UAE promises to provide UN Women $15 million Donation to Boost Women's & Girls' Empowerment

By pledging an additional US$15 million to UN Women over the next three years (2023-2025) through a pledge made on June 15, 2023 in New York, the United Arab Emirates, a longtime partner of UN Women, reaffirmed its commitment to advance gender equality, the Women, Peace and Security agenda, as well as the empowerment of women and girls worldwide.

The gift was disclosed in a meeting with Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women, by UAE Minister of State Noura Al Kaabi.

Minister Al Kaabi emphasised the importance of this partnership at the meeting, which was also attended by Ambassador Lana Nusseibeh, Permanent Representative of the UAE to the UN, Amierah AlHefeiti, Deputy Permanent Representative of the UAE to the UN, and Abdulla Al Harthi, Advisor to the UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs.

"We firmly believe that the full, equal and meaningful participation and inclusion of women across society is essential for achieving sustainable development and long-lasting peace," declared Minister Al Kaabi. In addition to advancing the Women, Peace and Security agenda, this partnership will promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence, especially in light of historic resolution, as well as advance the participation of women and girls in climate action during and before COP28 in the UAE.

The financing announcement follows the historic UN Security Council resolution on "Tolerance, Peace, and Security," which was co-authored by the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.

The resolution acknowledged that gender discrimination may contribute to conflict and violence, particularly sexual and gender-based violence, and was unanimously accepted on June 14 during the UAE's month-long Security Council Presidency. It also emphasised the importance of gender equality, women's economic empowerment, and women's full, equal, and meaningful involvement in order to advance tolerance, peaceful coexistence, and to combat extremism.

Executive Director Sima Bahous emphasised that the UAE's long-standing cooperation with UN Women goes beyond financial support after the news. The creation of the Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak WPS Training Initiative and the UN Women GCC Liaison Office in Abu Dhabi are just two examples of the many accomplishments that have come about as a consequence of the UAE and UN Women's long-standing partnership.

“Additionally, Ambassador Nusseibeh emphasised the UAE's close ties to UN Women. As co-chairs of the Informal Expert Group on Women Peace and Security and members of the UN Women Executive Board, we are collaborating with UN Women across platforms”, she said. In addition, Ambassador Nusseibeh emphasised the crucial part that women must play in addressing the climate problem. In particular, as the next host of COP28, she emphasised the UAE's readiness to work with UN Women on expanding climate action and innovations.

From 2023 to 2025, the UAE will be a member of the UN Women Executive Board. It has previously held the offices of Board Member from 2013 to 2019 and President in 2017. The UAE has so far made voluntary donations totaling more over US$46 million, making it one of the organization's top worldwide donors and the region's top contributor.