UNDP praises Saudi women empowerment

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has made major strides in empowering women in 2015 with the participation of women in the municipal elections both as candidates and voters, United Nations Resident Coordinator and the United Nations Development Program Resident Representative Ashok Nigam said here on Wednesday.
Nigam was speaking at a panel discussion on the role of Saudi women on social cohesion organized by the United Nations country team in Saudi Arabia and the King Abdulaziz Center for National Dialogue to mark International Women’s Day at the UN headquarters here.
The event included screenings of award-winning short movies that are produced locally with messages promoting peace and dialogue, and a panel discussion on the role of Saudi women in promoting social cohesion. Key government officials and members of the diplomatic corps were present.
“Increasing numbers of women are entering the workforce and it is notable that more women are in higher education than men, thus providing a reservoir of human capacity that the country can benefit from greatly,” Nigam said, pointing out that “such positive steps need to be applauded, encouraged and given more visibility,” he noted.
“Listening to the views of women across the range of challenges that a nation faces will only help in finding the ‘right’ solution and in creating an inclusive society.”
“Women are at the core of building harmony and social cohesion as they are often described as having abilities that naturally support and promote peace, especially in educating the next generation of children and passing on important values. The children and youth of today and tomorrow will learn much from their mothers and they have to take forward the mutual understanding and respect that mothers can impart to their children. Education plays a significant role in supporting social cohesion and is a core component of building peaceful sustainable societies.”
Islamic teaching emphasizes the process of creating the strongest bond possible in order for people to live in harmony. The concepts of community, unity, family and social relationships are at the roots of Islamic teachings, Nigam said.
“As the father of three daughters, I appreciate the importance of hearing their views and want to see them thrive in a world in which gender equality is a reality and not an aspiration. Let’s all work together for a better sustainable world, which can only be achieved through social cohesion in which women play a leading role,” he stressed.