The UAE being the lead advocate and supporter of Women Empowerment in the Arab World!
The UAE adopted 11 new laws and legislative changes between 2019 and 2020 to improve women’s rights and ensure their overall empowerment. In terms of political involvement, President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan released a resolution in 2019 calling for a 50 percent female representation in the Federal National Council during the 2019 elections. The UAE released Federal Decree-law Number 6 of 2020, amending certain provisions of Federal Law Number 8 of 1980 regarding labor relations legislation, allowing female workers in the private sector to take an additional five days of paid maternity leave on top of their already 45-day maternity leave. Fathers will also be given a paid leave of absence of five days.
The United Arab Emirates became the first Arab country to allow private sector workers to take parental leave. The UAE also released Decree of Federal Law Number 6 for 2020, which stipulates that women and men in the private sector should be paid equally if they do the same or similar jobs. His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, has approved Federal Law-Decrees amending the Penal Code. Amendments to the Penal Code and Criminal Procedural Law have abolished the provision granting shortened (lenient) sentences in what are known as “honour offences,” reflecting the UAE’s strong commitment to upholding women’s rights.
