On the eve of International Women’s Day, Mother of the Nation Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak has hailed the contribution of Emirati women to UAE society and highlighted their many accomplishments.
Sheikha Fatima, Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, used an address on the day of the campaign – with its message "be bold for change" – encouraged women to fulfil their ambitions.
"The late Sheikh Zayed made every possible effort to support the talents of Emirati women and to develop social conditions which encourage women’s advancement to fully participate in public life," Sheikha Fatima said.
Sixty-six per cent of public sector employees in the UAE are women, she said, adding that these women have reached the highest positions including membership and the presidency of the Federal National Council, participation in global diplomacy and advancing roles in medicine, engineering, arts and sciences.
The Mother of the Nation also said that Emirati women account for 70 per cent of students in government tertiary-level institutions.
"The Emirates is one of the few countries in the world where the literacy rate of women is higher than that of men," she said.
Sheikh Fatima also encouraged women to continue working to fulfil their ambitions in the public and private sector, emphasising that "women are able to achieve significant success in all fields".
She called for concerted efforts to improve humanitarian conditions and protection for women, and confirmed the UAE’s commitment to support the empowerment of women on both the regional and global levels.
"I look forward to the day when we can celebrate International Women’s Day when all forms of discrimination and violence against women have been eliminated," she said.
The Mother of the Nation Festival 2017 will run from March 26 April 4 on Abu Dhabi Corniche. It will attract visitors from all walks of life and introduce them to the contributions to society of Emirati women.

Source: The National