‘Empowered women are key factors for peace’ : Bahrain

Manama : Highlighting that empowered women are key factors for peace, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for World Peace (MRAWP) Secretary-General Brigadier Ahmad Khalfan Al Mansoori said the MRAWP focuses on women’s empowerment. The award is in line with the vision of Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.

Al Mansoori was speaking at a presentation on MRAWP at the International Peace Institute, Middle East and North Africa (IPI MENA) in Bahrain Financial Harbour yesterday. The presentation was moderated by IPI MENA Director Nejib Friji.

Explaining about the organisation’s vision, Al Mansoori said that the award was established by Royal decree in 2011, aiming at building bridges of cooperation among diverse cultures, and promoting the values of harmony, tolerance and moderation. “MRAWP’s fields ranging from sustainable development contributions, journalism, medicine, sport and humanitarian work.”

Commenting on the Mohammed bin Rashid Global Initiatives, which aim at fighting poverty and diseases, spreading knowledge, empowering communities, and fostering future innovation, he said they were involving 28 entities with 1,400 programmes targeting over 130 million people. 

“The initiatives will provide education for 20 million children, medication for 30 million people, 2 billion UAE Dirhams for hospitals and medical research and invest 500 million UAE Dirhams in promoting tolerance in the region,” Al Mansoori said. He revealed that the award is US$ 1.5 million.

In reply to the Indonesian Ambassador’s question on how MRAWP could avoid controversies associated with awards such as in the case of US President Barack Obama being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize before being sworn in, the Secretary-General said: “We have our own criteria for the awarding of the prize. It is not political, nor do we see race, colour or creed.”

According to Al Mansoori, poverty is the reason behind extremism. “Eradication of extremism can only be achieved through sustainable development. It is the people from poor backgrounds with no alternative means of livelihood resort to extremism,” he opined. “Extremism could be snuffed out by eliminating poverty and unemployment.” 

Lauding the IPI’s efforts towards peace, Al Mansoori added that MRAWP was looking forward to establishing a strong partnership with IPI, MENA.

 Ambassadors, government officials, members of various religious communities and corporate institutions and civil society leaders et al. attended.