Speakers highlight importance of fostering new partnerships to engage with communities and spark fresh thinking

 

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, November 26, 2024 – The opening day of the Global Women’s Forum Dubai 2024, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, witnessed an engrossing panel discussion titled ‘Social Innovation: Creating Change for Good.’ Featuring Helena Lersch, Vice President of Public Policy for Emerging Markets, TikTok; Asa Skogstrom Feldt, Managing Director, IKEA Social Entrepreneurship; and Dr. Nawar Assem, Founder & CEO, Dream Organization, Iraq; the session saw all the three panellists strongly advocating the view that women are naturally inclined to think about a better life for all and hence remain central to the whole discussion about inspiring social change.

Moderated by Hessa Tahlak, Assistant Undersecretary of Social Development, Ministry of Community Development – UAE, the session highlighted that women are capable of changing hardened mindsets and social perceptions while working within communities and, for this reason, it is important to empower them in every possible way so that they fulfil this critical role to the best of their abilities.

Skogstrom Feldt detailed how IKEA’s ‘investment’ in social entrepreneurs had begun to show impressive results. She said such collaborations had enabled the company to reach out to vulnerable sections of society and thus serve as an agent for change.

Dr. Assem touched upon how women had become powerful ambassadors of change, ably defusing tensions within their communities, initiating conversations on difficult topics, and addressing diverse social issues including mental wellbeing.

Lersch spoke of how TikTok had been successful in striking up partnerships with various organisations to inspire social change. She described how a partnership with the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature had enabled the platform to become a hub for influential authors and writers who could help change mindsets and perspectives for the greater good, especially considering the significant proportion of young users who turned to the platform for inspiration and entertainment. She sought to highlight how TikTok’s partnerships in the UAE, including with the telecom regulator TDRA and the Dubai Media Council, had contributed to enhancing digital safety in a big way. There were many other public and private partnerships that were just as successfully serving the same goals, she added.

The panellists pointed out that all women are blessed with an enterprising streak but some challenges require the work of a generation to surmount and, in this context, women could use all the help they could get to unlock new horizons and redefine their social missions.

The 2024 edition of the Global Women’s Forum Dubai, themed The Power of Influence has brought together over 6,000 participants, 250 speakers and 25 prominent figures and ministers from across the globe.

 

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About Dubai Women Establishment

Dubai Women Establishment (DWE) was formed as a statutory body of Dubai Government in 2006 under law no. (24) by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai. DWE aims to enhance the professional and leadership capabilities of women, increase their participation in the comprehensive development journey, and strengthen their role in shaping the economic and social future of Dubai, by proposing and developing relevant and impactful policies. DWE is headed by Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, President of DWE and wife of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court. DWE’s strategic plan for 2023-2027 includes three pillars: creating an enabling environment for women in the labour market, developing women leaders, and enhancing the quality of life for women in society, through which DWE seeks to achieve its vision of “Dubai as a pioneering model for women-friendly cities.” The new strategic plan focuses on contributing to the strengthening of supporting legislation and policies, consolidating partnerships and allowing women to influence locally and globally.

About Global Women’s Forum Dubai 2024

The Global Women’s Forum Dubai (GWFD) provides a platform to explore new strategies for enhancing gender balance and raising women’s participation in the economy and society worldwide. Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, GWFD reflects the UAE’s leadership in advancing gender equality and its commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 5: Gender Equality. Since its inception eight years ago, the forum has become a leading international gathering for fostering dialogue and collaboration to address challenges and opportunities for women worldwide. With a rich agenda featuring diverse discussions, transformative workshops, and impactful speakers, GWFD brings together thought leaders, policymakers, and innovators to inspire progress toward building a more inclusive and sustainable future. The 2024 edition of GWFD, themed The Power of Influence, takes place on November 26-27 at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, gathering over 6,000 participants, 250 speakers and 25 prominent figures and ministers from across the globe. The 130 panel discussions at the forum centre on three pillars: Future Economies and Societies, Collective Engagements and Actions, and Impactful Technologies and Innovations.