ABU DHABI, 19 December 2006 — The UAE’s National Council elections has differentiated itself from the political processes in the region through the strong participation of women, both as candidates and as part of the electoral college.
The strong participation is also visible through the fact that 14 percent of the candidates and 17 percent of the electoral college are women.
The participation of the women reflects the tolerance of UAE society, known for its understanding and acceptance of women’s participation in public life.
The leadership of the UAE has always emphasized and encouraged this role. While on a tour of the polling station in Dubai, Mohammad ibn Rashid Al-Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, said that he was most encouraged by the participation of women in the electoral process. “The huge participation is a positive thing, and what pleases me most is the participation of women,” he told reporters. “Where there are no women, there is no spirit ... we want to support the first step and build on this in the future.”
One of the candidates, Suhailah Ghubash, a 30-year-old event sponsorship manager, said she was proud to take part in the elections. “As an Emirati woman I feel that there are certain issues that need to be focused on. Education is the cornerstone of progress; if we do not have a good educational system then we would always be behind other nations in terms of progress,” she said. “I wanted to take part in this historic event as I feel that it will help in the interest of my country.”
Another candidate, Mona Busamra, was encouraged to take part because of the great support that she gets from government.
“I have never felt discriminated against because of my gender,” she said. “The opposite is true. I have always felt that my country has provided the best of everything for me.”
Busamra, who works as journalist for one of the Arabic dailies, was heartened by the fact that a woman had already secured one of the seats.
“The fact that Dr. Amal (Al-Qubaisi) was elected just shows how progressive the UAE is in terms of women rights,” said Busamra. “She was elected and was not appointed to the seat by the government like in the other countries.”
The elections, she said, is not her first democratic experience. “My election to the journalist’s association was the first step, and this will be the second step,” she said.
Meshgan Al-Awar is one of the strong candidates for the seats in Dubai. Running a campaign under the slogan “what is difficult we do today, what is impossible we do tomorrow,” Al-Awar said she has a lot to offer to the National Council. Currently the director of Research and Studies Center at Dubai Police Academy, Al-Awar is also the secretary general of the higher committee of the Zayed International Prize for the Environment as well as the managing editor of the Society and Environment magazine.
