(MENAFN- Emirates News Agency (WAM)) In an editorial today, the Dubai-based English-language newspaper Khaleej Times said that women continue to make strides in the UAE and have been at the forefront of progress. "Their efforts at nation-building have been recognised by the government. Being leading lights of change come with responsibility even as social reforms have been put on the fast track. It is therefore no surprise that the Arab Women Foundation ranks Emirati women as the most powerful in the Arab world," it said.
The editorial said that women have made the country proud as corporate leaders, entrepreneurs, government decision-makers and parliamentarians. "It's encouraging to note that women have moved out of their private world into public life effortlessly. Credit for this shift is due to the emphasis the government places on education - the key to an enlightened society where every individual is treated as an equal. It also signals a change in attitudes of society at large," it said, before adding that gender bias is unacceptable in a civilised society, and the government has been pushing legislation to empower women and highlight their accomplishments. "A Gender Balance Council was established in February to promote women's welfare and root out prejudice against them," the paper reminded.
The editorial went on to quote His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, who said, "We in the UAE are keen to enable women and put them in the right positions,'' during the launch of the council.
"Figures show Emirati women occupy 66 percent of public sector positions, out of which 30 percent are in effective leadership and decision-taking," said the paper.
It added, "In a global and connected environment, the government is serious about the role of women and actively supports leadership programmes for them in the public sector, corporates and academia. Integrating local and international perspectives could prove a challenge but the government has a long-term strategy to place more women in leadership positions at the political and corporate level."
"The judiciary and the diplomatic corps are two other areas where women can shine. The best from them is yet to come," the paper concluded.
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