UAE attends girls’ right to education event in Geneva

Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of Education, participated in a high-level event on girls’ right to education, convened by the Permanent Missions of the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom in Geneva on the sidelines of the 63rd session of the Human Rights Council.

The event marked the 12th anniversary of the adoption of the Human Rights Council resolution on girls’ right to education and was co-sponsored by the Permanent Missions of the Dominican Republic and The Gambia, under the theme “Renewing Global Commitment to Leave No Girl Behind.”

Al Amiri delivered opening remarks alongside Awa Dabo, Deputy United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Kumar Iyer, United Kingdom’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative in Geneva.

In her remarks, the Minister called for continued collective efforts to ensure that every girl has access to quality education, stating, “Our ambition should remain clear: every girl should have access to and complete at least twelve years of safe, inclusive, equitable and quality education. Education should do more than giving her a qualification. It should give her the knowledge, skills and agency to decide what comes next.”

She added, “As the UAE seeks membership of the Human Rights Council for the 2028-2030 term, we do so with a commitment to continue contributing to this work.

“Having previously served three terms on the Council, we see our candidacy as an opportunity to build on that engagement, working with our international partners to advance and protect human rights.”

Representatives of UNICEF, UN Women and UNESCO’s International Bureau of Education contributed perspectives on education in emergencies, gender equality and inclusive learning. The discussion was moderated by David Puyana, Ambassador & Permanent Observer of the University for Peace, and featured contributions from a young speaker from Malawi and Emirati inventor Mariam Al Ghafri.

The event brought together Member States, United Nations representatives and education experts, and the discussions reflected on progress achieved since the adoption of the resolution in 2014 and the challenges that continue to affect girls’ access to education, including conflict and humanitarian crises, gender inequality and the digital divide.

Participants also highlighted the importance of translating international commitments into concrete action and ensuring that education systems provide girls with the skills and opportunities they need to shape their futures and contribute to their communities.

Recently, Al Amiri participated in the Emirati Women’s Forum 2026 (EWF), organised by the Dubai Women Establishment, at Madinat Jumeirah.

The Forum coincided with the UAE’s celebration of Emirati Women’s Day, which is held this year under the theme “We Emerge Stronger and Better.”

During the session, titled “Women Shaping Generations and Building the Future,” moderated by Majed AlFarsi from Sky News Arabia, Sarah Al Amiri said that investing in people is the foundation upon which the UAE builds its future.

She noted that developing generations equipped with knowledge, values, skills and the ability to think and adapt to change is a national priority and a key pillar of advancing the education system.

The session explored the role of women in shaping future generations and the importance of education in developing national talent and nurturing innovative, future-ready minds.

It also highlighted key milestones in Al Amiri’s leadership journey across science, technology and education.

The Minister said that human capital is at the heart of the UAE’s vision for the future, with education playing a central role in developing the skills, values and character needed to navigate change with confidence and responsibility.

Al Amiri highlighted the pivotal role of Emirati women, as mothers, educators and leaders, in shaping future generations, and the importance of family-school partnerships in strengthening identity, values and the Arabic language while preparing young people to shape the future.

She also highlighted the National Education Charter and its role in strengthening national identity and developing the attributes that enable learners to thrive and contribute to society.

WAM