- Home
- Middle East
- UAE
- HCHF Women’s Forum calls for serious steps towards global protection, empowerment of women
HCHF Women’s Forum Calls For Serious Steps Towards Global Protection, Empowerment Of Women
Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published March 10, 2021 | 01:15 PM
ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 10th Mar, 2021) The Higher Committee of Human Fraternity (HCHF) hosted its first-ever Women’s Virtual Forum this week, featuring powerhouse female leaders, experts, and activists.
The participants included Vice President of Costa Rica Epsy Campbell Barr; UAE Minister of Culture and Youth Noura Al Kaabi; UN Women Executive Director and UN Under-Secretary-General Phumzile Mlambo Ngucka; former Director-General of UNESCO and member of the Higher Committee on Human Fraternity Irina Bokova; UNFPA Executive Director Natalia Kanem; Director of the University of Maryland SAFE Centre for Human Trafficking Survivors Susan Esserman; Secretary-General of Religions for Peace Azza Karam and Latifa Ibn Ziaten, recipient of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity 2021.
Campbell Barr, a trained economist, told the forum that the COVID-19 pandemic has threatened to set back economic development for women for the first time in 30 years, and that it is "essential to make money available to women" in order for them to develop their businesses and communities amid the pandemic.
Executive Director Mlambo Ngucka called on measures and policies to be passed specifically to support women and Al Kaabi offered a concrete example implemented in her country.
"The UAE has a strong legal framework to ensure women are not disadvantaged in any way in the job market. I think the most important decision concerning women and the job market [made during the pandemic] was allowing mothers with children in grade six and below, or those with children of determination, to work remotely from home," said Al Kaabi.
UNFPA Executive Director Natalia Kanem and Ambassador Susan Esserman discussed domestic violence and human trafficking, respectively.
"The respect and value of women must start with the girl child, who must be encouraged to understand that she is the equal of everyone on the planet and that her aspirations are important," said Kanem.
Esserman warned that criminal traffickers are using the parallel economic crisis to prey on and exploit those most desperate for income, housing, and security.
"We must strengthen the social safety net. Cash assistance and other recovery programs should be designed to take into account the needs of women and others most affected by the pandemic," said Esserman.
The forum continued with remarks from the first female Secretary-General of Religions for Peace Professor Azza Karam and activist Latifa Ibn Ziaten, recently awarded the 2021 Zayed Award for Human Fraternity.
Professor Karam urged religious and secular institutions to partner to respond to the humanitarian emergency.
"Today we have to manifest solidarity and to support the solidarity between the religious and secular, civic spaces," she said.
Women in today’s world are strong, Latifa Ibn Ziaten, winner of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity 2021, said, but they need support. "I wish to create a centre to welcome young girls, as well as women who are facing hardship in order to provide them with the needed assistance," she said.
Higher Committee of Human Fraternity Secretary-General Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam closed the forum, saying, "Women face several challenges in most of the world’s communities. This requires practical projects and programmes to overcome such challenges and achieve tangible results on the ground. Such goal cannot be achieved without the real engagement of women."
He further added, "This women’s forum featuring a distinguished group of prominent female leaders is just the beginning of more efforts to be made in order to empower women and protect their rights."
Abdelsalam pointed out that His Holiness Pope Francis, His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, and the members of the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity have a firm conviction that without women, true human fraternity can never be translated into action.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Pak Vs NZ T20I: Orphaned children extended special invitation to watch match
Finance Minister lauds UNDP’s unwavering support during floods
President Raisi leaves for Iran from Karachi
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 24 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 24 April 2024
Punjab CM inaugurates Pakistan’s first Virtual Women Police Station
Dutch model Donny Roelvink embraces Islam
Experts raise concerns over introduction of 10-stick packs
Iranian president arrives in Karachi
Law Minister expresses Govt's resolve to address issue of missing persons
Rizwan’s batting order may be changed: Sources
Nawaz Sharif to visit Guangzhou exhibition in China
More Stories From Middle East
-
UAE announces ‘Zero Bureaucracy Program’ to reduce bureaucracy
3 months ago -
COP28 President-Designate welcomes Transitional Committee agreement to operationalise Loss and Damag ..
6 months ago -
Global Media Congress 2023 to feature Co-Production Majlis as a new networking platform
6 months ago -
Young female athletes shine at Abu Dhabi World Youth Jiu-Jitsu Championship
6 months ago -
King of Jordan receives Abdullah bin Zayed and ministers participating in Arab coordination meeting
6 months ago -
Abdullah bin Zayed participates in coordination meeting of Arab foreign ministers, joint meeting wit ..
6 months ago
-
3rd annual conference of Emirates Society of Clinical Microbiology kicks off in Dubai
6 months ago -
SIBF 2023 hosts Nobel laureate to discuss emergence of ‘Afrofuturism’ in global discourse
6 months ago -
ALC announces winners of Kanz Al Jeel Award 2023
6 months ago -
SIBF turns spotlight on remarkable contributions of women
6 months ago -
Global assets in spot bitcoin ETFs hit $4.16 billion
6 months ago -
Rescuers struggle to find Nepal quake survivors as deaths reach 157
6 months ago