NAMA Women Advancement Establishment is being set up to develop opportunities for women globally in three main sectors of economic, professional and social life. This follows the Emiri Decree issued by His His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and will see Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, and Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, as Chairperson.NAMA is mandated to launch, manage and supervise initiatives, programmes and projects to develop women in the country, the region and internationally and in this regard NAMA will collaborate and forge partnerships with local, regional and international bodies. It will also organise training and mentorships, provide advice and examine law and legislation concerning women. Her Highness pointed out that NAMA will also mobilize international diplomatic support for the advancement of women in society.
Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher said: “NAMA goes beyond the scope of supporting women and ensuring gender equality, to a broader remit that aims to see women become influential key members of society and enable them to climb the ladder of success in all sectors. It will encourage policies and legislation to support women and will actively pursue programmes that support gender integration into all sectors.”Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher pointed out that most strategies set in economic and professional sectors are built on the idea that men are the main players while women only have secondary roles, adding: “This means that women need to adapt to an environment and laws that were basically set to suit men. The only concessions to women are how we can help them to cope with this male oriented environment.”
Her Highness added: “What women really need is integration via legislation and strategies that provide the right opportunities. Integration means that women and men must be taken into consideration as two genders, each with their own characteristics, assets and capabilities. Therefore, the world must adapt to women's status as is the case with men's. It is time for the world to move to the stage of integration for the advancement of women. In fact, women do not want to be treated as men, but to be treated as women who have their own capabilities and requirements, skills and advantages.” NAMA will have a fund to support projects in various parts of the world and will establish a department for conducting research, drawing up strategies, policies, and evaluating innovations for the development of women in the economic, social and professional sectors on a global scale. Through its initiatives, programmes and sub entities, the “NAMA” Women Advancement Establishment will rally support, unify efforts, set plans and implement initiatives to achieve its goals. The NAMA Women Advancement Establishment aims to move from supporting women in a “man’s world” to a new, brighter future in which women will be able to climb the ladder of success and become influential members in society.