The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced its commitment to provide an extra $15 million in funding to UN Women over the next three years. The aim is to promote gender equality, empower women and girls worldwide, and enhance their participation in peacemaking, conflict prevention, and peace-building efforts.
Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of State, expressed the UAE’s support during a meeting with Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women, in New York. The meeting, held on Thursday, was attended by Ambassador Lana Nusseibeh, Permanent Representative of the UAE to the UN, Amiera Al Hefeiti, Deputy Permanent Representative of the UAE to the UN, and Abdulla Al Harthi, Adviser to the UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs.
This funding commitment follows the recent adoption of a significant UN Security Council resolution on tolerance, peace, and security. Co-authored by the UAE and UK, the resolution, unanimously adopted on June 14th, recognizes that gender discrimination can contribute to conflict and violence, including sexual and gender-based violence. It emphasizes the crucial role of women’s full, equal, and meaningful participation, gender equality, and women’s economic empowerment in promoting tolerance, peaceful coexistence, and countering extremism.
Ms. Al Kaabi highlighted that this additional funding pledge reaffirms the UAE’s longstanding partnership with UN Women, which aims not only to advance gender equality but also to address other shared priorities. She emphasized the belief that the full and inclusive participation of women across society is vital for achieving sustainable development and lasting peace.
Furthermore, this partnership will not only contribute to the women, peace, and security (WPS) agenda but also advance the involvement of women and girls in climate action. It will play a role in the upcoming COP28 in the UAE, fostering tolerance, peaceful coexistence, and resilience, particularly in light of the recent historic resolution.
The UAE will serve on the UN Women executive board from 2023 to 2025, having previously been a member from 2013 to 2019 and serving as its president in 2017. With voluntary contributions exceeding $46 million to date, the UAE has established itself as one of the top global funders of UN Women and the leading contributor in the region.
Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women, emphasized that the UAE’s partnership with UN Women extends beyond financial support. The collaboration has resulted in significant achievements, including the establishment of the Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak WPS Training Initiative and the UN Women GCC Liaison Office in Abu Dhabi.
Ambassador Lana Nusseibeh emphasized the UAE’s close relationship with UN Women, indicating their joint efforts as co-chairs of the Informal Expert Group on Women, Peace, and Security, as well as their membership in the UN Women Executive Board.
Recognizing the vital role of women in addressing the climate crisis, she expressed the UAE’s keenness to further collaborate with UN Women in advancing climate action and technologies, especially as the incoming host of COP28.
