ABU DHABI: Dr. Maitha Al Shamsi, Minister of State and Chairperson of the Supreme Committee of the Sheikha Fatima Fund for Refugee Women, has emphasised the importance of global partnerships as a key driver in the work of local and international bodies and organisations, with the aim of accelerating international efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) worldwide.
Dr Al Shamsi pointed out the keenness of H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union (GWU), President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF), Honorary President of the ERC, and Chairwoman of the Sheikha Fatima Fund for Refugee Women, in supporting refugee issues, especially for women.
She explained that Sheikha Fatima is deeply committed to supporting women’s developmental efforts and empowering them to be key and active partners in achieving opportunities and accomplishments in general, especially those efforts directed at
refugee women.
She added that since the establishment of the Fund, H.H. Sheikha Fatima has launched numerous projects and programmes aimed at developing refugees’ capabilities and enhancing their skills in various developmental fields to ensure a dignified life for them.
The statement came in the context of Dr Al Shamsi’s comment on the participation of ERC team within the UAE delegation that is taking part in the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development being held in New York under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council, which concludes today under the theme will be “Reinforcing the 2030 Agenda and eradicating poverty in times of multiple crises: the effective delivery of sustainable, resilient and innovative solutions’.
The ERC participated in many accompanying events at the forum, including a session with Amina J. Mohammed Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, and several representatives of participating countries and organisations.
The UAE philanthropic authority also t
ook part in a lecture at New York University, attended by a number of graduate students from NYU School of Professional Studies, the Global Security and International Affairs programme, and other majors.
Abdullah Nasser Lootah, Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Knowledge Exchange, and Chairman of the National Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, said, “The UAE plays a pivotal role in supporting global humanitarian issues, making it a model and a bright spot in developmental work. The Sheikha Fatima Fund for Refugee Women has launched many initiatives and projects that have reinforced the noble Emirati values globally, such as peace, development, and empowerment for all social segments, particularly women. These initiatives have provided solutions with quick positive results and impact, benefiting women’s contributions to creating a future for themselves and their communities.”
The Fund for Refugee Women, launched in 2000 in collaboration with the Emirates Red Crescent and the
UN High Commission for Refugees, aims to provide protection and assistance for refugee women and children worldwide.
The ERC said the Fund signed two agreements with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) at its headquarters in Geneva.
The first agreement renews their partnership for three years to support refugee women, while the second launches a US$1 million project to provide sustainable shelter for refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Burkina Faso and Chad, benefiting around 871 families.
The ERC successfully implemented a project in Uganda in cooperation with the UNHCR, benefitting over 45,000 people, of whom 60 percent are women working in the agriculture and livestock sectors.
Source: Emirates News Agency