CSW WOMEN'S ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT RESOLUTION - UAE

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000863 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/PI AND IO/EDA - J.SHANNON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: UN CSW KWMN EAID KMPI TC SUBJECT: CSW WOMEN'S ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT RESOLUTION - UAE REACTIONS REF: STATE 30251 ¶1. Pol Chief discussed the draft resolution on the Economic Advancement of Women with MFA Director for International Organizations Yacub Al Hosani on February 20. Post also shared copies of it with the Abu Dhabi Businesswomen,s Council and with the General Women,s Union, whose director, Noora Al Suwaidi, is leading the UAE delegation to the &Beijing Plus Ten8 conference in New York, February 28-March 11. Al Hosani assured Pol Chief that the UAE was sending a strong delegation to the conference, but he said he could not offer any reaction to the resolution because he was on mission outside the country all this week. He said it would be best if the USUN Mission in New York could share the draft resolution with the UAE Mission in New York, as well as with the General Women,s Union. ¶2. The Abu Dhabi Businesswomen,s Council reacted positively to the draft, but offered several suggestions. The Council said the draft should describe how the ideas in the resolution will be implemented. Two important areas are missing from the draft: first, training for women, and second, establishing business &incubators8 to support women with setting up small- and medium-sized businesses. In the Arab world, such business incubators are not yet functional, according to the Businesswomen,s Council. ¶3. The General Women,s Union (GWU) said that education, well-regulated markets, financial services, information technology, and good governance were essential for women,s empowerment. At the same time, there were many differences between nations, including their history, religions, languages, and regimes that have had a huge influence on society. The GWU said that the recommendations would need time to implement, but the organization expected the resolution to be adopted at the &Beijing Plus Ten.8 The GWU also commented that in order to have women participate in politics, it was necessary to solve poverty, and enhance their technological knowledge, education, and economic participation. SISON