Ministry of State for Federal National Council Affairs and General Women’s Union targets raising awareness about political participation among women

As part of its continuous efforts to enhance political awareness and spread the culture of political participation in the community, the Ministry of State for Federal National Council Affairs (MFNCA), in collaboration with the General Women’s Union, organised a lecture titled ‘Be part of the event’. 

The session forms part of the sixth edition of the Neighbourhood Councils initiative in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and aims to raise awareness of the nature of parliamentary life in the UAE, and highlight the prestigious status enjoyed by Emirati women in the field of parliamentary work on an international level.

Held at the headquarters of the General Women’s Union in Abu Dhabi, and delivered by Ms. Ahlam Al Lamki, Head of the Union’s Research and Development Department, the session sought to raise awareness about the importance of women’s participation in the upcoming Federal National Council (FNC) elections 2023 as candidates, voters, or volunteers.

Al Lamki explored the concept of political participation, looking back the most significant stages of the Political Empowerment Programme, launched by the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan in his speech in 2005, on the 34th anniversary of the UAE’s establishment, and the role that the programme plays in strengthening empowerment efforts in the UAE, where Emirati women had a large share.

The session shed light on the General Women’s Union’s efforts towards women’s political empowerment, where it introduced an integrated system of programmes and initiatives dedicated to achieving this goal. It also highlighted the efforts made in this regard, and the advancement made by Emirati women in the field of parliamentary work, which resulted in the first Emirati woman serving as member of the FNC in the first electoral cycle in 2006.

Al Lamki went on to stress the central role that women play – given that they account for half of all seats in the Council – in exercising the FNC’s legislative and oversight powers to ensure the country’s interests, meet the aspirations of its citizens, and continue the UAE’s development journey across all sectors.

“Women’s achievements in the field of parliamentary work in the UAE are concrete and ongoing,” she said. “Having a woman as Speaker of the Federal National Council during its 16th Legislative Chapter from 2015 to 2019 – who was the first woman to preside over a parliament anywhere in the Arab world and the Middle East – is a direct result of the vision of our wise leadership and its directives to empower Emirati women and enhance their influential and active presence in the field of parliamentary work in the country.”

Al Lamki stressed the significance of women’s participation in the upcoming Federal National Council elections as a means to enhance the path of empowerment Emirati women enjoy, noting that women were present – and strongly so – in all previous electoral cycles, which confirms the importance of their role in the success of the next electoral cycle.

Moreover, she emphasised the importance of ensuring informed participation by women in the upcoming elections, by educating them and constantly informing them of key issues of concern in the community, which they can integrate into their electoral campaign programme, if they choose to run for membership of the Council, while making sure female voters cast their ballots in favour of qualified candidates who represent the Emirati people and express their issues and aspirations.

This year, the Ministry of State for Federal National Council Affairs issued a guide titled ‘Building Parliamentary Capacity for the UAE Community’, which includes five main chapters that shed light on key topics, namely: the Political Empowerment Programme, the Federal National Council, the Federal National Council elections, empowering voters, and upskilling candidates.

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