Saturday, May 24, 2008
Memories...
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
How to reduce the Gender Parity Gap?
Just got back from Sharm El Sheikh where I particpated in the World Economic Forum on Middle East. It was quite an interesting and an insightful experience meeting with the World's leading Political and Business Leaders and participated in some of regions's most sensitive issues. Quite a unique experience when you are only few steps away from President Bush or under one roof with the Defence Minister of Israel and listeing in such proximity as to what he has to say on peace and conflict with Palestine or exchanging thoughts with Tony Blair (Who has lost so much weight since I last met him at the House of Lords in England) or listening to what Russian Foreign Minister has to say on Iran's Nuclear Programe. Apart from politics and the conflicts in the region other challenging debates were raised in the parallel sessions of the forum such as Education, Gender Parity, GCC Crash, Inflation and the long term vision of the leaders in the region and others.
I could probably write a few pages on each of the outlined headings however I am exhauseted and I have no intentions of doing so right now. I may choose to write more in depth in due course.
However, I will not leave the screen until I share with you few points on "Gender Parity" in the region and on what I had to say on Gender Parity to a group of 50 Influential and committed female and male leaders.
I am always asked by eastern and western women living in our region or abroad that what is it like working in the Middle East? I always answer this question with a smile and welcome their naivity on the subject. For someone who has studied in the west and also had the privilege with working with the upper class white English men and also in the region I feel I am equipped with the experience of both the worlds to answer a question as simple as this. My quick response always is that " I feel like a Queen working in the Middle East, well respected for my merits, supported and encouraged always. I am so lucky to have our leaders who are ever encouraging and who truly aprreciate and genuinely understand that women should be integral part of our economy. Having said this the views of a layman may be very different.
The issue of the Gender Parity is not specific to our region The Gender Parity Programme of the World Economic Forum concentrates on four critical areas to reduce the gender parity which I have outlined below. However, in my personal view this issue is not specific only to our region just as much it is relevant to us it is also relevant and of an issue in countries around the world. Just as women may have their challenges in this region women around the world also experience similar or worst experience. The question which comes to my still mind:"Why is the issue always stressed and highlighted on a bigger scale of the women of our region, There are equally conservative societies in south east asia and in Europe? I am of the view that this issue should be dealt with around the globe.
With the support of our government there are many more women in top executive rankings in our country with such a small population than in most developed countries. The actual facts speaks for itself. We should and also everyone should also acknowlede and appreciate that despite our youth and being only 36 years old we have managed to do so much. It was only in mid 1960's when women were allowed to read law at univeristies in the United States of America.
Participation of women in politics is a process and cannot be achieved overnight, our country has appointed well deserved candidates for this role. I am of the view that there should be an increase in participation there are very good efforts in achieving this and will happen over time.
I presented my views when requested; on the steps to reduce the gender parity and my response was as follows: "We should take concrete steps to reduce the gender parity such as to develop our legislations and ensure women's rights are protected and engrained in our legislation and constitution, create awareness among our people on the importance of women partcipation in every level of our economy and society, political will is very important to empower women, but our society should be equally supportive and encouraging for participation at such levels.
Some other recommendations which came out of groups at the meeting:
Place more women in key public decision-making positions (ministers, parliamentarians, local government leaders)- Develop more effective legislation for empowering women and ensure that this legislation is implemented- Promote girls’ education in high-tech fields since future growth and jobs will be driven by this sector- Develop a more enabling environment for working women, including services such as childcare and transport between homes and offices- Recognize publicly businesses that provide supportive environments for female employees to create positive incentives for companies, and also so that women searching for jobs are aware of the best employers- Create media campaigns aimed at changing mindsets about women’s economic participation and leadership- Increase positive, productive images of working women in school textbooks to change perceptions among girls and boys at an early age
These were my comments and my brief experience in a nut shell, if you have any ideas on how to reduce gender parity regionally or globally please feel free to share.
Until then Adious.
Friday, May 2, 2008
My Friday Journal
It's the first Friday morning of May and my eyes are wide awake since 7 in the morning. Don't ask me why? I guess my body is accustomed to start this early daily and is unable to distinguish between a Friday - a rest day or a Monday - working day. I am delighted that it is the week-end finally.
I am very lazy to come out of my room this morning, I am sitting and randomly reflecting about my city, our society which is in continous transition, the past, the present and our future. New ideas but no new thoughts.
It is a great feeling to be back home finally after having spent peak years of my life in England and wake up in the comfort of my Dubai home and hopefully can say this time I am here for good. One thing I can vouch for is that all these years that I was physically away I had left my soul behind at home. Although away, I never sensed any detachment from home, culture or family.Which is a true blessing!
I guess, my most important years of my life was spent away from home. I consider England my home too, because I spent my peak years there and it is the years that I spent there contributed and moulded me to the person I am today. I am often asked, If I miss it? To be honest I miss the diligence of a sophisticated system, I miss the Art and Theatre scene of London, and no doubt I miss my dear friends and colleagues. There is a lot more I miss about England but I am extremely ecstatic to be among my immediate family and no joy in the world can replace the joy of proximity I share with my family today.
On certain levels, a country in contrast to ours. It moves cautiously and slowly. We on the other hand are on the other extreme. We move and continue to move at the light of a speed and take huge risks. Not necessarily one way is better than the other, each society and economy has its needs and there are many ways of fulfilling the requirements of each economy. We choose to do it our way.
When I first arrived, I was a tourist in my own home town, trying to re-connect with my new transfomed city. Some changes I could relate to, other changes I accepted and some changes I still feel alien to. That is natural for someone like myself who has moved back, and for a city which has transformed so rapidly in such a short pace of time and I guess will continue to change in the years to come. It is sad that many things which used to be part of my childhood no longer exists and it's only part of my memories now. On the other hand, I can assure if I went to England after 30 years I will still find the bookshop and the post office i used to visit, sadly here shops which existed 5 years ago are no longer there. The span of sustatainability is extremely short.
After 8 months I can proudly and comfortably say that I can reach to my destination without missing the flyovers or the Exits on Sheikh Zayed Road. That is an acheivement. I never remember Dubai being at a standstill, it is always upto something.
The world has acknowledged us being the city which has the tallest, the biggest, the rarest...We wake up every morning to a new launch of a mega real estate project worth billions of dollars. Many have also described our city as a "Construction Site". Many are very critical of all the changes and the fast pace, others don't hold a strong personal view because they may be here for a stop over to enjoy the tax free heaven, make most of the luxurious life style and move on.
I am proud to be a child of this nation. There may be few matters we may dislike or like to see it happen differently but as my favourite Mahatma Ghandi said: "Be the change you want to see in the world".
2 May 2008
My Friday Journal
Home,Dubai