UN told of progress for women in UAE

Delegation talks of increasing role in business and politics.

There are "many misconceptions" regarding the role of women in the UAE and particular progress has been made in recent years, a delegation from the country told a UN committee. The comments came from Reem al Hashemi, the Minister of State, who led around 25 representatives of the Government at a day-long hearing in Geneva, Switzerland.

The group answered questions on issues including the treatment of migrant workers and domestic violence. Tuesday's hearing was the first assessment since the Government ratified the UN's Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (Cedaw) in 2004. In her opening statement, Ms al Hashemi said progress had been made in the 38 years since the UAE was formed. Women made particular strides since 2004, and had become increasingly active in the political and business spheres, she said.

Education was the most important way to advance female empowerment, Ms al Hashemi said. She noted developments such as the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Children, which is in the process of being established. "The United Arab Emirates society is basically a conservative society which strongly rejects trafficking and exploitation of persons, especially women and children, and prohibits all acts which affect women, as the religious and cultural beliefs prevailing in the UAE society deplores such practices," she said.

Regarding the treatment of migrant workers, a law for domestic workers, currently at the draft stage, would define their rights, Ms al Hashemi said. Discussions also touched on the issues of stateless people and nationality, which the delegation said steps were being taken to address. When Cedaw was ratified by the UAE in 2004, the Government voiced some reservations, Ms al Hashemi said. However, she told the committee charged with monitoring the treaty that the leadership was working on applying the convention in a way that was "not contrary to our legislation and our cultural heritage".

"Our common objective is to strengthen together the role of women and their empowerment in the United Arab Emirates," she said. The session follows the submission of a government report on the status of women to the Cedaw committee in 2008, as part of the UAE's obligations under the convention. Last October, the UAE submitted another report in response to questions raised by the committee, including whether there was an intention to allow Emirati women married to foreigners to pass their nationality to their children.

According to the UAE's written response, the Government was "taking action" to study the situation. Organisations such as Mafiwasta, a UAE migrant workers' rights group, and the Migrant Forum in Asia presented the committee with shadow reports. Mafiwasta's submission called gender-based discrimination in the UAE "inextricably linked to nationality", with foreign domestic workers among the most vulnerable groups.

The organisation's Nick McGeehan, who attended Tuesday's session, said the questioning by the UN committee, chaired by Naela Gabr, was "very robust" and focused on the treatment of domestic workers and their "exclusion from the labour law". "I'm delighted that the UAE appeared and engaged with the committee," he said. The UN committee is expected to issue a series of concluding observations, including recommendations, next month.