gave a speech at the forum, said that women in the MENA region in general are not fulfilling their full economic potential.
She added that it was important to create policies to help fulfil their economic potential. She explained that statistics show that companies in Fortune 500 that employ more women are more profitable than other Fortune 500 companies by between 18-69 per cent.
Nemat explained that education is very high in Mena, and in some countries there are more women than men in higher education. However, she said, only 21 per cent of women enter the labour force in the Mena region, as apposed to 50 per cent in other regions of the world.
29/05/2013