'Raising Women's Role: Achievements and Charity': Online forum between Armenian and UAE female officials

As part of its cultural initiatives, the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Armenia on Friday organized an online forum bringing together outstanding female activists, diplomats, policymakers and officials.

The discussion, entitled Raising Women's Role: Achievements and Charity, was dedicated to the Emirati Women's Day, an annual holiday celebrated in the UAE since 2015 upon the initiative of Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood.

The keynote speakers of the event were Deputy Minister of Justice Christine Grigoryan, Armenian Ambassador to Belgium Anna Aghajanyan, President of the Young Armenian Women's Association Lilit Asatryan, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood (UAE General Women's Union) Reem Al Falasi, UAE Ambassador to Montenegro Nabila Abdelaziz Nasir Saeed Alshamsi, and Chargé d'Affaires of the UAE Embassy to Armenia Ahlam Rashed Al Salami.
 
In her speech, Ms Ahlam Rashed Al Salami emphasized her country's achievements in raising women's role by ensuring gender equality and protection guarantees. She also prioritized the UAE government's strategy aiming to pave the country's way to the world's 25 top-ranking states' index (in terms of women's equality). Ms Al Falasi addressed their organization's activity, emphasizing the Supreme Council leader's priority focus on women's education and professional training. "A woman in the [United Arab] Emirates is considered a key role-player in the state-building processes," she told the participants.

Ambassador Alshamsi addressed the challenges for women amid the coronavirus pandemic, noting that 65% of their medical personnel involve women professionals.

Deputy Minister Grigoryan briefed the audience on the Armenian woman's general characteristics and image, eleborating on the past years' achievements, especially in the political domain. Ambassador Aghajanyan spoke of the difficulties and challenges for women in diplomacy.

At the end, the president of the Young Armenian Women's Association addressed wonen's achievements and difficulties in business.