Latest news with #gender equality
Zawya
a day ago
- Business
- Zawya
Emirates NBD signs UN Women's Empowerment Principles, reinforcing commitment to women's leadership
Dubai, UAE: Emirates NBD, a leading banking group in the Middle East, North Africa, and Türkiye (MENAT) region, has officially signed the United Nations Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs) further affirming its commitment to advancing female empowerment and leadership. Emirates NBD's long-term goal is to ensure that 25% of all leadership positions are held by women by 2027. This pledge follows a series of strategic initiatives that aim at accelerating gender equality while maintaining global standards for female representation across its workforce. Shayne Nelson, Group CEO at Emirates NBD, said: 'Signing the UN Women's Empowerment Principles provides further momentum to the impressive efforts we have undertaken here at Emirates NBD to champion women in the workplace. Empowering women at every level of Emirates NBD is something we are deeply committed to. Looking forward, we will continue to accelerate our action to increase female leadership, achieve gender equality at all levels and encourage more women to pursue careers in banking.' Dr. Mouza Al Shehhi, Director of the UN Women GCC Liaison Office, commented: 'We are delighted to welcome Emirates NBD as a signatory to the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs). This commitment reflects the Bank's dedication to advancing gender equality and fostering an inclusive workplace culture. Importantly, it mirrors a strong shift nationwide toward embedding gender parity within its national development agenda. As the UAE accelerates its journey towards a knowledge-based and sustainable economy, empowering women across all sectors is not just a social imperative, it is a strategic enabler of innovation, resilience, and long-term prosperity. We look forward to supporting Emirates NBD in implementing the WEPs framework and continuing its journey towards empowering women across all levels of the organisation.' Eman Abdulrazzaq, Group Chief Operating Officer and Group Chief Human Resources Officer at Emirates NBD, said: 'By signing the UN Women's Empowerment Principles, we demonstrate our dedication to advancing gender equality, particularly our goal of ensuring that 25% of leadership roles are held by women by 2027. Our initiatives, including an expanded maternity policy, flexible working arrangements, and the Career Comeback Programme, are designed to create an inclusive environment where women can thrive and reach their full potential. We are already seeing positive outcomes, with women representing over 40% of our global workforce. This exceeds global benchmarks, and we will continue to invest in initiatives that foster female leadership.' Vijay Bains, Chief Sustainability Officer and Group Head of ESG at Emirates NBD, commented: 'Women represent half of the world population and investing in their empowerment plays a huge role in advancing gender equality and inclusive economic growth. As a key participant in the economic ecosystem, banks have immense influence in making a change towards women empowerment. At Emirates NBD, we are proud to act as an agent that enables employment and share of voice of women in the community. We strongly believe that when women have access to resources and opportunities, they can positively influence societal development.' To support female empowerment and leadership, Emirates NBD has introduced a variety of pioneering initiatives, including: Expanding its maternity policy and introducing paternity and adoption leave Offering flexible work options, allowing employees to work remotely within the UAE Launching the Career Comeback Programme, facilitating the reintegration of women returning to the workforce after a career break Providing targeted training and leadership development opportunities for women, alongside bank-wide training on unconscious bias Signing global initiatives such as the UAE Gender Balance Pledge in 2023 and integrating the UN Sustainable Development Goal 5 on gender equality into our sustainability strategy Implementing female-focused facilities across our offices including dedicated parking, breastfeeding areas, and women's social networking programmes These initiatives not only underscore Emirates NBD's leadership in promoting female empowerment but also set the foundation for continued progress toward achieving its gender equality objectives. The WEPs offer guidance to businesses on advancing gender equality and empowering women in the workplace, marketplace, and community. Developed by UN Women and the UN Global Compact, the WEPs are aligned with international labor and human rights standards and emphasise the role businesses play in fostering gender equality. By joining the WEPs, Emirates NBD reaffirms its commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, working collaboratively with other stakeholders to promote business practices that empower women. -Ends- About Emirates NBD Emirates NBD (DFM: Emirates NBD) is a leading banking group in the MENAT (Middle East, North Africa and Türkiye) region with a presence in 13 countries, serving over 9 million active customers. As at 31st March 2025, total assets were AED 1 trillion, (equivalent to approx. USD 272 billion). The Group has operations in the UAE, Egypt, India, Türkiye, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Austria, Germany, Russia and Bahrain and representative offices in China and Indonesia with a total of 839 branches and 4,539 ATMs / SDMs. Emirates NBD is the leading financial services brand in the UAE with a Brand value of USD 4.54 billion. Emirates NBD Group serves its customers (individuals, businesses, governments, and institutions) and helps them realise their financial objectives through a range of banking products and services including retail banking, corporate and institutional banking, Islamic banking, investment banking, private banking, asset management, global markets and treasury, and brokerage operations. The Group is a key participant in the global digital banking industry with 97% of all financial transactions and requests conducted outside of its branches. The Group also operates Liv, the lifestyle digital bank by Emirates NBD, with close to half a million users, it continues to be the fastest-growing bank in the region. Emirates NBD contributes to the construction of a sustainable future as an active participant and supporter of the UAE's main development and sustainability initiatives, including financial wellness and the inclusion of people of determination. Emirates NBD is committed to supporting the UAE's Year of Sustainability as Principal Banking Partner of COP28 and an early supporter to the Dubai Can sustainability initiative, a city-wide initiative aimed to reduce use of single-use plastic bottled water. For further information on Emirates NBD, please contact: Ibrahim Sowaidan Senior Vice President Head - Group Corporate Affairs Emirates NBD e-mail: ibrahims@ Burson Dubai, UAE Email: emiratesnbd@
Fox News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
'Moderate' Dem running for US Senate in Michigan co-sponsored a 'feminist approach' to foreign policy
Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., co-sponsored a resolution during the last session of Congress supporting a "feminist approach to all aspects of foreign policy," despite framing herself as the moderate Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate. The resolution was introduced by Rep. Lois Frankel, D-Fla., in the U.S. House of Representatives on March 8, 2023, and was referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. "An equitable world cannot exist without the womanist perspective," Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, D-Calif, said in a press release in support of the resolution. "When we view the world through a lens that includes all women, we allow ourselves to see the whole picture, beyond the traditional, patriarchal framework, enabling us to move one step closer toward true equality." In addition to Stevens, the resolution was co-sponsored by progressive House Democrats, including Reps. Jasmine Crockett of Texas, Pramila Jayapal of Washington, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan. When reached for comment about Stevens' support for the resolution, a campaign spokesperson, Reeves Oyster, told Fox News Digital, "Haley is one of Michigan's most effective lawmakers and is focused on lowering costs, strengthening our manufacturing economy, and creating jobs – which is why polls show she's the strongest candidate in both the primary and general elections." The resolution presents a model for "taking a feminist approach to all aspects of foreign policy, including foreign assistance and humanitarian response, trade, diplomacy, defense, immigration, funding, and accountability mechanisms." According to the House resolution's text, a "feminist approach" to foreign policy "prioritizes peace, gender equality, and environmental integrity; enshrines, promotes, and protects the human rights of all; seeks to disrupt colonial, racist, patriarchal, and male-dominated power structures; and allocates significant resources, including research, to achieve that vision." Through an "intersectional approach," the resolution seeks to "correct" inequalities among "intersecting systems of discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of race, age, language, socioeconomic status, physical or mental ability, sex, including gender identity or expression and sexual orientation, indigenous identity, religion, ethnicity, citizenship, and nationality or migrant status." According to the text, "feminist diplomacy" promotes peace, including "non-military conflict resolution, and peaceful competition, and that mitigate the effects of climate change," arguing a feminist approach to immigration would "integrate an analysis of the impact of immigration policy on women, children, people of all gender identities, and Indigenous people." Despite Stevens co-sponsoring this resolution alongside progressive "Squad" leaders in the Democratic Party, her campaign argued that the Michigan representative is among the most competitive Democratic candidates to challenge Republicans for Michigan's U.S. Senate seat in 2026. Stevens said during her 2022 congressional campaign that she is moderate enough to get votes from Republicans, according to WXYZ. And she indicated earlier this year to Bridge Michigan that she plans to run on a more moderate platform than some of her opponents in the Democratic primary. The Stevens campaign also pointed to legislation she proposed this month to lower costs, create jobs and boost Michigan's manufacturing industry. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., is retiring at the end of this Congress, creating an open Senate seat in battleground Michigan. Democratic candidates to replace Peters include Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow; former Michigan health officer Dr. Abdul El-Sayed; and former Michigan House Speaker, state Rep. Joe Tate. In the Republican primary, former Rep. Mike Rogers is running for a second consecutive Senate cycle, alongside Frederick Heurtebise and Kent Benham. Lydia Christensen is the sole independent candidate in the race so far.
Telegraph
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Primary school uses trans actor as positive example of masculinity
A primary school has held up a trans man as a positive example of masculinity in teaching materials for its pupils. Streatham Wells School, in south-west London, said Elliott Page, the Canadian actor who medically transitioned with cross-sex hormones along with gender surgery and now identifies as a man, showed that masculinity 'can mean softness and strength'. The school used the example of Page, along with the singer Harry Styles, to show children how men can be multi-dimensional Page, who starred in Juno, Inception and X-Men, publicly came out as gay in 2014 and as transgender in 2020, using the pronouns he/they. In an article for the online newsletter Teachwire, Sarah Wordlaw, the head teacher, wrote about her school's efforts to tackle issues such as toxic masculinity and violence against women. 'We need to encourage empathy' She wrote: 'It is important to teach pupils about harmful stereotypes about masculinity. However, if the first time we teach and name masculinity is calling it toxic, that could do more damage than good to our boys. 'It is extremely important to teach about positive masculinities. We need to encourage empathy, kindness, showing emotions, listening to alternative points of view and developing emotional literacy. 'Undoing the deeply ingrained gender stereotypes in our society takes time. It's certainly not a quick fix. We have seen a significant improvement in children's awareness of key issues surrounding gender equality. They know how to use their voice to advocate for others. 'To be a man is not to be simply one thing' Ms Wordlaw added: 'Moving forward, we are going to continue to work on representation in our curriculum. This is not just representation of the amazing, strong women who have shaped global history, but also representation of positive masculinity. 'We need to show that to be a man is not to be simply one thing. To do so, we highlight well-known figures such as Harry Styles and Elliot Page. They show that masculinity can mean softness and strength, and everything in between.' However, some educational professionals have suggested that holding up a trans man as a positive example of masculinity might undermine the intended message that biological men can be gentle and caring.
South China Morning Post
5 days ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Historic moment: Suriname elects first woman president, adding to female leaders in Caribbean
Suriname – the Dutch-speaking country on the northeastern coast of South America that is a member of the Caribbean Community regional bloc – has chosen a medical doctor to be its president. This will be the nation's first time electing a woman as its leader. Dr Jennifer Geerlings-Simons, also a one-time parliamentary speaker, was sworn in on Wednesday in a ceremony attended by diplomats and representatives of neighbouring countries, including the vice-president of Venezuela. The nation, located in South America but part of the Caribbean Community, joins Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and tiny Anguilla with female leaders. It is the first time, observers say, that there have been so many women in leadership positions in the Caribbean, where they are also occupying roles as governors, governors general and ceremonial presidents. Japan urged to modernise monarchy with female succession to promote gender equality In Barbados, where Mia Mottley is prime minister, Sandra Mason serves as ceremonial president after the country broke with the British monarchy in November 2021 to become a republic. In Trinidad and Tobago, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar led her party to victory in April, and the presidency is held by Christine Kangaloo. And in Dominica, the presidency is also held by a woman, Sylvanie Burton, who is also its first indigenous head of state. Geerlings-Simons emerged as president of the former Dutch colony after none of the parties, including that of former president Chan Santokh, won the two-thirds majority in Parliament in the May 25 elections necessary to form the government. She won the second-highest number of individual votes, after Santokh, who retained his legislative seat after winning the most individual votes. Suriname's then-opposition leader Jennifer Geerlings-Simons greets a woman after the National Assembly election in Paramaribo on July 6, 2025. Photo: AFP Although he was vying to return as president, Sanktoh's Progressive Reform Party could not overcome voters' concerns about high inflation, corruption in the government and austerity measures imposed by the International Monetary Fund programme. When the Progressive Reform Party nearly tied with the National Democratic Party, 17 votes to 18 votes, Geerlings-Simons and her National Democratic Party formed a deal with five other parties to install her as president. Geerlings-Simons had served as chairwoman of the party since 2024. Carla Barnett, the secretary general of CARICOM, who attended the swearing-in, noted the historic significance of Geerlings-Simons' indirect election by the National Assembly. Ahead of the swearing-in, Barnett extended congratulations and said the Caribbean Community awaited her input. 'As we collectively navigate the complex challenges facing our region, including climate change, economic resilience, and sustainable development, your leadership will be crucial,' Barnett said. January 2023: One third of Amazon rainforest 'degraded' by human activity and drought, study finds Suriname has been independent since 1975 and has seen two military coups. In recent years, the country has faced some difficult economic challenges but is expected to see a surge in revenues, similar to neighbouring Guyana, after discovering oil reserves. Oil production is slated to begin in 2028. On June 30, Suriname also became the first country in the Amazon region to receive malaria-free certification from the World Health Organization (WHO). This historic milestone follows nearly 70 years of commitment by the government and people of Suriname to eliminate the disease across its vast rainforests and diverse communities. Geerlings-Simons' rise to power has not gone unnoticed by those who closely follow the region, especially given that the military coups were supported by the NDP and its founder, former President Desiré 'Desi' Bouterse. Bouterse died last year on Christmas Eve while running from justice. The year after leaving office in 2020, Bouterse was convicted in the 1982 murders of 15 government critics, including journalists. The conviction was upheld in 2023, and Bouterse went into hiding. He died at the age of 79 as a fugitive. Suriname's leader Jennifer Geerlings-Simons shakes hands with the outgoing president, Chan Santokhi. Photo: AFP Wednesday's succession of power passed without incident. Geerlings-Simons, 71, whose term runs until 2030, recognised the historical significance in her swearing-in speech. 'Because I am the first woman to hold this position, there will be additional pressure on the work I will do with the government,' she said as she pledged her government's commitment to recovery. She concluded her speech with a call for national unity, quoting the words of Surinamese poets Dobru and Shrinivási: 'I would like to unite you as a nation, without this remaining a fairy tale.'
Zawya
6 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
How Africa's First Group of Twenty (G20) is Mainstreaming Gender
The G20 is a global economic forum with the potential to transform lives for women and girls globally. Here's why South Africa's leadership in 2025 represents a pivotal moment. We asked UN Women South Africa Multi-Country Office Programme Analyst Neo Mofokeng how South Africa's 2025 presidency could advance gender equality. What is the G20, and why should women care? The Group of Twenty (G20) is an international forum for governments and central bank governors from 19 countries, the European Union, and the African Union. It was established in 1999 to bring together the world's major economies to discuss and promote international financial stability and sustainable economic growth. It brings together the world's largest economies, representing 67 per cent of the global population and 85 per cent of global GDP. When G20 countries make decisions, they don't just affect stock markets; they directly impact whether women can access credit to start businesses, find decent jobs, or receive social protection during crises. From climate financing to digital transformation, the G20's policies ripple through national economies, determining whether women are empowered or excluded from economic opportunities. When these countries and regional entities commit to gender-responsive policies, the effects are systemic, not symbolic. What makes South Africa's G20 presidency historic? South Africa's G20 presidency in 2025 marks a critical moment as it is the first time an African country has led the forum. This leadership comes just five years before the 2030 deadline for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), bringing renewed urgency to accelerate progress on SDGs, particularly SDG 5: Gender Equality. Under the theme "Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability", South Africa's presidency directly aligns with the global agenda for gender equality and women's empowerment. It is worth noting that South Africa has prioritized debt sustainability for low-income countries – a key gender justice issue, as debt crises often trigger austerity measures that disproportionately affect women and girls by reducing access to healthcare, education, and social protection. What does gender mainstreaming mean in the G20 context? While the G20 includes a dedicated Working Group on Women's Empowerment, true progress requires gender mainstreaming, which is the embedding of gender perspectives across all working groups, not just the one explicitly focused on women's issues. This means finance ministers considering how monetary policies affect women differently, infrastructure discussions evaluating women's mobility and safety, and trade negotiations assessing impacts on women entrepreneurs. There is no such thing as gender-neutral economic policy - all decisions have differentiated impacts on women and men. What are the priorities for gender mainstreaming for this year's G20? To carry forward the Global South priorities from the previous G20 presidencies of Indonesia, India, and Brazil, the following priorities were adopted as the focus areas for gender mainstreaming into this G20 presidency. The first priority is to shift policy perspectives on the care economy around paid and unpaid care work and household responsibilities. The second is to promote financial inclusion of and for women, and the third priority is to address gender-based violence and femicide, which threaten the lives and livelihoods of women. How is progress on gender equality measured in the G20? Despite the growing recognition of the importance of gender equality, tracking progress remains challenging. The most prominent commitment is the 2014 "25x25 goal", reducing the gender gap in labour force participation by 25 per cent by 2025. As this deadline approaches, it serves as a critical test case for G20 accountability. However, other dimensions like unpaid care work, gender-based violence, and women's leadership receive less attention. Gender-related commitments sometimes appear in one year's declaration but vanish in the next, making long-term progress difficult to track. This is another reason why mainstreaming gender in the G20 is so important. What makes the G20's influence on gender equality so significant? In a world of countless international forums, the G20's influence is unmatched. When G20 countries commit to closing gender gaps in labour force participation or expanding women's access to finance, the ripple effects shift global economic patterns and influence international norms far beyond G20 borders. The G20 serves as a strategic lever with the capacity to drive policy coherence by integrating gender equality across economic, climate, and digital agendas, foster shared accountability through joint monitoring, and mobilize financing with intent, ensuring gender equality is resourced, not just referenced. What is UN Women's role in the G20 process? UN Women plays a pivotal role by advocating for gender mainstreaming across all G20 policy areas, providing technical expertise and data to working groups, and engaging with key stakeholders like the Women 20 (W20) engagement group. The organization works to ensure that gender perspectives are systematically mainstreamed into G20 discussions, communiqués, and policy frameworks, with a strong focus on women's economic empowerment, financial inclusion, and ending violence against women and girls. How has UN Women supported South Africa's G20 presidency? UN Women, through its South Africa Multi-Country Office, has provided comprehensive technical and financial support to the South African Government, made possible by backing from The Ford Foundation, the Government of Ireland, and the UN Women Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office. This support has been crucial in advancing gender equality within South Africa's G20 agenda. Youth Engagement: In February 2025, UN Women partnered with the South African Institute of International Affairs youth division to organize the "Bridging the Gap for Global Impact" workshop in Johannesburg, bringing together 150 young leaders aged 18-25. The workshop provided tools for effectively engaging decision-makers and included panel discussions on gender advocacy, enabling participants to develop strategies for promoting gender equality. Transforming Patriarchal Masculinities: In March 2025, UN Women hosted a dialogue on "Transforming Patriarchal Masculinities for a Gender-Equal World" in Pretoria, bringing together 150 students from universities, technical and vocational education and training institutions, and high schools. This dialogue compiled youth recommendations for the Women's Empowerment Ministerial Working Group meeting. Technical Working Group Support: UN Women provided crucial support to all three Empowerment of Women Working Group meetings throughout 2025. The February virtual meeting focused on setting the priorities of the care economy, financial inclusion, and gender-based violence. The May meeting in Sun City emphasized advancing financial inclusion and developing a Guidelines Framework for mainstreaming women's priorities in global financial systems. The July meeting at Kruger National Park concentrated on the care economy – recognizing, reducing, and redistributing care work. Private Sector Engagement: UN Women supported a groundbreaking Private Sector Breakfast in May, bringing together corporate leaders, investors, and entrepreneurs to align business practices with G20 gender equality goals. Grounded in the Women's Empowerment Principles, this initiative moved beyond symbolic participation to actionable commitments. Disability Inclusion: Additionally, UN Women supported disability inclusion initiatives and the W20 inception meeting, demonstrating comprehensive engagement across all aspects of South Africa's gender equality agenda. What does success look like for gender equality in the G20? Success in 2025 means moving beyond rhetoric to gender-transformative policies with robust accountability mechanisms. It requires recognizing gender as intersectional, addressing the diverse experiences of all women and gender-diverse individuals across lines of race, class, disability, and age. At the current pace, it will take over 123 years to close gender gaps globally. The G20 has the power to change this trajectory, but only if gender equality becomes a lived reality, not just a shared goal. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN Women - Africa.
