Highlighting the UAE’s Global Role in Advancing Women’s Participation in Peacebuilding and Peacekeeping

Her Excellency Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of State, participated at the International Conference on Women, Peace, and Security (ICWPS 2024), hosted by the Republic of the Philippines, alongside ministers and other governmental and parliamentary delegations from 84 countries. The conference aims to highlight achievements and challenges related to the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which underscores the importance of equal participation of women in all efforts to maintain peace and security in conflict zones and during post-conflict recovery.

The three-day conference commenced on Monday and was launched by Louise Araneta-Marcos, Philippines’ First Lady, with Her Excellency Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, in attendance.

Her Excellency Noura Al Kaabi expressed her appreciation to the Government of the Philippines for organizing the conference. During her participation in a high-level panel discussion, Her Excellency emphasized the UAE’s efforts in enhancing women's involvement in peacebuilding, as it recognizes the crucial role women play in conflict prevention, resolution, and sustainable peacebuilding.

She highlighted significant achievements by the UAE in this area, particularly the National Action Plan to support the implementation of global commitments regarding women, peace, and security under UN Security Council Resolution 1325. Launched in 2021 by Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, “Mother of the Nation,” Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, the plan was the first of its kind by a member state of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Her Excellency underlined that the national plan aims to respond to gender perspectives in foreign policies, achieve effective participation of women in conflict prevention, and enhance women’s participation in the politics of the country.

Furthermore, Her Excellency emphasized that the UAE’s involvement goes beyond national borders, as it supports and launches regional and international initiatives aimed at promoting the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda, referring to the conference on the "Role of Women in Conflict-Affected and Post-Conflict Societies” with a special focus on the Arab world, hosted by Abu Dhabi in September 2022, under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, “Mother of the Nation.”

Additionally, Her Excellency highlighted the launch of the Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Women Peace and Security Initiative in 2019, which aimed at enhancing women's participation in the security and peace sectors by developing their skills in relevant fields. This initiative has successfully trained over 600 women across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.

H.E. Al Kaabi emphasized that the UAE provided financial support for various programs designed to promote the WPS Agenda, including an additional USD 15 million contribution to UN Women from 2023 to 2025 to promote the empowerment of women and gender equality. In total, the country has contributed over USD 46 million to the UN agency focused on women.

Her Excellency also highlighted the UAE’s commitment to supporting women's leading role in peacebuilding as a founding member of the Network of National Focal Points of the United Nations concerned with Women, Peace and Security. The UAE invested over USD 2 billion in more than 113 countries to develop programs related to the protection of women and girls and contributed USD 800,000 to support UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs projects aimed at increasing women's representation and effective participation in peacekeeping operations and post-conflict processes.