Why gender equality won at the UAE Gender Balance Awards

The UAE has responded to media coverage regarding its Gender Balance Awards, the recipients of which happened to be entities led by men. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the UAE Gender Balance Council said: "This is indicative of the great and extraordinary progress we have made as a nation, where men in the UAE are proactively working alongside women to champion gender balance as a national priority." 
"This year's Gender Balance Index recognised significant gender balance efforts, such as raising the participation of women in the police force to become the highest in the Arab world, and the implementation of the 'Remote Employment' initiative, which increased the employment opportunities for women in the Northern Emirates and remote areas, where fewer jobs are available.
"The index's awards were received by men on behalf of the governmental entities they represent," the council added.
The council said the UAE is known for its "unwavering commitment to embedding a steadfast culture of gender balance across the region". "This commitment has long since been translated into legislation and applied through the implementation of federal initiatives that ensure both women and men are recognised and included as equal counterparts with integral roles to play in the country's progression and development.
"In line with the federal government's belief in the importance of gender balance, the UAE Gender Balance Council was created under the leadership of Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who serves as its President. Since its creation, the council's efforts have steadily and surely enhanced gender balance across the nation.
"It is imperative to highlight the extraordinary achievements women have made in the UAE across various fields - achievements that were made due to their vision, talent, and hard work, and with the support of their male counterparts and a federal government that believes in women's equal and valuable contribution to the development of the nation. 
"This form of support is evident in the UAE through the issuance of laws such as the Law on Equal Wages and Salaries for Men and Women and Presidential directives to increase women's representation in the 2019 parliamentary elections to 50  per cent. Dr. Amal Al Qubaisi, the President of the Federal National Council (FNC), is the first woman in the Arab world to be elected as speaker of a national council. The support women receive is also illustrated through decrees such as those stipulating the mandatory presence of women on boards of directors, and initiatives that work towards fostering supportive working environments to increase their participation in the workforce," the council said. 
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