Abu Dhabi, June 26th,2006(WAM) - The concept of gender equality should be reinforced as an essential part of women empowerment, said Azza Kamil, a specialist on Gender Equality and Social Develeopment.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the UAE national programme for incorporating women issues into development policies and programmes, Kamil said: "Gender equality should be promoted with the ultimate aim of achieving complete equlaity between men and women. All forms of discrimination must be eliminated and this should be done through various socio-economic development progarmmes".

The UAE national programme for incorporating women issues into development policies and programmes was launched here today.

As part of the programme , a number of specialised training workshops are being held on women development and empowerment.

The workshops cover topics on how to integrate women issues into the mainstream socio-economic policies for the country's development.

According to the organisers ,these workshops are aimed at raising awareness on the international conventions on women, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Other topics include issues on gender equality and its relation to health, educational, environmental, social and economic issues. The programme is being organised by the UAE General Women's Union in conjunction with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and under the patronage of H.H Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak.

"This important programme is part of the efforts to empower women and thereby enhance their role in the country's development", said Nura Al Suweidi, Director of the Women's General Union (WGU).

Ruba Yousef Al Hassan of the UNDP said this progarmme was part of ambitious programme that would run until 2007. The programme which will entail capacity building for women leaders, is being attended by delegates from various women organisations in the UAE. Al Hassan said UAE women made significant achievements over the last three decades as a result of support accorded to them by the country's leadership.