UN's Reem Al Salem Highlights UAE's Progress in Improving Female Participation

UN’s independent expert stated that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has successfully made strides for the empowerment of women as well as gender equality. It has also fulfilled international obligations for protecting and promoting the rights of females.

UN special rapporteur on violence against women and girls, Reem Al Salem has underscored the progress of the country in enhancing the participation of women in political and economic spheres, also combating violence against women and girls. Besides, she cautioned that the protection gap still persists for some vulnerable women, specifically for migrants and domestic workers

“For instance, the government provides housing for a victim of domestic violence. But that is offered only for Emirati women. While safeguards and protection may be officially available for non-Emirati women victims of violence but language barriers, a fear of reporting, and legal status as migrants pose challenges,” she added.

More to the statement, she stated, “a more standardised and harmonised approach is needed to ensure better access of all women, notably the most vulnerable and the non-Emirati population, and scale up outreach, and community-based grass roots initiatives such as women-only social centres. Moreover, I believe more could be done to ensure federal laws are systematically interpreted and applied in a coherent manner by the authorities in different Emirates.”