UAE pledges an additional US$15 million to UN Women

New York: As a long-standing partner of UN Women, the UAE reaffirms its commitment to advancing the gender equality, women, peace and security agenda, and empowering women and girls globally with an additional US$15 million to the United Nations through a presentation on June 15 in New York Commitments made to women in the next three years (2023-2025).

Minister of State Noura Al Kaabi announced the donation during a meeting with UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous.

At the meeting – which was also attended by Ambassador Lana Nusseibeh, Permanent Representative of the UAE to the United Nations; Amierah Al Hefeiti, Deputy Permanent Representative of the UAE to the United Nations; Abdulla Al Harthi, Advisor to the UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister Al Kaabi – stressed that the partnership not only is key to advancing gender equality, as well as other shared priorities.

“We strongly believe that the full, equal and meaningful participation and inclusion of women in society is critical to achieving sustainable development and lasting peace,” said Minister Al Kaabi.

“This partnership will not only contribute to the women, peace and security agenda – it will also advance the role of women and girls in climate action and foster cooperation for tolerance and peace ahead of and throughout the UAE’s COP28 – in particular Considering yesterday’s historic resolution.”

The funding announcement comes after the UN Security Council passed a historic resolution on “tolerance, peace and security”, co-authored by the UAE and the UK.

The resolution, adopted unanimously on 14 June during the UAE’s presidency of the Security Council for June, recognizes that gender discrimination fuels conflict and violence, including sexual and gender-based violence. It also emphasized that women’s full, equal and meaningful participation, gender equality and women’s economic empowerment are critical to promoting tolerance and peaceful coexistence and countering extremism.

Following the announcement, Executive Director Sima Bahous emphasized that the UAE’s long-standing partnership with UN Women goes beyond financial support. “The close cooperation between the UAE and UN Women has resulted in several achievements over the years, including the establishment of the Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak WPS Training Program and the UN Women GCC Liaison Office in Abu Dhabi,” she said.

Ambassador Nusseibeh also highlighted the close relationship between the UAE and UN Women. “As co-chairs of the Informal Expert Group on Women’s Peace and Security and as a member of UN Women’s Executive Committee, we are joining forces with UN Women across platforms,” ​​she said.

Ambassador Nusseibeh also affirmed the important role women are playing in addressing the climate crisis. She highlighted the UAE’s willingness to further collaborate with UN Women to advance climate action and technology, especially as the new host of COP28.

The UAE currently serves on the Executive Committee of UN Women for the period 2023-2025. The UAE previously served as a member of the board from 2013 to 2019 and as chairman in 2017. To date, the UAE has provided more than US$46 million in voluntary contributions, making itself one of the organization’s largest funders globally and a major donor in the region.