The UAE continues to lead global humanitarian efforts, championing gender equality and women’s empowerment through its robust partnership with the United Nations (UN).
At the Global Women’s Forum Dubai 2024, a session titled “Glimpses of UAE-UN Humanitarian Partnership” underscored the nation’s deep-rooted commitment to humanitarian aid, with a focus on conflict zones and marginalized communities.
Organized in collaboration with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the panel featured eminent speakers, including Dr. Sara Chehab, Senior Research Fellow at the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy; Berangere Boell, UN Resident Coordinator for the UAE; Sajeda Shawa, Head of OCHA UAE; and Maha Gorton, Head of the Women’s Pavilion, Expo City Dubai.
Sajeda Shawa praised the UAE’s longstanding humanitarian ethos, inspired by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak. Highlighting the UAE’s significant role in global humanitarian assistance, she said,
“The UAE’s commitment is deeply rooted in its values, reflecting compassion and generosity on a global scale.”
Dr. Sara Chehab emphasized the UAE’s focus on women’s empowerment, noting its domestic achievements with women holding one-third of cabinet positions and nearly 50% of diplomatic roles. Internationally, the UAE’s humanitarian aid prioritizes women’s economic and social empowerment.
The UAE’s contributions to humanitarian efforts were lauded, including $130 million for Lebanon, $100 million for Sudan, and food aid airdrops in Gaza. Berangere Boell emphasized the UAE-UN partnership's principles of humanity and neutrality, with UAE contributions to the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee reaching 27% in 2023.
Speakers concluded by advocating for greater inclusion of women in peace negotiations, highlighting that gender parity is key to sustainable and impactful humanitarian outcomes.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
