'Fatima bint Mubarak Women, Peace and Security Centre’ launched

The Centre highlights the UAE's commitment and support to the active participation of women in peace and security and all sectors.

The launch of the Centre is in line with the goals of the Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Women, Peace and Security Initiative, a joint project with the General Women’s Union, with technical support from UN Women.

Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak highlighted the UAE's commitment to building national, regional, and global capacities of women in peace and security to contribute to an enabling environment for women, raise public awareness about gender roles in peacekeeping and enhance the role of women decision-makers in the Arab region and globally.

She said, "The Centre represents a significant opportunity and model in consolidating international cooperation in sharing knowledge and promoting the exchange of information and best practices on the women, peace and security agenda. It will strengthen the capabilities of relevant authorities working in government entities related to the women, peace and security agenda to support women’s participation in leadership positions across local and international peacekeeping operations. And to gain valuable benefits of creating a new reality and spaces to empower women to be leaders and decision-makers in peace and security."

She added, "The UAE is a pioneering model in supporting the full, equal and effective participation of women in all vital and developmental fields with a focus on the security sector.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, affirmed that UAE, under the vision of its leadership, continue the journey started by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, to provide unlimited support to Emirati women’s empowerment. "Emirati women are key contributors to national achievements and the UAE’s vision for the future."

He noted that Emirati women have been the leading figures in the inspiring success stories across various sectors. He expressed his delight at the launch of the Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Women, Peace and Security Centre of Excellence, highlighting its vital role in promoting women’s empowerment and building the capacities of women to sustain peace, prosperity and progress, while giving them the opportunity to perform their duties in their homelands and across the world.

Noura Al Suwaidi, Secretary-General of the General Women’s Union, said that the Centre, launched in collaboration with the UN Women Liaison Office for the GCC, builds on the UAE’s extensive efforts to achieve the strategic objectives of UN Security Council Resolution 1325.

Dr. Mouza Al-Shehhi, Director of the UN Women Liaison Office for the GCC, said that the new Centre "is unique for our region and the world, as it provides various opportunities to share experiences and build capacities to support the women, peace and security agenda, in line with the objectives of Security Council Resolution 1325. The integration of in-person and virtual training methods represents a real opportunity to reach the largest number of women around the world, and to maximize the impact of the Center beyond geographical barriers, and the restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic on movement and travel.

The launch of the Centre is in line with the UAE’s efforts to promote gender equality as an essential policy in the nation and to underline the important role of women in the peace and security sectors by unifying the efforts of 14 national bodies including federal, local and civil society committee members who prepared the National Action Plan headed by the General Women’s Union.