The Emirates Council for Gender Equality oversees a workshop to accelerate the implementation of Goal 5 of the Sustainable Development Goals

Dubai, 21 February 2017: In line with the UAE's commitment to support the implementation of the sustainable development goals of the United Nations Plan of Action 2030, the World Summit of Governments held a workshop on the role of science, technology and innovation at its fifth session from February 12 to 14, Support the achievement of sustainable development goals.

The Emirates Council for Gender Balance oversaw a specialized workshop within the workshops to examine ways to accelerate the implementation of the fifth goal of sustainable development aimed at "achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls".

The workshops were organized in cooperation with the United Nations, the World Bank, the United Nations Foundation and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, with the participation of scientists, experts and government officials to discuss and discuss the key challenges to achieving these goals and to develop possible solutions.

Campaign "GAME-IN"

During the three days, each working group of Sustainable Development Goals Action Teams was assigned to the 2017 Global Summit of Governments to produce an innovative science, technology and innovation innovation to support the implementation of their goal. At the closing ceremony, the fifth target group, led by HE Reem Al Falasi, Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood and member of the Emirates Council for Gender Balance, presented an innovative multi-platform campaign "GAME-IN," which was ranked third by the audience based on the feasibility and feasibility of the idea For the application.

The campaign focuses on encouraging schools, governments, businesses and non-governmental organizations to partner with stakeholders to launch multi-platform ICT campaigns on gender equality through SMS, video, radio, Internet games, applications, etc. to change stereotypes about gender equality. The Panel proposed the design of a multi-category global award to encourage and appreciate ICT-based campaigns that have the greatest impact on gender balance and will be divided into specific categories of schools, governments, corporations and non-governmental organizations.

The GAME-IN campaign will be presented at the next meeting on sustainable development goals to be held in New York in May. In support of the campaign, government accelerators will run the campaign and provide the necessary training, in order to make the campaign a success and accelerate the achievement of its objectives.

Minister of State for International Cooperation; HE Abdullah Nasser Lootah, Director General of the Federal Authority for Competitiveness and Statistics and member of the Emirates Council for Gender Balance; HE Masharya Kamau, Ambassador of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Kenya to the United Nations; HE Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin, World Bank Senior Vice President for Sustainable Development 2030, United Nations and Partnerships; and HE Dr. Cathy Calvin, President and CEO of the United Nations Foundation.

"We are proud of the important role we have played in advancing sustainable development goals at the World Summit of Governments by hosting a workshop on Goal 5, which brings together experts from both countries," said Mona Ghanem Al Marri, Vice President of the Emirates Council for Gender Equality. Gender groups from around the world to discuss the best use of science, technology and innovation in promoting gender equality and empowering women. "

"Innovation is at the heart of the UAE's development strategy, and we are confident that the GAME-IN campaign, created by the fifth target team, will bring about tangible change and serve as a catalyst for change in the coming years. I would like to thank all those who participated in this important initiative and contributed to this success. "

Campaign Contributors

Commenting on the 5th Goal Workshop at the World Summit for Governments, Reem Al Falasi, Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood and member of the Emirates Council for Gender Equality, said: "I was pleased to run the fifth objective workshop on the sidelines of the World Summit of Governments, And the exchange of experiences between specialists and experts from America, Europe, Asia and Africa, which resulted in a number of creative ideas distinguished; including the campaign, "GAME-IN," which ranked third. She praised the efforts exerted by the Emirates Council for Gender Equality and its active participation in hosting the workshop and its keenness on empowering women and achieving balance between them and their male partner in various fields and sectors not only in the UAE but also in the world. "

"As a member of the UN Secretary-General's High Level Committee on Economic Empowerment for Women, I was privileged to participate in the Action Group on the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN Plan," said Elisabeth Vazquez, CEO and Co-Chair of WE Connect International. United Nations at the World Summit of Governments to accelerate the achievement of the fifth goal of 'achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls'. The coordinators of Working Group 5, representatives of the Office of the Prime Minister of the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs and the Future of the UAE and the Emirates Council for Gender Equality, have supported our group to develop and lead an international campaign aimed at radically changing the way people think and achieve gender equality. We have shared our experiences in campaign building with a variety of stakeholders to change standards and make a positive impact. This is just the beginning to launch a strong campaign to change the way people think and look at human potential and support gender equality. "

"There is a need for collaboration between supporters and leaders of the sustainable development goals, to put them into effect, with special emphasis on technological empowerment," said Annar Simpson, special adviser to the Mozilla office of the chairman.

"Birds do not fly with one wing. Allah has created men and women to complement each other, so why not take full advantage of our capabilities together?" Said Amado Mokhtar Ba, co-founder and CEO of the African Media Initiative. Our modern world faces many crises, and the only way to solve them is to achieve gender balance within the concept of humanity. This is not easy, but we can achieve it through the concerted efforts of stakeholders in our society. It will always seem impossible to achieve gender balance until it is achieved. "

Dr. Natasha Ridge, Executive Director of the Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi Public Policy Research Foundation, said: "The Fifth Objective Workshop discussions played a major role in inspiring all of us and encouraging us to think creatively on many issues related to gender equality. We have recognized that one of the challenges to achieving the fifth goal lies in the social norms that men and women face in their daily lives. Women are seen to be at home, and men are seen as the primary responsibility for spending on the family. This view impairs women's quest to build their careers, while men are forced to spend long hours working, which prevents them from spending enough time with their families. By giving up this view, we will be able to support women and men to take advantage of their respective potentials to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. "

The world's first gender balance guide

It is worth mentioning that the Emirates Council for Gender Equality launched the "Gender Balance: Best Practices for Institutions in the UAE" at the World Summit of Governments, a comprehensive set of guidelines and concrete actions aimed at helping institutions in the UAE adopt a more objective, Through gender differences in the workplace. The development of the guide, in cooperation with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), was intended to provide concrete benchmarks and steps to enhance gender balance in decision-making positions, promote a women-friendly work environment and consolidate the concept of gender balance within the framework policy.