Sheikha Fatima hails UAE’s ‘icons of tolerance’ on Emirati Women’s Day

The UAE’s Mother of the Nation has hailed trailblazing Emirati women as “icons of tolerance” and a major driving force behind the rise of the country.

Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak paid tribute to the burgeoning role of women in society to mark Emirati Women’s Day, a pivotal occasion in the UAE calendar which she launched in 2015.

Sheikha Fatima, chairwoman of the General Women’s Union and president of the Supreme Council for Motherhood, praised the efforts of the country’s leadership to enable women to break down barriers and play an integral part in shaping the future of the Emirates.

She highlighted the directive by UAE President Sheikh Khalifa, to ensure the Federal National Council is represented equally by men and women after the coming elections, as a shining example of progressive policy.

“The chosen slogan of our celebration, ‘Women are Icons of Tolerance’, is a real reflection of the real nature of women, who are always compassionate and tender and deal with others with softness and kindness, because they are mothers and educators, especially the educated young women who always aspire to reach the highest levels of science,” said Sheikha Fatima.

In 2017, Sheikha Fatima, widow of Sheikh Zayed, the Founding Father of the UAE, was honoured by UN Women, a global champion for gender equality.

She said UAE rulers were following in the footsteps of Sheikh Zayed, who laid the groundwork for a society that encourages the contributions of all its members, regardless of gender.

“Our leadership has made the decision to give women everything they deserve and enabled them to participate with men in all areas of work,” she said.

The National