Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ABUDHABI1016
2007-06-19 09:11:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:
UNIFEM SUPPORTS TOWARDS MORE UAE WOMEN POLITICAL
how-toVZCZCXRO9160 RR RUEHDE RUEHDIR DE RUEHAD #1016 1700911 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 190911Z JUN 07 FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9150 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 001016
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE for NEA/ARP, NEA/PI, NEA/PPD, R, ECA, and DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM KWMN KMPI AE
SUBJECT: UNIFEM SUPPORTS TOWARDS MORE UAE WOMEN POLITICAL
PARTICIPATION
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 001016
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE for NEA/ARP, NEA/PI, NEA/PPD, R, ECA, and DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM KWMN KMPI AE
SUBJECT: UNIFEM SUPPORTS TOWARDS MORE UAE WOMEN POLITICAL
PARTICIPATION
1. On June 13, Sheikha Fatima, widow of the late President Sheikh
Zayed, honored 220 women graduates of the "Enhancing the Role of
Women Parliamentarians" program, which was organized in 2005 by the
General Women's Union in conjunction with the United Nations
Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM). The women graduates were a
mixture of young and old, experienced both the private and public
sectors. The nine women members of the UAE's Federal National
Council were among the graduates of the program, which was designed
to prepare UAE women to seek a more active role in the political
life of the country.
2. Public policies need to emphasize the value of gender
participation in all areas of the society, concluded a study
released during the graduation ceremony by Dr. Mariam Lootah,
Political Science professor at the UAE National University. Lootah
compared UAE women's contributions before and after the federation.
Her study suggests that newly acquired wealth has turned both men
and women UAE citizens away from involvement in politics and the
development of public policies. Lootah concluded her study by
offering recommendations for increasing women's political
participation. These recommendations include: encouraging societal
leaders to include women in the decision-making process, so that
they become active members in their society; correcting
misinterpretations of the role of women according to Islam; amending
the constitution and judicial laws to allow more societal
participation for women; increasing freedom of expression; and
creating more political awareness programs for women.
3. (SBU) Comment: The study is the first of its kind to clearly
reflect the reasons behind the limited political role of women.
Lootah has squarely placed responsibility on the UAE's political
leadership to raise the status of women citizens in the country and
received the applause of "Mother of the Nation" Sheikha Fatima in
doing so. End Comment.
SISON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE for NEA/ARP, NEA/PI, NEA/PPD, R, ECA, and DRL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM KWMN KMPI AE
SUBJECT: UNIFEM SUPPORTS TOWARDS MORE UAE WOMEN POLITICAL
PARTICIPATION
1. On June 13, Sheikha Fatima, widow of the late President Sheikh
Zayed, honored 220 women graduates of the "Enhancing the Role of
Women Parliamentarians" program, which was organized in 2005 by the
General Women's Union in conjunction with the United Nations
Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM). The women graduates were a
mixture of young and old, experienced both the private and public
sectors. The nine women members of the UAE's Federal National
Council were among the graduates of the program, which was designed
to prepare UAE women to seek a more active role in the political
life of the country.
2. Public policies need to emphasize the value of gender
participation in all areas of the society, concluded a study
released during the graduation ceremony by Dr. Mariam Lootah,
Political Science professor at the UAE National University. Lootah
compared UAE women's contributions before and after the federation.
Her study suggests that newly acquired wealth has turned both men
and women UAE citizens away from involvement in politics and the
development of public policies. Lootah concluded her study by
offering recommendations for increasing women's political
participation. These recommendations include: encouraging societal
leaders to include women in the decision-making process, so that
they become active members in their society; correcting
misinterpretations of the role of women according to Islam; amending
the constitution and judicial laws to allow more societal
participation for women; increasing freedom of expression; and
creating more political awareness programs for women.
3. (SBU) Comment: The study is the first of its kind to clearly
reflect the reasons behind the limited political role of women.
Lootah has squarely placed responsibility on the UAE's political
leadership to raise the status of women citizens in the country and
received the applause of "Mother of the Nation" Sheikha Fatima in
doing so. End Comment.
SISON