Saif bin Zayed attends 'Women in a Changing World' summit

The event, held at GWU headquarters in Abu Dhabi, is jointly organised by the GWU, UN Women, the International Telecommunication Union, and the UAE Cybersecurity Council.

The conference aims to deepen understanding of the relationship between cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and the women, peace, and security agenda. It also seeks to integrate a gender equality perspective into strategies for cybersecurity and AI.

Additionally, the conference focuses on enhancing the protection of fundamental freedoms in the face of evolving cyber threats and fostering regional and international cooperation to address these threats and promote security and peace.

Sheikh Saif bin Zayed thanked President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his unwavering support in empowering Emirati women across various fields.

Sheikh Saif delivered a speech on behalf of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, saying, "This dynamic forum unites experts and specialists from the UAE and allied countries worldwide to explore ways to strengthen international cooperation, partnership, and dialogue. It provides a platform for sharing ideas and insights on the vital connection between cybersecurity, AI, the women, peace, and security agenda. Additionally, it emphasises the importance of enhancing women's knowledge in the military sector to effectively address cyber threats and promote peace and security.

Today, I am pleased to highlight the UAE's remarkable efforts in empowering women in the field of peace and security, to build and develop women's capabilities not only locally, but also regionally and globally, through the 'Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Women, Peace and Security Initiative', which is as part of a wider strategic vision to empower women in security decision-making and foster sustainable peace.

Within this initiative, the Centre of Excellence for Women, Peace, and Security was established, a global platform to enhance international cooperation in cybersecurity and diplomacy. This is in addition to launching the UAE's National Plan to implement Resolution (1325), making the UAE the first country in the Gulf region to have a national programme to support the implementation of global commitments on women, peace, and security.

It has always been a source of pride to share these experiences with the world. These insights are rooted in the UAE's longstanding commitment to empowering women and ensuring their active participation across various domains, including the promotion of security and peace, as well as cybersecurity, which plays a vital role in safeguarding global security.

Digital technology undeniably offers a remarkable opportunity to create a more equal, sustainable, and peaceful future for all. However, this progress must be directed towards positive outcomes. As a result, the importance of cybersecurity and digital safety is growing daily. These measures serve as a protective shield against the dangers associated with the Internet and technological advancements in digitisation, artificial intelligence, and the data revolution. Enhancing the safe and positive use of technology is essential to preserving privacy and data security while ensuring the continuity of essential operations for governments and security agencies.

The goals of this summit are to seek to enhance international cooperation to support efforts to advance women's digital and cyber expertise in the military field, which effectively contributes to addressing global challenges and supporting the maintenance of international peace and security in the digital space.

I have a strong belief in the value of women's contribution and leadership, and their ability to advance peace and tolerance that can create new hope and a more peaceful future for societies around the world."

Commenting on the conference, Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women, stated, "This year's summit serves as a crucial platform for advocating for women in a rapidly evolving global context. It highlights the vital connections between cybersecurity, AI, and the women, peace, and security agenda, aiming to incorporate a gender equality perspective into these critical areas.

Addressing cybersecurity threats requires safeguarding fundamental freedoms and bolstering international and regional cooperation. It is encouraging to see Abu Dhabi's expanding role in these efforts, in line with the vision of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, particularly in collaboration with UN Women to enhance women's participation in international peace and security initiatives. Our shared commitment to empowering women and fostering leadership is essential for building a sustainable peace for everyone."

Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union, said, "I would like to express my sincere thanks to the UAE for its continued efforts to support international organisations in strengthening global cooperation on pressing issues. The UAE's forward-looking approach, especially in the areas of A and cybersecurity, is a model for the world. I would also like to extend my sincere gratitude to Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak for her exceptional efforts in empowering women in all fields, including the digital field. Her leadership and dedication have not only elevated the status of Emirati women but have also inspired and supported women around the world to take on leadership roles in technology and security."

Noura Al Suwaidi, GWU Secretary-General, said, "Under the visionary leadership of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, the General Women's Union is dedicated to strengthening women's roles in global peace and security through the "Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Women, Peace, and Security Initiative."

This programme, she said, has successfully trained hundreds of women from the Arab world, Africa, and Asia in leadership skills related to security and peacebuilding, aligning with a broader strategic vision to elevate women's involvement in security decision-making and sustainable peace efforts.

The summit focuses on emerging challenges in the digital landscape, highlighting the importance of educating women in the military sector about cybersecurity—an essential foundation for protecting businesses and government organisations in today's interconnected world.

Dr. Mohammed Hamad Al Kuwaiti, Head of the UAE Cybersecurity Council, said, "I am pleased to join you today in this important event, which reflects the UAE's commitment to enhancing cybersecurity and empowering women. There is no doubt that building cyber trust is a fundamental pillar for a thriving digital economy. I am also pleased to extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak for her continuous support for the Council's initiatives in the field of cybersecurity."

He added that this conference reflects Her Highness's keenness to build a safe and prosperous global digital community.

Al Kuwaiti added, "The Cybersecurity Council is hard to enhance confidence in cyberspace by developing clear legal and regulatory frameworks, encouraging the exchange of information between the public and private sectors, and raising community awareness on the importance of cybersecurity. We believe that cyber trust is key to attracting investments and encouraging innovation. At the same time, we emphasise that cyber threats know no borders, and confidence in cyberspace requires protecting data from breaches and violations. Therefore, the Cybersecurity Council is working to enhance cooperation with international partners to exchange information and expertise and develop common standards for cybersecurity, noting that international cooperation is the only way to address the growing challenges in the field of cybersecurity."

Bérangère Böell, United Nations Resident Coordinator at the UAE, said, "The rapid advancements in technology and science hold transformative potential for a more peaceful, secure, and prosperous future. Breakthroughs in AI, digital connectivity, and cybersecurity offer us unprecedented opportunities to bridge divides, enhance resilience, and tackle global challenges,

"This brings the UN's Pact for the Future to the forefront. Agreed upon at the UN General Assembly in September, this Pact is a global commitment to bold solutions that address emerging challenges and opportunities. It calls us to build a safer, more equal, inclusive, and sustainable world—a vision that aligns seamlessly with the Women, Peace, and Security agenda. As we pursue the Sustainable Development Goals, we must ensure that women are at the centre of peace and security strategies that respond to today's complex realities."

Ghalia Al Mannai, Head of the Strategic and Development Affairs Committee at the GWU, emphasised that cybersecurity serves as a protective shield against advanced cyber threats in our digital age.

She also announced the launch of an international programme aimed at training trainers for women in the Arab region and globally on national governance of cybersecurity and cyber diplomacy.

This programme targets women involved in cybersecurity policymaking within the ICT sectors, as well as participants in peace and security initiatives. Additionally, it aims to support women in technical roles who wish to broaden their knowledge and gain the expertise necessary to advance into positions in cyber policy and cyber diplomacy. Three panel discussions took place as part of the summit.

The first session was titled "Cybersecurity and the Women, Peace and Security Agenda in the Age of Artificial Intelligence". This panel featured Lucy Berger, Ambassador of the European Union to the UAE; Gaëlle Demoulis Ebasa, Policy and Programme Specialist for Governance, Peace, and Security at the Regional Office of the United Nations Entity for Women in Asia; Dr. Ebtesam Al Mazrouei, Head of the Artificial Intelligence for Positive Impact Initiative of the United Nations; and Awadh AlMur, CEO of Artificial Intelligence at the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation.

The first session focused on key findings from a UN Women study on cybersecurity and the Women, Peace, and Security agenda, examining how AI can address cyber threats and enhance security from this perspective. It also highlighted the opportunities AI presents for advancing cybersecurity and the Women, Peace, and Security agenda.

The second session, titled "Integrating a Gender Equality Perspective into Cybersecurity Strategies," included Mustafa Üna lErten, Chief of UNODC Regional Centre for Combating Cybercrime and the Head of Programme Office in the State of Qatar; Dr.Bushra AlBlooshi, Director of Governance and Risk Management at DESC; and Priyank Mathur, Founder and CEO of Mythos Labs.

This discussion showcased case studies and best practices for incorporating the Women, Peace, and Security agenda into national cybersecurity strategies, with successful examples from various Asian countries.

The third session, titled "Confronting Cyber Threats and Their Impact on Fundamental Freedoms," featured Maqsoud Cruz, Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission; Shimona Mohan, Associate Researcher with UNIDIR's Gender & Disarmament and Security & Technology programmes; Salem Salmeen Al Nuaimi, Director of the National Planning and Preparedness Department at the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority.

This session analysed how cybersecurity threats impact fundamental freedoms, including the right to privacy and freedom of expression, drawing insights from the United Nations Human Rights Office, UNESCO, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and various international NGOs. The discussion emphasised the critical roles of international institutions, governments, and NGOs in addressing these risks and the need to strengthen regional and international cooperation in cybersecurity.