Deliver Keynote Speech at IIFMENA

His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, will deliver the keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the second edition of the ‘Investing in the Future’ (IIFMENA) Conference in Sharjah. 

Held under the theme ‘Building the Resilience of Women and Girls in the Arab Region’, the conference will take place on October 19-20 under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah and His Wife, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Big Heart Foundation, UNHCR Eminent Advocate for Refugee Children and Chairperson of NAMA Women Advancement Establishment.

Organised by the Big Heart Foundation, a Sharjah-based humanitarian organisation dedicated to helping refugees and people in need worldwide, the second edition of the Investing in the Future conference is being hosted in collaboration with the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, also known as UN Women. The conference will focus on economic and social‎ development of women and girl-child, with a special highlight on the rights of girl-child.

His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan said: “Our participation in this conference stems from our commitment to fuel women empowerment and our belief in the integral role that women play in economic development and the advancement of society. The progress of any society is dependent upon the degree of cultural and social development of its women and their active participation in building communities. A society that believes in the influential role of women and works to fully engage them in all spheres of life is one that has reached an advanced level of human consciousness. This is something that invariably has positive results on its economic and cultural progress, its stability and its security.” 

His Highness Sheikh Abdullah Al Nahyan praised the efforts of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Mother of the Nation, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, to support and empower women in the UAE. His Highness also paid tribute to His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah and His Wife, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, for their commitment to advance the role of women in Sharjah and internationally.

His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s participation in IIFMENA will enrich the conference due to the great personal attention he has paid to the support and empowerment of women. This has enabled women to participate actively in public life, in particular through their presence in the diplomatic corps. Their positions in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and at UAE embassies and consulates abroad is in alignment the leadership’s vision to support Emirati women in all areas.

In September 2014, His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan participated in the ‘HeForShe’ solidarity campaign, which was organised by UN Women and took place in New York. The initiative aimed to ensure gender equality in the 21st century by aiming to eliminate discrimination, advocate rights for women and build female capacity.

During the opening ceremony of the ‘Global Women's Forum Dubai’ held in February, His Highness stressed; “the remarkable achievements of Emirati women in various fields are not through chance or luck, rather they are a result of hard work, a clear vision and continuous efforts.” His Highness added that the UAE does not accept any diminution of the role of women, nor discredits the impact of their role, nor minimises its value.

The Investing in the Future conference, which is being held in Sharjah for the second time, will bring together government officials, representatives of international organisations and non-governmental organisations, advocates of gender equality, academics, media personalities and experts to review the key issues that contribute to full empowerment of women for a safe and stable society.

The conference will feature a number of key speakers and academic experts in the field of gender politics who will review and discuss the progress achieved by women in the MENA region. The ultimate aim of the event is to create a sustainable approach to development through the formulation of a roadmap towards an integrated package of humanitarian programmes that maintain the capacities of women and girls.