‘Women represent half of society. They are leaders, innovators and a true participant in all aspects of life,’ says Ras Al Khaimah Ruler
The forum, organized by the Aman Shelter for Women and Children, witnesses wide participation from Arab countries and international organizations
H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, inaugurated today the second edition of the Regional Forum for the Prevention of Violence Against Women and Children – Reality & Strategies. Organized by the Aman Shelter for Women and Children at Al Hamra International Exhibition & Conference Centre in Ras Al Khaimah.
In his opening speech, H.H. Sheikh Saud stated that supporting and protecting the rights of women and children is part of the moral teachings of Islam, which calls for justice and equality between men and women and teaches us to respect the right of a child to a healthy upbringing and a decent life.
H.H. Sheikh Saud added: “We learned from the late Founding Father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan that bringing out the humanity in people is key to building civilizations and that investing in humankind is the best means of ensuring success, wellbeing and prosperity. The UAE is committed to marching forward under the leadership of H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. The UAE’s ongoing development, both in terms of its infrastructure and its human capacity building, is an indicator of a promising future, as we continue to advance our society and achieve leading positions internationally.”
H.H. Sheikh Saud confirmed that his decision to establish the Aman Shelter in 2017 was in line with the strategies of the UAE Government and was driven by the goal of making the Shelter a place that helps those in need, rehabilitates and integrates women and children back into society and provides a platform to unify the efforts of partners across the UAE and beyond.
The 2-day forum witnessed wide participation from Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia, Jordan, Algeria, Egypt, Sudan, Iraq, Palestine and Bahrain, as well as international organizations working in the field. It proved to be a valuable arena for discussing various Arab experiences of ways to prevent the abuse of women and children.
Khadija Al Tenaiji, Director of the Aman Shelter, said: “Hosting the second edition of this important event in Ras Al Khaimah further builds on the wise leadership’s dedicated efforts to addressing the issues of women and children, empowering women and promoting the ‘stable family’ concept, which forms the nucleus of developed Arab communities.”
Al Tenaiji added: “Through the second edition of this forum, we seek to engage government bodies, ministries and civil society representatives across Arab countries and challenge them to review their policies and find solutions to the issues of violence against women and children. We aim to enhance collective action, build partnerships, negotiate further agreements and develop a unified strategy to combat violence against women and children. The forum helps decision makers to gain further insights from the experiences and solutions presented and help abused women by protecting their freedom and dignity in all Arab societies.”
To make optimal use of the participation of the various countries in the region, the Aman Shelter for Women and Children in Ras Al Khaimah is organizing a brainstorming session to discuss creative ways to bolster efforts to protect women and children from violence. The aim is to provide practical solutions that are proposed and adopted as outcomes of the Regional Forum for the Prevention of Violence Against Women and Children.
The forum will include an exhibition, where government, semi-government and private-sector entities from Ras Al Khaimah will showcase their efforts and services designed to address the issue of violence against women and children.
