FNC election: Casting a vote will bring women power

UAE Government has given opportunity women must grasp.

ABU DHABI // Women voters are being urged to “empower” themselves by voting in Saturday’s Federal National Council election.

During the early voting period this week women who worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and were students at the Emirates Diplomatic Academy students voted.

And after casting their vote they said that they hoped every woman who was eligible to vote in the election would do so and stressed that the experience had made them “feel empowered”.

Hessa Al Shuwaihi said voting was a chance for women to make themselves heard.

Her colleague, Shaikha Shakhbout, said the Government had afforded women many opportunities, but they should also take the initiative.

“Women have their rights. However, we play a greater role in society and we want more initiative from the women themselves,” she said.

Another colleague, Amna Al Owais, said the FNC was working to help women gain gender equality and aid in the development of the country and economy. “We don’t want women to just be empowered by their seniors, we want them to push for it and become great in what they do. We want them to feel capable of reaching all fields,” she said.

Ms Al Owais agreed with her colleagues, saying that the FNC gave women candidates and voters the opportunity to participate in the country’s development. They praised the initiative of early voting as it gave a chance to vote despite their busy work schedules.