Gender equality frameworks ring hollow in face of Gaza war: UAE tells UN

UAE's Minister of State Noura Al Kaabi highlighted how the war on Gaza and "extreme poverty" will impact the progress in gender equality or women's empowerment.

Delivering the UAE’s national statement at the 68th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), she emphasised the need to protect Palestinian women and girls.

"Today’s frameworks to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment ring hollow in the face of the war on Gaza, which is killing Palestinian women and girls," she said, adding, "Our commitment to the promotion and protection of women and girls worldwide must extend to them, too."

Minister Al Kaabi stressed the need to strengthen and develop national institutions, social protection systems, and public services to ensure that women and girls have access to quality education and put them at the forefront of efforts to finance climate action.

"With projections that by 2030, 575 million people will still live in extreme poverty, we are finding ourselves in a race against time to achieve sustainable development and the 2030 Agenda.

"We know all too well the detrimental impact this has had on the progress gained globally for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls."

Minister Al Kaabi also participated in a Ministerial Roundtable on mobilising financing for gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls, specifically policies and strategies to end women and girls’ poverty.

She highlighted that UAE has supported the launch of the joint UN Women and International Trade Centre’s Global Campaign on Gender-Responsive Public Procurement, which aims to reduce barriers that women entrepreneurs face when competing for public tenders to promote their empowerment, as well as their full, equal, and meaningful participation.