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Riyadh, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Hassem Mohamed Albudaiwi has praised the role of Gulf women and the great achievements they have made in the construction and development processes in GCC societies in all fields.
The Secretary’s General statements came during his meeting with a number of female employees of the General Secretariat of the GCC, on the occasion of International Women’s Day, which is annually observed on March 8 and comes this year under the theme “DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality”.
He said: “The world is witnessing a digital and technological gap between both genders, despite the adoption of many countries of successful policies that have affected the involvement of women in the social, economic, political and cultural aspects, but women in some countries of the world still suffer from their lack of full and potential benefit from modern technology, which has hindered their progress in this field.”
The Secretary General emphasized that with the world increasingly moving towards automation and digital literacy, the GCC states have empowered Gulf women in the field of technology and digital learning, employing women in leadership and managerial positions in information and e-government agencies, encouraging them to challenge and innovate, and motivating them to develop their competencies in technical fields to create investment opportunities, entrepreneurship and sustainable development, and this was proven by Gulf women while dealing with the Coronavirus pandemic, following the rapid digital transformation witnessed in education, communication and other government services.
Furthermore, he stated: “The GCC countries have been keen to support the role of women prominently, and have taken several measures and legislation, and established mechanisms, institutions, and centres specialised in women’s affairs to enhance their status, preserve their rights, and provide them with a decent life. Gulf women are an essential pillar in the success story and preparation of future generations, and they have a distinguished impact on the fields of decision-making, as they made a tangible influence with their vision, mission and active participation in the political, economic, social, cultural and technical fields.”
He added: “Gulf women have proven themselves in all fields they have entered, and they have made notable achievements. Gulf businesswomen index reached 24 Gulf businesswomen during the year 2022, as part of the index of the 50 most powerful businesswomen in the Middle East, which reflects the great support given by the leaders of the GCC countries for Gulf women in strengthening their status regionally and globally.”
Albudaiwi stressed the need to continue to support and encourage women by all means to perform their lofty mission in society, and to pay attention to global issues that impede the advancement of women in many regions of the world, such as armed conflicts, economic destitution, refugee displacement, abuse and exploitation through social media and internet networks.
Source: Saudi Press Agency
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